Irelynd
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 208 living Americans carry the first name Irelynd. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Irelynd today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Irelynd births was 2008 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Irelynd. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
208
~ 1 in 1,647,857 Americans
Peak year
2008
17 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,748
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Irelynd: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Irelynd from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 94 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Irelynd by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Irelynd during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Irelynd
The given name Irelynd is a relatively modern invention, with no clear linguistic or cultural roots in antiquity. It appears to be a creative spelling variation of the name Ireland, the island nation in Western Europe. The first known use of this particular spelling dates back only a few decades, likely inspired by the country's name but intended as a unique feminine given name rather than a direct reference to the place.
While the name Ireland itself has Celtic origins, with the Old Irish word "Ériu" referring to the island, the altered spelling Irelynd has no such historical basis. It does not appear in any ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records prior to the late 20th century. The earliest recorded examples of this name are found in birth records and personal documents from the 1980s onwards.
As a newly coined name with limited historical usage, there are very few notable individuals who have borne the name Irelynd throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is Irelynd Hoskins, an American actress born in 1987, who has appeared in various television shows and films. Another individual with this name is Irelynd Norwood, an American singer and songwriter born in 1995, known for her work in the pop and R&B genres.
Beyond these two examples, it is challenging to find many other individuals of significant historical prominence who have carried the name Irelynd. This is likely due to its recent origin and lack of widespread adoption. However, as a unique and unconventional name, it may gain more popularity in the coming years, potentially leading to a broader range of individuals bearing this name in the future.
It is worth noting that while the name Irelynd may lack a deep historical lineage, it does hold a certain appeal and charm as a creative and distinctive moniker. Its connection to the island of Ireland, albeit tenuous, may also resonate with individuals of Irish descent or those with an affinity for Celtic culture. Ultimately, the name's meaning and significance will continue to evolve as more individuals adopt it and shape its legacy.
People
Irelynd + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Irelynd as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Irelynd: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Irelynd?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 208 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Irelynd going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,647,857 US residents.
Is Irelynd a common name?
We classify Irelynd as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 210 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Irelynd most popular?
The single biggest year for Irelynd was 2008, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Irelynd is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Irelynd in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Irelynd a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Irelynd in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Irelynd still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Irelynd in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Irelynd can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Irelynd?
Want to know how many Americans are named Irelynd? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.