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Lynsey

Girl name · 4,354 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Lynsey: 4,354 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 360 births in 1983.

With roots in Scotland and Ireland, Lynsey is a modern variant of the traditional surname and given name Lindsey, which itself derives from the Old English "Lēoncea," meaning "Lincoln’s island" or "from the island of the Lincoln people." It gained popularity as a first name in the 20th century. Perhaps the most famous bearer is the American singer and songwriter Lynsey de Paul, who had several chart hits in the 1970s. While no major places are directly named after her, the name shares its origin with Lindsey County in New South Wales, Australia. A notable variant is Lindsay, which is more commonly used for both boys and girls in Scotland, whereas Lynsey is decidedly feminine. Interestingly, Lynsey experienced a surge in popularity in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with the broader trend for "y" spellings to add a sense of uniqueness.