Evelyn
EV-uh-lin /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/
Meaning of Evelyn
Evelyn began as a Norman French surname (Aveline), itself a diminutive of an unattested Germanic name with the root av- ('desired, longed for'). The surname became a first name in 17th-century England, used for boys before settling overwhelmingly onto girls in the 20th century. The current resurgence dates from the early 2010s.
How to pronounce Evelyn
Three syllables in American English; British speakers often compress to two: EV-lin.
Current popularity of Evelyn
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #9 |
Notable bearers of Evelyn
Evelyn Waugh (novelist — male); Evelyn Glennie (percussionist).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Evelyn — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31