Lindsay
Lindsay: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈlɪnzi/ · /ˈlɪndzi/
Meaning and origin of Lindsay
Root meaning: “Isle of Lind”
- A unisex given name transferred from the surname.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1940s and later usage.
Etymology
From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from Old English Lindesēġe, Lindesīġe (“Isle of Lind”), the Old English name of the city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in which "Lind" comes from the Common Brittonic form of the name of Lincoln and "isle" refers to Lincoln being surrounded by fenland; from Proto-Brythonic *llɨnn (“pool”), from Proto-Celtic *lindos (“lake, liquid”), in reference to the Brayford + Old English ēġ (“island”); cf. modern Welsh llyn and Dublin.
How popular is Lindsay?
Since 1880, 130,365 girls and 5,136 boys in the U.S. have been named Lindsay (96% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #36 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #397 in 1893. In 2025, 84 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Lindsay
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname girl names
Sibling name ideas for Lindsay
Sister and brother names that share Lindsay's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Lindsay FAQ
What does the name Lindsay mean?
Lindsay traces back to a root meaning "Isle of Lind". A unisex given name transferred from the surname. A male given name transferred from the surname. A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1940s and later usage. From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, from Old English Lindesēġe, Lindesīġe (“Isle of Lind”), the Old English name of the city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in which "Lind" comes from the Common Brittonic form of the name of Lincoln and "isle" refers to Lincoln being surrounded by fenland; from Proto-Brythonic *llɨnn (“pool”), from Proto-Celtic *lindos (“lake, liquid”), in reference to the Brayford + Old English ēġ (“island”); cf. modern Welsh llyn and Dublin.
What is the origin of the name Lindsay?
Lindsay is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Lindsay?
Since 1880, 130,365 girls and 5,136 boys in the U.S. have been named Lindsay (96% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #36 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #397 in 1893. In 2025, 84 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Lindsay a boy or girl name?
Lindsay is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 130,365 girls and 5,136 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.