Evelyn was originally an English surname, an anglicized form of the Norman French name Aveline, which has various meanings including hazelnut, desired, life, and island. Later, Evelyn was used as a given name for both boys and girls. It became more common as a feminine name, perhaps because of its resemblance to the name Eve.

The name Evelyn also is considered to come from combining the names Eve and Lynn, which mean life or mother of life and lake. Taken together, the name Evelyn has come to mean desired child, island in the water, life, little bird, strength. and wished for.

Evelyn was a popular name for girls in America in the early 20th century, remaining in the top 20 from 1907 to 1930, peaking during this run in the year 1915 at No. 10. It was less popular for almost an entire century and did not return to the top 20 until the year 2013. It has steadily climbed in the rankings for the past decade, reaching its peak popularity in 2020 when it ranked as the No. 9 name for girls in the U.S.

  • Origin: Evelyn comes from the Norman French name Aveline, which was itself a diminutive form of the name Ava.Gender: Evelyn can be used as a masculine or feminine name, though it has been far more common as a girl name for at least a century.Pronunciation: EV-uh-lin

Although baby names are frequently separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. You should select the name that you feel best suits your new baby.

Although the name Evelyn is more typically used as a girl’s name, it also has been used as a boy’s name, and there have been notable men named Evelyn. Moreover, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex doesn’t have to be a part of your name selection process.

Name Variations

There are a plethora of variations for the name Evelyn:

  • AvelinaAvelineEvalineEvalynEveleenEvelienEvelinEvelinaEvelineEvelyneEvelynnEwaline

Evelyn can also be shortened to Ev, Evie, or Evy. 

Similar Names

The name Evelyn is one of many English names with the -lyn suffix, such as Ashlyn, Carolyn, Jocelyn, Kaitlyn, or Marilyn. Like Evelyn, these names tend to have many variations in spelling, sometimes ending in -lin, -line, -lynn, or -lynne.

Other girl names starting with E:

  • EdithEleanorElizabethEllenElsaEloiseEmilyEmmaEricaErinEsmereldaEstellaEsther

Other traditional English names:

  • AliceAnnaBeatriceCatherineClaraGraceHelenMargaretMary

Other names that are unisex or gender-neutral:

  • AdrianCameronDanaDylanJesseKellyKendallLaneParkerRobin

Suggested Sibling Names

Names that may pair well with Evelyn include:

  • DanielGeorgeJamesJohnRobertSamuelWilliamDorothyLeahLillianMiriamRebeccaRose

Famous People Named Evelyn

Lots of famous people have dawned the name Evelyn over the years.

Famous Female Evelyns

  • Evelyn M. Anderson (1899–1985), American physiologist and biochemist known for helping discover adreno-cortical thyroid hormone (ACTH)Evelyn Ashford, American sprinter, an Olympic gold medalistLady Evelyn Leonora Almina Herbert (1901–1980), one of the first people in modern times to enter the tomb of King TutankhamunEvelyn Berezin (1925–2018), American computer designer known for developing the first computer-driven word processorEvelien Gerrits, Dutch cricketerEvelyn Hatch (1871–1951), English muse of Charles Lutwidge DodgsonEvelyn Hart, Canadian ballerinaEvelyn Keyes (1916–2008), American actress known for her role as Suellen O’Hara in the film “Gone with the Wind"Evelyn “Champagne” King, American R&B and disco singerEvelyn Lincoln (1909–1995), personal secretary to President John F. KennedyEvelyn Mase (1922–2004), the first wife of South African President Nelson MandelaEvelyn Nesbit (1884–1967), American model, chorus girl, and actressEvelyn Preer (1896–1932), African American actress and blues singerGwyneth Evelyn “Gwen” Verdon (1925–2000), American actress and dancerEvelyn Wells (1899–1984), American biographer of the ancient Egyptian royalsEvelyn Wood (1909–1995), American educator and advocate of speed reading

Famous Male Evelyns

  • Evelyn Baring (1841–1917), 1st Earl of Cromer, British statesman and diplomatEvelyn Barker (1894–1983), British Army officer in World War I and IIEvelyn Owen (1915–1949), Australian inventor of the Owen submachine gunEvelyn de Rothschild, British financier and member of the prominent Rothschild familyEvelyn Waugh (1903–1966), English author, best known for satirical novels such as “Decline and Fall,” “A Handful of Dust,” and “Brideshead Revisited”

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

  • Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names
  • 100 Gender-Neutral Baby Names
  • 275 Popular Baby Names for Twins