The origin of the name Evelyn is thought to be from the Norman French name Aveline. Evelyn has also been used in the past as an English surname. Aveline has several meanings including life, hazelnut, desired, and island.
When Evelyn started being used as a first name, it was given to both boys and girls. However, over the years the name has become more popular for baby girls and it is rare to meet a boy called Evelyn today.
The meaning of Evelyn can also be linked to the meanings of the names Eve and Lynn. Lynn means lake and the English name Eve means life. Evelyn has several different meanings including island in the water, little bird, desired child, and strength.
- Evelyn Name Origin: Norman French
- Evelyn Name Meaning: Life, Hazelnut, desired, and island.
- Pronunciation: Ev – Uh – Lin
- Gender: Female – historically unisex.
How Popular is the Name Evelyn?
At the beginning of the 20th century, the name Evelyn was ranked in the top 100 most popular girls’ names. The name stayed popular until it began to drop out of the top 100 in 1954. In 2002 Evelyn crept back into the top 100 at number 98 and has grown in popularity ever since.
According to Social Security Administration Data, Evelyn ranked at number 9 in the years 2020 and 2021, its highest ever position. In 2021, 9434 baby girls were born and given the name Evelyn.
Variations of the Name Evelyn
If Evelyn doesn’t feel like ‘the one’ for your baby, why not try one of these variations instead?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Avelina | Bird like / voice / desired | Latin |
| Evaline | Life / animal | Hebrew |
| Eveleen | Life | Hebrew |
| Evelin | Life | Norman |
| Evelina | Water island | Latin |
| Evelien | Little bird | Dutch |
Other Amazing Norman French Girls Names
If you like Evelyn, you may also be inspired by these other baby girl names from Norman French origins.
| Name | Meaning |
| Aalis | Noble |
| Adelade | Noble kind |
| Alison | Of noble birth |
| Amice | Friend |
| Diot | Flower of Dionysius |
| Edith | Prosperous in war |
| Flieur | Flower |
Alternative Girls Names Starting with ‘E’
Perhaps you really want to give your baby a name that starts with ‘E’, why not try one of these?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Eaden | Place of pleasure | Hebrew |
| Eadie | Strife for wealth | English |
| Eldoris | Gold | Spanish |
| Eleonor | Sun ray | Greek |
| Eleri | Enough | Welsh |
| Eleisa | God’s promise | Hebrew |
| Elektra | Bright / shining / radiant | Greek |
Famous People Named Evelyn
Evelyn is a beautiful name that has been used for both boys and girls. The name is most commonly given to girls today and has been bestowed upon several celebrities over the years. Here are some of the world’s most famous people called Evelyn:
- Evelyn Nesbit – American model, actress, and artist.
- Evelyn Keyes – American actress.
- Evelyn West – American burlesque performer.
- Evelyn Brent – American film and stage actress.
- Evelyn Lozado – American reality TV star.
- Evelyn Sharma – German model and actress.