UK girl's name
Lindsay
A feminine Germanic name meaning "linden tree lined meadow.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lindsay is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lindsay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3518, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 52 births.
This profile covers 296 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 3,047 living people in the UK are called Lindsay. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lindsay ranked #3518 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 52 girls were registered as Lindsay.
- • Lindsay ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #204 in 1997.
- • About 3,047 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lindsay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3518
2018
Births in 2018
6
Latest year
Peak year
1996
52 births
Estimated living
3,047
2026
Meaning
What does Lindsay mean?
The name Lindsay is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "lind" meaning "lime tree" and "ey" meaning "island." It was originally a place name referring to the limestone region in Lincolnshire, England.
In ancient times, the name was associated with nature and the natural world, reflecting the significance of the lime tree and the limestone landscape in the region. The earliest recorded use of the name Lindsay dates back to the 12th century, with references found in historical documents from that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lindsay. One of the earliest recorded instances was Lindsay of Pitscottie, a 16th-century Scottish historian and author who lived from around 1500 to 1580. His work, "The Chronicles of Scotland," remains an important historical source for that era.
Another significant figure was Sir David Lindsay, a Scottish Renaissance poet and courtier who lived from around 1490 to 1555. He is best known for his satirical poem "The Thrie Estaitis," which criticized the Scottish clergy and nobility of his time.
In the realm of politics, Lindsay Hoyle, born in 1957, is a British politician who has served as the Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1997 and is highly respected for his impartial leadership in the House.
In the world of sports, Lindsay Davenport, born in 1976, is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won three Grand Slam singles titles and was ranked No. 1 in the world in 1998, 2001, and 2005.
Finally, Lindsay Lohan, born in 1986, is an American actress and singer who rose to fame as a child star in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She starred in popular films such as "The Parent Trap," "Freaky Friday," and "Mean Girls," and has also released several albums.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Lindsay, a name with roots in the natural landscapes of England and a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lindsay over time
The chart below shows babies named Lindsay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lindsay, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2018, compared with 52 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lindsay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lindsay was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4363 | 35 | 7 |
| 2000s | #1943 | 114 | 10 |
| 1990s | #694 | 147 | 4 |
Geography
Where Lindsay is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lindsay. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Lindsay ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #204 in 1997.
Across the UK
Lindsay in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#793 in 2008
34 years of NRS records, 2,794 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#204 in 1997
1 years of NISRA records, 8 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Lindsay
-
Lindsay Sharp
exhibition curator
Australian-British museum director
2000-
-
Lindsay Wood
curler
Scottish female curler
1983-
-
Lindsay Tait
basketball player
New Zealand basketball player
1982-
-
Lindsay C. Stringer
professor; geographer
Professor in Environment and Development
1979-
-
Lindsay Skoll
diplomat; civil servant
British diplomat
1970-
-
Lindsay Seers
photographer; sculptor; painter; installation artist; video artist
British artist (born 1966)
1966-
-
Lindsay Volpin
sport shooter
British sport shooter
1962-
-
Lindsay Wood
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1961)
1961-
Related
Names similar to Lindsay
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lindsay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lindsay in the UK right now?
In 2018, Lindsay was ranked #3518 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Lindsay most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 52 babies registered as Lindsay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lindsay?
A feminine Germanic name meaning "linden tree lined meadow.".
How many people are called Lindsay in the UK?
A total of 296 babies have been registered as Lindsay across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 2,794 more in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Lindsay most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Lindsay ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #204 in 1997. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.