Quinn: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity

What Does Quinn Mean?

The name Quinn began as a Scottish/Irish surname in Ireland, coming from O'Cuinn, meaning "descendent of Conn." (Conn comes from the Irish word ceann, meaning “head,” chief leader, intelligence.") In Latin, the single syllable name means "a girl who is as pretty as two" and "essence."

Quinn is one of the first Irish unisex names on the rise for both genders, though there are now far more girl Quinns than boys. If you have a baby boy or girl on the way, Quinn just might be a win for your family.

Origin: Irish, Celtic, Gaelic, Latin
Gender: Quinn is considered a gender-neutral name, traditionally meaning "head" and "wise."
Pronunciation: KWIN

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular is the Name Quinn?

The name Quinn experienced its first sharp rise in popularity between 1997 and 1999, and has been climbing ever since. It's remained in the top 100 names for females since 2015 and is holding strong.

Quinn is the 85th most popular female name in the U.S., according to 2020 Social Security Administration data. The latest statistics rank the name Quinn as the No. 440th most popular name for males in America.

Name Variations

The following are variations of the name of Quinn:

Gwen (Welsh)
Kwen (Celtic)
Quin (Irish)
Quinella (Latin)
Quinna (Irish)
Quinne (Irish)
Quintessa (Latin)
Quynn (Irish)

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Quinn:

Avery
Connell
Everly
Declan
Finn
Harper
Piper
Rowan
Tucker
Wren

Other names starting with Q:

Quade
Quentin
Quincy
Quinta
Quintana
Quintina
Quilen
Quilla

Common Nicknames

Quinn may be a short and sophisticated name, but that doesn't mean there aren't playful and even regal nicknames for the moniker including:

Q
Quinny
Queen

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Quinn? Here are some popular options:

Cillian
Connor
Liam
Rory
Cassidy
Fiona
Mckenna
Saoirse

Famous People Named Quinn

Notable people named Quinn include actors, artists, and athletes. The name and its variations have also popped up on the big and small screens.

Quinn L. Cummings, American actress who played Lucy McFadden in Neil Simon's "The Goodbye Girl," for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Quinn Culkin, American actress who appeared in "Home Alone," alongside her brother, Macaulay Culkin
Quinn Buckner, American former professional basketball player and coach
Quinn Martin (1922-1987), was an American television producer, and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1997

Fictional Quinns

Popular fictional Quinns include:

Quinn Fabray, played by Dianna Argon in the Fox television series, "Glee" (2009-2015)
Dr. Michaela Quinn, played by Jane Seymore in the CBS television series, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1993-1998)
Peter Quinn (best known as simply "Quinn"), played by Rupert Friend in the Showtime political thriller series "Homeland," for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination (2011-2020)

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

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Article Sources

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Social Security Administration. Popularity of the Name Quinn. Updated 2020.