Evelyn was once mostly a masculine name, now it is typically thought of as a female name but it is very much a genderless name option. In 2002 the movie “Evelyn” was released featuring Pierce Brosnan, and Julianna Margulies and follows the struggles of a single dad trying to regain custody of his children. Keep reading to find out more about this baby name.

Meaning of the name Evelyn:

Norman French: Desired; or water, island
Germanic: Wished for

Origin of the name Evelyn:

Norman French. Evelyn is a derivative of Aveline, a French feminine name. The name Avaline was brought to England by the Normans where it eventually transformed into Evelyn.

Symbolism of the name Evelyn:

Evelyn means “desired” which symbolizes not only suitors but also need in the world for what they have to offer. Evelyn also means “water” which is necessary to sustain life, so without it, life ceases.

Style of the name Evelyn:

Classic

Gender of the name Evelyn:

Boys/Girls – For the last century, Evelyn has been more common as a girl's name, however from its inception, it has been given to both boys and girls.

Pronunciation of the name Evelyn:

EV-uh-lin

Syllables in the name Evelyn:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Evelyn:

The name Evelyn evokes a feeling of desire, power, and strength

Alternative spellings for the name Evelyn:

Evalyn, Evelien, Evelin, Evelyne, Evelynn

Nicknames for the name Evelyn:

Evy, Eve, Lynn, Eva, Evie, Lin, Vel

Popularity of the name Evelyn:

According to the Social Security Administration index, Evelyn was ranked ninth for baby girl names in 2020. Evelyn has ranked in the top 20 names every year since 2013

Related names for the name Evelyn:

Avelina, Aveline, Evelina, Evaleen

Great middle names for Evelyn and their meanings:

  • Ann (He has favored me)
  • Blue (color)
  • Elizabeth (God is my oath)
  • Ivy (ivy plant)
  • Jean (God is gracious)
  • Kate (pure)
  • Mae (The fifth month)

Famous people with the name Evelyn:

  • Evelyn Waugh (male, English writer)
  • Evelyn Ashford (female, American track and field athlete)
  • Evelyn Berezin (female, American computer designer)
  • Evelyn Keyes (female, American film actress)

Evelyn in movies/pop culture:

  • Evelyn Robin (character in Disney’s “Christopher Robin”)
  • EvelynMulwray (character played by Faye Dunaway in the classic noir film, Chinatown)
  • Evelyn Napier (a character from “Downton Abbey”)