"wisdom, intelligence, reason"
Origin: Irish Gaelic (Conn)
Language: Irish
Quinn
Pronunciation: [ kw-IHN ]
Does Quinn flow with your last name?
One crisp syllable packing centuries of Irish wisdom
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English
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Quinn
4 shorthand options for every setting
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Quinn as a Fantasy Character
Human lore, pronunciation, D&D class tips
Meaning & Origin
"chief leader"
Origin: Old Irish
Language: English
"counsel, wisdom"
Origin: Irish Gaelic Conn
Language: Irish
"descendant of Conn"
Origin: Irish O Cuinn
Language: Irish
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The Story of Quinn
Quinn is an Anglicization of the Irish surname O Cuinn, meaning descendant of Conn, where Conn derived from the Old Irish word for counsel or wisdom. It was primarily a surname of the powerful O Quinn clan of County Tyrone in Ulster before becoming a given name in the 20th century. Its single syllable and strong sound made it equally popular for boys and girls.
Quinn exploded as a girls name in the 2000s and 2010s, partly driven by the character Quinn Fabray on the TV show Glee and Harley Quinn from Batman comics. It has become one of the most popular gender-neutral names in the US, appealing to parents seeking a strong one-syllable name.
Quinn has deep roots in Irish heritage but has been fully adopted as a modern American name. Its gender-neutral appeal makes it a go-to for parents seeking names that wont limit their childs identity. The name also appears frequently in pop culture.
Historical Record
Quinn first appeared in US Social Security records in 1957.
Over 49,845 babies have been named Quinn in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Quinn is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #96 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Harley Quinn first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992 before becoming one of DCs most popular characters
- Quinn was originally almost exclusively a surname before making the transition to given name in the early 1900s
- Quinn Fabray on Glee helped popularize the name for girls starting in 2009
Quinn in Other Languages
Irish
O Cuinn
French
Quinn
Gaelic
Cuinn
English
Quinn
Spanish
Quinn
Popularity Over Time
#96
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Quinn
Q
Quinn Hughes
Athlete
2000
Canadian NHL defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks and 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner as best defenseman
Q
Quinn Shephard
Actor
1995
American actress, director, and writer known for writing and directing Blame (2017)
Q
Quinn XCII
Musician
1993
American singer and songwriter known for his indie pop style and hits like Straightjacket
A
Anthony Quinn
Actor
1915
Mexican-American actor known for Zorba the Greek, two-time Academy Award winner
Q
Quinn Fabray (Glee) Fictional
Other
Cheerleader and central character in the TV musical series Glee, played by Dianna Agron
H
Harley Quinn Fictional
Other
DC Comics supervillain and antiheroine, love interest of the Joker, played by Margot Robbie in films
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Compare Quinn with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 1
- Popularity Rank
- #96
- Total SSA Count
- 2,689
- Cultural Origins
- Irish American English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Nicknames
Qui
Quy
Quie
Quikins
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
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Timeless choice, Irish heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Quinn
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Quinn
Phonetic neighbors that share Quinn's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Quinn is also used as a boy name, ranked #498.
View Quinn as a boy name →Similar Names
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Compare Quinn with...
Same Origin Names (Irish)
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Polynesian origin
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Greek origin
"weaver, bobbin worker"
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Girl
Latin origin
"of the Caecilian family (Roman gens)"
#123 in US
Kali
Girl
Sanskrit origin
"black, the dark one"
#295 in US
Liliana
Girl
Latin (lilium) origin
"lily flower"
#80 in US
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"consecrated to God"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Quinn
What does the name Quinn mean?
"wisdom, intelligence, reason" (from Irish Gaelic (Conn)). "chief leader" (from Old Irish). "counsel, wisdom" (from Irish Gaelic Conn). "descendant of Conn" (from Irish O Cuinn). Quinn is an Anglicization of the Irish surname O Cuinn, meaning descendant of Conn, where Conn derived from the Old Irish word for counsel or wisdom. It was primarily a surname of the powerful O Quinn clan of County Tyrone in Ulster before becoming a given name in the 20th century. Its single syllable and strong sound made it equally popular for boys and girls.
What is the origin of the name Quinn?
Quinn has Irish Gaelic (Conn), Old Irish, Irish Gaelic Conn, Irish O Cuinn, Irish, American, and English origins. In Irish Gaelic (Conn), it means "wisdom, intelligence, reason". In Old Irish, it means "chief leader". In Irish Gaelic Conn, it means "counsel, wisdom". In Irish O Cuinn, it means "descendant of Conn".
Is Quinn a boy or girl name?
Quinn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #96. As a boy name, it is ranked #498. Quinn is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Quinn?
Quinn is pronounced kw-IHN.
How popular is the name Quinn?
Quinn is currently ranked #96 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Quinn?
Common nicknames for Quinn include Qui, Quy, Quie, and Quikins.
What are good middle names for Quinn?
Popular middle name pairings include Quinn Elizabeth, Quinn Marie, Quinn Alexandra, Quinn Grace, Quinn Isabelle, Quinn Catherine, and Quinn Rose.
What are good sibling names for Quinn?
Names that pair well with Quinn as siblings include Reese, Blake, Riley, Avery, Logan, Parker, and Piper.
How many syllables does Quinn have?
Quinn has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Quinn a common or rare name?
Quinn is a very popular name, ranked #96 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Quinn?
Browse all middle names, sibling names, or similar names.
About the Name Quinn
Quinn is a girl name with Irish, American, and English origins . The name means "wisdom, intelligence, reason" in Irish Gaelic (Conn) .
Is Quinn a boy or girl name? Quinn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #96 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #498. Quinn is more commonly used as a girl name.
Quinn is currently ranked #96 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Quinn has 1 syllable and is pronounced kw-IHN, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Quinn include Qui, Quy, Quie, and Quikins. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Quinn include Quincy, Quinley, Quinnley . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis