Lynn
A male given name transferred from the surname, usually used as a middle name.
Every Lynn since 1880 — 234,778 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lynn
Lynn is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,558 in 2025 with 69 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 234,778 American babies have been named Lynn — about 78% girls and 22% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1956, when 8,989 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lynn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lynn year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69 | #2,558 | 15 | #6,032 |
| 2024 | 60 | #2,811 | 15 | #6,072 |
| 2023 | 52 | #3,165 | 14 | #6,385 |
| 2022 | 54 | #3,059 | 13 | #6,698 |
| 2021 | 68 | #2,577 | 23 | #4,447 |
| 2020 | 79 | #2,272 | 12 | #6,873 |
| 2019 | 96 | #2,004 | 19 | #5,079 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2,497 | 16 | #5,688 |
| 2017 | 90 | #2,138 | 20 | #4,863 |
| 2016 | 93 | #2,105 | 10 | #7,934 |
| 2015 | 84 | #2,253 | 16 | #5,643 |
| 2014 | 88 | #2,165 | 16 | #5,620 |
| 2013 | 92 | #2,088 | 21 | #4,558 |
| 2012 | 92 | #2,088 | 28 | #3,766 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1,834 | 30 | #3,568 |
| 2010 | 111 | #1,838 | 19 | #4,961 |
| 2009 | 94 | #2,140 | 19 | #5,038 |
| 2008 | 107 | #1,973 | 22 | #4,482 |
| 2007 | 137 | #1,630 | 18 | #5,137 |
| 2006 | 119 | #1,753 | 17 | #5,221 |
| 2005 | 151 | #1,424 | 22 | #4,142 |
| 2004 | 126 | #1,568 | 22 | #4,086 |
| 2003 | 142 | #1,405 | 29 | #3,246 |
| 2002 | 138 | #1,402 | 37 | #2,622 |
| 2001 | 153 | #1,283 | 27 | #3,284 |
| 2000 | 169 | #1,185 | 49 | #2,075 |
| 1995 | 211 | #900 | 45 | #1,904 |
| 1990 | 397 | #583 | 77 | #1,265 |
| 1985 | 603 | #377 | 110 | #865 |
| 1980 | 1,016 | #253 | 170 | #663 |
| 1975 | 1,423 | #182 | 192 | #584 |
| 1970 | 3,264 | #119 | 381 | #420 |
| 1965 | 4,668 | #80 | 514 | #335 |
| 1960 | 6,850 | #64 | 959 | #256 |
| 1955 | 7,355 | #62 | 1,333 | #196 |
| 1950 | 5,020 | #76 | 1,623 | #154 |
| 1945 | 2,730 | #102 | 1,218 | #156 |
| 1940 | 957 | #193 | 1,045 | #160 |
| 1935 | 339 | #348 | 555 | #215 |
| 1930 | 157 | #542 | 458 | #262 |
| 1925 | 100 | #738 | 435 | #273 |
| 1920 | 62 | #927 | 412 | #274 |
| 1915 | 44 | #1,006 | 305 | #284 |
| 1910 | 23 | #907 | 63 | #313 |
| 1905 | 14 | #1,046 | 28 | #407 |
| 1900 | 8 | #1,516 | 41 | #341 |
| 1895 | — | — | 46 | #264 |
| 1890 | — | — | 27 | #339 |
| 1885 | 5 | #1,141 | 25 | #352 |
| 1880 | 5 | #897 | 30 | #309 |
Famous people named Lynn
- Lynn Margulis Biologist · 1938–2011
- Lynn Cohen Actor · 1933–2020
- Lynn Redgrave Actor · 1943–2010
- Lynn Anderson Singer · 1947–2015
- Lynn Conway Inventor · b. 1938
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lynn mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname, usually used as a middle name.
How popular is the name Lynn in 2025?
Lynn ranked #2,558 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 69 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lynn?
234,778 babies have been named Lynn in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lynn most popular?
Lynn peaked in 1956, when 8,989 newborns received the name.
Is Lynn a boy or girl name?
Lynn is used for both: about 78% of babies named Lynn have been girls and 22% boys.
Is the name Lynn rising or falling?
Lynn is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Lynn?
Well-known people named Lynn include Lynn Margulis (biologist), Lynn Cohen (actor), Lynn Redgrave (actor).