How to say it
QUINN
kwɪn
Unisex
Quinn
Descendant of Conn
What it means
Anglicized Irish surname Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn' (Conn meaning 'chief' or 'wise'). One of the cleanest unisex surname-firsts.
Quinn comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn.' Conn was an Old Irish name meaning 'chief' or 'wise' (Conn of the Hundred Battles was a legendary high king of Ireland). The surname Quinn jumped to first-name use in the US in the 1990s and accelerated as a unisex pick in the 2010s; Glee's Quinn Fabray (2009) made it widely visible for girls. As a single-syllable surname-first it slots neatly next to Riley, Reese, and Sage. No common nickname.
How to spell Quinn
The standard spelling is Quinn. Common variants include Quincy, Quintin, but Quinn is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #73 in 2022, currently #97 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #259 in 2009, currently #467 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
Quinn is the dominant spelling; Quinne and Quynn appear occasionally. The single Q-spelling without the silent E is the clean adult form.
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.
- Quinn Fabray Glee's head cheerleader, played by Dianna Agron
- Anthony Quinn Mexican-American actor (Quinn as surname), Zorba the Greek
Spelling variants
- Quincy
- Quintin
Names with the same feeling
See Quinn from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Quinn mean?
- Anglicized Irish surname Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn' (Conn meaning 'chief' or 'wise'). One of the cleanest unisex surname-firsts.
- What does Quinn mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Quinn means "Descendant of Conn." Quinn comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, 'descendant of Conn.' Conn was an Old Irish name meaning 'chief' or 'wise' (Conn of the Hundred Battles was a legendary high king of Ireland). The surname Quinn jumped to first-name use in the US in the 1990s and accelerated as a unisex pick in the 2010s; Glee's Quinn Fabray (2009) made it widely visible for girls. As a single-syllable surname-first it slots neatly next to Riley, Reese, and Sage. No common nickname.
- How do you pronounce Quinn?
- Quinn is pronounced kwɪn. Say it as QUINN, with the stress on the "quinn" syllable.
- How do you spell Quinn?
- The standard spelling is Quinn. Common spelling variants include Quincy, Quintin.
- Is Quinn a boy or girl name?
- Quinn is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Quinn?
- Quinn ranked #97 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.