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Lynn

Girl name · 3,362 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Lynn: 3,362 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 376 births in 1974.

Lynn is a name with dual origins, primarily deriving from a Welsh word for "lake" and also serving as a short form of Linda, which comes from the Spanish "linda" meaning "pretty." The name gained particular prominence through the American actress Lynn Fontanne, a towering figure of 20th-century theatre who, alongside her husband Alfred Lunt, defined Broadway elegance for decades. In Scotland, the name shares its root with the town of Lynn in Norfolk, though the Scottish place-name element "linne" (meaning a pool or waterfall) creates a subtle local resonance. The name saw a significant spike in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, partly influenced by the actress and singer Lynn Anderson, whose 1970 hit "Rose Garden" became a country music classic.