Lyman
Meaningmeadow dweller · Old English
- US rank
- #10,695
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #267 in 1882
6 babies were named Lyman in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,628 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Lyman you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Lyman
Lyman Abbott
American theologian, editor, author (1835–1922)
Choose Lyman and your child shares a first name with Lyman Abbott, an American theologian, editor, author. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Lyman, like who?” Lyman Abbott's Wikipedia article is available in 22 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Lyman Abbott on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: James E. Purdy, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 285,714 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Lyman, 6 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Lyman would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLyman has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Lymans, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1882, when it ranked #267. Today it's #10,695, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendLyman has slipped 2,628 places over the last five years and now sits at #10,695. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn Old English, Lyman means “meadow dweller”.
About the name Lyman
Lyman is a boy name of English origin meaning “meadow dweller”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-man”. US birth records list Lyman for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 144 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked #267 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #10,695, with 6 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 270 | 3,710 boys |
| 1890s | 251 | 3,992 boys |
| 1900s | 229 | 4,376 boys |
| 1910s | 199 | 5,034 boys |
| 1920s | 165 | 6,043 boys |
| 1930s | 117 | 8,569 boys |
| 1940s | 76 | 13,123 boys |
| 1950s | 40 | 25,082 boys |
| 1960s | 25 | 39,793 boys |
| 1970s | 19 | 53,996 boys |
| 1980s | 12 | 81,103 boys |
| 1990s | 7.5 | 134,228 boys |
| 2000s | 3.2 | 314,465 boys |
| 2010s | 5.8 | 173,913 boys |
| 2020s | 3.8 | 266,667 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Lyman
What does the name Lyman mean?
Lyman means “meadow dweller” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Lyman?
Lyman has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Lyman a boy or girl name?
Lyman is a boy name.
How popular is the name Lyman?
Lyman ranked #10,695 for US boys in 2025, given to 6 babies. Its best year was 1882 (#267).