Origin, Meaning, And History Of Evelyn
The name Evelyn originated in England and it means ‘desired’ or ‘island.’ It is a gender-neutral name and is also used as both first and last name. The surname was inspired by the Norman French name ‘Aveline.’ Aveline was a derivative of the Germanic name ‘Ava,’ which means ‘life’ or ‘bird.’ Evelyn is also believed to be an amalgamation of the Hebrew name ‘Eve’ and Welsh name ‘Lynn,’ meaning ‘alive’ and ‘lake,’respectively. Evelyn was a popular name for boys until the 1900s, when it slowly started to gain popularity as a feminine name. Evelyn is also a variant of the Irish name Aibhilín or Éibhleann. Aibhilín is derived from Aveline while Éibhleann is linked to the Old Irish word ‘óiph,’ which means ‘beauty.’ The other variants of this name are Eveleen, Eveline, Evelina, and Avelina. Nicknames for Evelyn could be Eva, Evie, Ellie, and Lynnie. As per the Social Security Administration data, Evelyn has been a popular name since the 1800s. However, the name’s popularity took a dip and fell in the rankings. But, it sustained and slowly made its way back into the top 100 popular baby names in 2002. In 2017, it ranked at nine and had been in the top ten names since then. In 2021, Evelyn was ranked 9 for the second consecutive year (1). Some famous namesakes include American track and field athlete Evelyn Ashford who won an Olympic gold medal in 1984 for the 100-meter dash. Male counterpart, Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer famous for his satirical novels such as ‘Decline and Fall’ ‘A Handful of Dust,’ and so on. The name is also popular amongst celebrities. Actor Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Heming Willis chose this name for their daughter. British actress Carey Mulligan also named her daughter Evelyn Mumford.
How To Pronounce Evelyn?
Evelyn On The Popularity Chart
Evelyn has seen a long but steady rise in popularity over the last few decades and is currently featured in the top 10 names. Let’s have a look at its trajectory over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Admiration for the name Evelyn has surged through the years. At the start of the 21st century, Evelyn had 2,691 baby names registered. It peaked in 2017, with around 10,737 names being registered in the US. Here is a graphic representation of its popularity through the years.
Rank Over Time
Evelyn has had its share of ups and downs on the ranking scale. It broke into the top 100 names in 2002 when it ranked 98. It maintained its upward momentum and in 2019 broke into the top 10 baby names and has remained within the top ten ever since.
Names With Similar Sound As Evelyn
Evelyn has an old-world charm and a new-age grace. Here are some names that sound similar and are equally charming and graceful.
