Given name & surname
Lyell
“from the island”·“a faithful man”·“resembling a wolf”
In English use, Lyell is a variant of Lyle. One English interpretation is “from the island.” Lyell is a variant of Lyall. Interpretations include “a faithful man” and “resembling a wolf”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Lyell is a variant of Lyle. One English interpretation is “from the island.” Lyell is a variant of Lyall. Interpretations include “a faithful man” and “resembling a wolf”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Lyell is a variant of Lyle. An origin associated with Lyle is English. Lyell is a variant of Lyall. A possible origin is Old Norse, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Lyell is a variant of Lyall. The history of Lyall gives this family its wider story. Lyall’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lyell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 140
- 140 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 12 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1991. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 12 in 1920. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 185 as a first name in 2020; 867 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lyell’s family of names
Lyell has a related form in Lyle. Lyell has a related form in Lyall.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Lyell
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lyell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lovell
“having a soft spirit” · “resembling a young wolf”
92% boys · 8% girls
Lemuel
“devoted to God” · “one who belongs to God”
>99% boys
Yates
“keeper of the gates”
>99% boys
Lonzo
“one who is ready for battle”
>99% boys
Berl
>99% boys
Russel
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% boys
Ruel
“friend of God” · “a friend of God”
>99% boys
Lavern
Lavern is a unisex given name.
>99% boys