Lynell is a name of American origin, derived from the surname Lynn or Lane. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "lynn" meaning lake and "leah" meaning clearing in the woods. Therefore, Lynell could be interpreted as someone who lives by a lake in the woods.
The name Lynell was popularized during the late 19th century and early 20th century, with many African American families adopting it as a given name for their children. It was particularly common among families living in the Southern United States during this time period.
Over time, Lynell has become more widely recognized as an unisex name, though it is still predominantly associated with males. Today, it is relatively rare but continues to be used occasionally, particularly within African American communities.
In terms of its popularity, Lynell has never ranked among the top 1000 names in the United States since record-keeping began in the late 1800s. However, it remains a distinctive and unique choice for parents looking for an uncommon name with an interesting origin story.
In summary, Lynell is a name of American origin that likely evolved from Old English words meaning lake and clearing in the woods. It was popularized during the late 19th century and early 20th century among African American families living in the Southern United States. Today, it is still relatively rare but continues to be used occasionally as an unisex name.
The name Lynell has seen a varied pattern of usage over the years in the United States. From its peak in the late 1940s and early 1950s, with 46 births in 1949 and 54 births in 1954, it has declined significantly since then.
Between 1972 and 1989, Lynell was given to an average of around 15 babies per year. However, by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the number of births had decreased significantly, with only single-digit figures recorded each year.
The trend has continued into the 21st century, with fewer than ten Lynells born each year since 2000. Despite this decline in popularity, it is interesting to note that Lynell has been given to at least one child in every decade from the 1910s to the 2010s.
In total, over the period for which we have data (1914-2008), there were 1961 births of the name Lynell recorded in the United States. This demonstrates that while Lynell may not be one of the most popular names today, it has been a consistent presence in American naming culture throughout much of the 20th century and into the early 21st century.
It's also notable that the popularity of the name does not seem to follow any clear cyclical pattern or trend. Instead, it appears to have fluctuated relatively randomly over time, with no clear correlation between its popularity and other factors such as cultural trends or historical events.