How to say it
EV · uh · lin
ˈɛv.ə.lɪn
Feminine
Evelyn
Hazelnut, or wished-for child
What it means
Originally an English surname from the Norman French given name Aveline. The root is contested: possibly the Latin avellana (hazelnut) or a Germanic root for 'wished.'
Evelyn started as an English surname, became a unisex first name in the 17th century, leaned masculine through the Victorian era, and shifted decisively feminine by the mid-20th century. Evelyn Waugh (male, 1903 to 1966) was probably the last famous male Evelyn in the English-speaking world. The 2000s revival put the name back into the US top ten for girls, where it currently sits. Common short forms: Evie, Eve, and Lyn.
How to spell Evelyn
The standard spelling is Evelyn. Common variants include Eveline, Eveleen, Evalyn, Evie, but Evelyn is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #8 in 2024, currently #8 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
EV-eh-lin is the dominant US form, three syllables. Some older speakers say EVE-lin in two.
- Spelling
Evelyn, Evelynn, and Evelin all show up. The single-N Evelyn is most common; the double-N Evelynn surged with the popularity of fantasy-name aesthetics in the 2010s.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Evelyn O'Connell Rachel Weisz's adventurer-librarian in The Mummy films
- Evelyn Hugo Title character of Taylor Jenkins Reid's 2017 novel
- Evelyn Waugh British novelist, Brideshead Revisited (and an Evelyn who was a man)
Spelling variants
- Eveline
- Eveleen
- Evalyn
- Evie
Names with the same feeling
See Evelyn from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Evelyn mean?
- Originally an English surname from the Norman French given name Aveline. The root is contested: possibly the Latin avellana (hazelnut) or a Germanic root for 'wished.'
- What does Evelyn mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Evelyn means "Hazelnut, or wished-for child." Evelyn started as an English surname, became a unisex first name in the 17th century, leaned masculine through the Victorian era, and shifted decisively feminine by the mid-20th century. Evelyn Waugh (male, 1903 to 1966) was probably the last famous male Evelyn in the English-speaking world. The 2000s revival put the name back into the US top ten for girls, where it currently sits. Common short forms: Evie, Eve, and Lyn.
- How do you pronounce Evelyn?
- Evelyn is pronounced ˈɛv.ə.lɪn. Say it as EV-uh-lin, with the stress on the "ev" syllable.
- How do you spell Evelyn?
- The standard spelling is Evelyn. Common spelling variants include Eveline, Eveleen, Evalyn, Evie.
- Is Evelyn a boy or girl name?
- Evelyn is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Evelyn?
- Evelyn ranked #8 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.