Given name & surname
Lyn
“resembling a lion”·“a man of the lake”·“a birdlike woman”
In Welsh use, Lyn is a short form of Llewellyn. One Welsh interpretation is “resembling a lion.” In English use, Lyn has a related form in Lynn. One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Welsh use, Lyn is a short form of Llewellyn. One Welsh interpretation is “resembling a lion.” In English use, Lyn has a related form in Lynn. One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.” In English use, Lyn is a short form of Evelyn. Interpretations include “a birdlike woman” (German) and “a birdlike man” (German). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Welsh use, Lyn is a short form of Llewellyn. An origin associated with Llewellyn is Welsh. In English use, Lyn has a related form in Lynn. An origin associated with Lynn is English. In English use, Lyn is a short form of Evelyn. A possible origin is English, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Welsh use, Lyn is used as a shortened form of Llewellyn. In English use, Lyn is used as a variant of Lynn.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1896. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Lyn is a short form of Llewelyn. The history of Llewelyn gives this family its wider story. Llewelyn is associated with Welsh heroes or princes remembered for resistance to invaders.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lyn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,781
- 1,561 boys · 7,220 girls
- Most popular year
- 1954
- 330 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #10,579 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 10,579 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 280 in 1957. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,755 as a first name in 2020; 1,259 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.
Lyn’s family of names
In English usage, Lyn is a short form of Carolyn. In German usage, Lyn has a related form in Lynn. In English usage, Lyn is a short form of Evelyn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lyn
- Lyn CollinsAmerican musician (1948–2005)
- Lyn St. JamesAmerican race car driverborn 1947
- Lyn EvansWelsh physicistborn 1945
- Lyn WadleySouth African archaeologist
- Lyn MurrayEnglish-born American composer of music for radio, film and television (1909–1989)
- Lyn LemaireAmerican triathleteborn 1951
- Lyn HejinianAmerican poet, essayist, translator, publisher1941–2024
- Lyn HardingBritish actor (1867-1952)
- Lyn LarsenAustralian cricketerborn 1963
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Lyn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gwynn
“a handsome man; one who is fair”
>99% girls
Lis
“resembling a rising salmon” · “God is my oath”
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Lita
“one who is glad; joyful; loved by all”
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Lynna
“a man of the lake”
>99% girls
Laureen
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Lynda
“one who is soft and beauti-”
>99% girls
Kathlyn
>99% girls
Joycelyn
>99% girls