Robyn, of Germanic origin, is an androgynous given name that has gained popularity as a unisex choice. The name is derived from the Old German words 'Hrode' meaning fame and 'bern' meaning bear, thus translating to 'famous bear'. Robyn's usage as a female name can be traced back to the 19th century, but it became more popular in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. Today, it is often used interchangeably with Robin for both boys and girls. Notable individuals named Robyn include Canadian singer-songwriter Robyn Fenty, better known as Rihanna, and British musician Robyn Hitchcock.
The name Robyn experienced its peak popularity between the mid-1950s to early-1970s, with over 20 births per year consistently from 1956 to 1976. The highest number of births recorded was in 1976 with 30 births. However, there has been a significant decline since the late 1970s, with fewer than 20 births per year consistently from 1980 onwards. The recent data shows a stabilization around 5-11 births per year since 2006.