Given name & surname
Lynn
“a man of the lake”
Lynn is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “a man of the lake.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In German usage, Lynn is a short form of Linda.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Lynn is a short form of Linda. The history of Linda gives this family its wider story. Linda was in use during the 19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lynn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 234,778
- 52,391 boys · 182,387 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 8,989 babies
- 2025
- 84
- #2,558 for girls · #6,032 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 18% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 69 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,558 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 7,736 in 1956. It also appeared in 15 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 193,296 as a first name in 2020; 36,656 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.
Lynn’s family of names
In German usage, Lynn is a short form of Linda. Lynn has a later derivative in Lynette. In German usage, Lynn has a related form in Marilyn.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 25
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Marilynvariant · German
- Flynnvariant · English
- Lindafull form · German
- Katelynvariant · German
- Carolynfull form · German
- Lynleevariant
- Caitlynvariant · German
- Lynellevariant
Show 17 moreShow fewer
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lynn
- Lynn MargulisAmerican evolutionary biologist (1938–2011)
- Lynn RedgraveBritish actress (1943–2010)
- Lynn ConwayAmerican computer scientist and electrical engineer (1938–2024)
- Lynn FontanneBritish actress (1887–1983)
- Lynn AndersonAmerican country music singer (1947-2015)
- Lynn CohenAmerican actress (1933–2020)
- Lynn BariAmerican actress (1913–1989)
- Lynn HillAmerican rock climberborn 1961
- Lynn BurkeAmerican swimmerborn 1943
Characters named Lynn: Lynn Minmay (Super Dimension Fortress Macross).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Lynn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Loren
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
40% boys · 60% girls
Laurel
Laurel is a feminine given name from English. It is used in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Cebuano.
>99% girls
Lisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Lark
“resembling the songbird”
10% boys · 90% girls
Ginny
“one who is chaste; virginal”
>99% girls
Darlene
“ouf little darling”
>99% girls
Rae
“son of grace”
3% boys · 97% girls
Ellen
“the shining light” · “shining light”
>99% girls