Lynley
2025 SSA
About Lynley
Lynley is a feminine name of English origin, originally derived from the Old English elements 'lin' meaning 'lake' or 'pool' and 'leah' meaning 'woodland clearing' or 'meadow'. The name evokes pastoral imagery of serene waters nestled within a forest setting. Lynley gained some recognition through the fictional character Inspector Thomas Lynley from Elizabeth George's mystery novels and the subsequent BBC television series. While never extremely common, the name has a gentle, melodic quality that appeals to parents seeking something distinctively English yet understated. Lynley offers a sophisticated alternative to more common 'Lynn' derived names while maintaining a similar sound profile.
Pronounced LYN-lee.
As of October 2026, Lynley ranked #5649 for girls in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #3157 for girls in 1969.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,418 | 33 | 18.5 |
| 2015 | #4,266 | 34 | 19 |
| 2016 | #3,449 | 46 | 26 |
| 2017 | #4,273 | 34 | 19.7 |
| 2018 | #3,769 | 40 | 23.5 |
| 2019 | #3,590 | 43 | 25.6 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | #3,772 | 40 | 24.4 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |