Lindsay is a popular given name of Scottish origin that is primarily used for females. The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "srath" and "lann," which together translate to "strength" or "fortress." Therefore, Lindsay literally means "strong" or "fortress."
The name Lindsay has been in use for centuries, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It was originally a surname given to someone who lived near a fort or fortress. Over time, Lindsay evolved from being a primarily masculine surname to a unisex given name.
One of the most notable figures with the name Lindsay is Sir Alexander Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford (1578-1643), a Scottish nobleman and statesman who served as Secretary of State for Scotland. Another famous bearer of the name is Lindsay Lohan, an American actress and singer born in 1986.
Today, Lindsay remains a popular choice for parents looking for a strong, distinctive name for their daughters. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular girl's names in the United States since the mid-20th century. Despite its Scottish origins, Lindsay is now used worldwide and can be found in countries such as England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In summary, Lindsay is a Scottish name that means "strong" or "fortress." It has been in use for centuries, originally as a surname before becoming popular as a given name for both boys and girls. Today, it remains a widely-used and beloved choice for parents seeking a powerful and unique name for their child.
The name Lindsay has been a part of the American landscape for over a century, with its first recorded birth in 1880. Since then, it has experienced varying popularity, as reflected in these annual statistics.
Between 1880 and 1920, the number of births named Lindsay fluctuated between 5 and 58, reaching a peak of 58 in 1920. This period saw a steady increase in popularity for the name, with notable peaks in 1900 (15 births), 1913 (27 births), and 1916-1917 (42 and 45 births respectively).
The 1920s and 1930s saw a decline in popularity, with the number of births named Lindsay ranging between 33 and 53. However, there were still periods of notable popularity during this time, such as in 1928 (53 births) and 1946-1947 (61 and 65 births respectively).
The 1950s marked a significant turnaround for the name Lindsay, with a dramatic increase in popularity. Between 1950 and 1960, the number of births named Lindsay more than doubled, from 97 to 152. This decade also saw some of the highest peaks for the name, including 130 births in 1953 and 125 births in 1961.
However, this trend began to reverse in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a significant decrease in popularity. Between 1964 and 1973, the number of births named Lindsay dropped from 74 to just 22. This decline continued throughout the rest of the century, reaching an all-time low of 8 births in 1997.
Since then, the name Lindsay has seen a slight resurgence in popularity, with peaks of 50 births in 1976 and 40 births in 1990. However, it has never regained the levels of popularity it enjoyed in the early to mid-20th century.
In total, between 1880 and 2021, there have been 5,136 births named Lindsay in the United States. While its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, the name Lindsay remains a historic and enduring choice for parents across the country.