Flynn is an intriguing and distinctive given name of Irish origin. Derived from the Irish surname Ó Flaithbheatha, which means 'descendant of Floraidh', a personal name derived from the Gaelic elements 'flaith' meaning 'leader, chief' and 'beatha' meaning 'life'. The name Flynn gained prominence through figures such as Errol Flynn, the Australian actor known for his swashbuckling roles in Hollywood's golden age. It has since become increasingly popular worldwide, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The name Flynn is often associated with strength, courage, and charisma, although these are not inherent qualities of those bearing the name but rather perceptions influenced by its usage in popular culture.
The name Flynn has seen a significant rise in popularity since the late 1980s. After two consecutive years with 7 births each in 1986 and 1987, there was a gap of nine years before another notable spike occurred between 1996 to 2005, ranging from 5 to 19 births annually. The peak popularity for the name Flynn was reached in 2013 with 31 births, followed by a slight decline but still consistently high numbers until 2022 with 26 births. Overall, there have been 447 births named Flynn between 1986 and 2023.