How to say it
FLYNN
flɪn
Masculine
Flynn
Descendant of the red-haired one
What it means
Flynn is an Irish surname turned first name, from Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann,' with flann meaning 'reddish' or 'ruddy.'
Flynn is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann.' The byname Flann comes from the Irish adjective flann, meaning 'bright red,' 'reddish,' or 'ruddy,' first given as a nickname to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Flynn is one of the most common surnames in Ireland and has crossed over into steady use as a punchy, one-syllable first name. It eased down slightly in the most recent US rankings while staying in the boys' top 1000.
How to spell Flynn
The standard spelling is Flynn. Common variants include Flinn, but Flynn is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #654 in 2021, currently #828 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
- Spelling
A classic Irish surname now popular as a given name.
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.
- Errol Flynn Australian-American actor of Hollywood's Golden Age, whose surname anchors the given name
- Flynn Rider leading character in Disney's animated film Tangled
Spelling variants
- Flinn
Names with the same feeling
See Flynn from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Flynn mean?
- Flynn is an Irish surname turned first name, from Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann,' with flann meaning 'reddish' or 'ruddy.'
- What does Flynn mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Flynn means "Descendant of the red-haired one." Flynn is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Floinn, 'descendant of Flann.' The byname Flann comes from the Irish adjective flann, meaning 'bright red,' 'reddish,' or 'ruddy,' first given as a nickname to someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. Flynn is one of the most common surnames in Ireland and has crossed over into steady use as a punchy, one-syllable first name. It eased down slightly in the most recent US rankings while staying in the boys' top 1000.
- How do you pronounce Flynn?
- Flynn is pronounced flɪn. Say it as FLYNN, with the stress on the "flynn" syllable.
- How do you spell Flynn?
- The standard spelling is Flynn. Common spelling variants include Flinn.
- Is Flynn a boy or girl name?
- Flynn is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Flynn?
- Flynn ranked #828 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.