Meaning: Modern compound of Mae or Maël (Breton/Welsh: prince, chief) with the -lynn suffix (Welsh: lake, or English feminine suffix)Medium
In 30 seconds: A modern compound of Mae or Maël (Breton for 'prince') with the -lynn suffix. Whether the inspiration is the Breton saint's name or simply the month of May, it creates a lyrical two-syllable name.
Maelynn is a modern American compound, likely formed from Mae (a pet form of Mary or from the month May) or Maël (the Breton/Welsh saint's name meaning prince or chief), combined with the -lynn suffix (Welsh llyn: lake; or popular English feminine ending). It has no documented ancient origin as a combined form.
Maelynn appeared in U.S. birth data in the 2010s as part of the -lynn compound wave. It ranked #996 for girls in 2024.
Did you know? Saint Maël was a 5th-century Breton holy man whose name means 'prince' or 'chief' in Breton Celtic — making Maelynn an accidental connection between 21st-century American naming trends and 5th-century Celtic Christianity.
Overall data confidence 72%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data
Variations
MaylynnMaelynMaelinn
Nicknames
MaeLynnMaelie
Famous Bearers
Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Maelynn…
Adalynn— -lynn compound name in the same modern American wave
Icelynn— another modern -lynn compound from the same naming trend
Emmalyn— popular -lyn ending name in the same cohort
Kaelynn— Kae- + -lynn compound in the same naming tradition
