UK girl's name
Roslyn
A feminine name with possible Old English origins, meaning "pretty rose" or "meadow land".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roslyn is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Roslyn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 11 births.
This profile covers 106 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 430 living people in the UK are called Roslyn. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roslyn ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 11 girls were registered as Roslyn.
- • Roslyn ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
- • About 430 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roslyn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
1996
11 births
Estimated living
430
2026
Meaning
What does Roslyn mean?
The name Roslyn has its origins in the English language, derived from the Old English words "ros" meaning "rose" and "lind" meaning "linden tree" or "lime tree." It is a compound name that combines these two words, suggesting a connection to nature and the beauty of flowers and trees.
In the early medieval period, around the 7th to 11th centuries, the name Roslyn was primarily used in parts of England and Scotland. It was often associated with individuals living in rural areas or those with a connection to the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roslyn can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named Roslyn who held property in Hertfordshire, England.
In the 12th century, Roslyn appeared in the writings of the renowned English scholar and philosopher, John of Salisbury. He mentioned a woman named Roslyn in his work, "Policraticus," which discussed various aspects of courtly life and governance.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Roslyn was associated with individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, and commoners. One notable figure was Roslyn de Vere, a member of the influential de Vere family in England during the 13th century.
In the 16th century, Roslyn gained prominence as the name of a character in the influential play "The Spanish Tragedy" by Thomas Kyd. This work, which explored themes of revenge and betrayal, contributed to the name's enduring cultural significance.
Other notable individuals named Roslyn throughout history include:
1. Roslyn Tureck (1914-2003), an American pianist and harpsichordist renowned for her interpretations of Bach's works. 2. Roslyn Sulcas (born 1957), a South African-born dance critic and journalist who has written for publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian. 3. Roslyn Brock (born 1972), an American healthcare executive and former chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. 4. Roslyn Muir (born 1984), a Scottish footballer who has represented Scotland's national team and played professionally in various leagues. 5. Roslyn Oxley (born 1934), an Australian art dealer and gallery owner who has played a significant role in promoting contemporary Australian art.
The name Roslyn has endured over the centuries, reflecting its connection to nature and beauty, as well as its historical and cultural significance across various regions and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Roslyn over time
The chart below shows babies named Roslyn registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Roslyn, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roslyn by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roslyn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5324 | 17 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3942 | 28 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4133 | 32 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2280 | 29 | 4 |
Geography
Where Roslyn is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Roslyn. 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.
Roslyn ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
Across the UK
Roslyn in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
39 years of NRS records, 330 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Roslyn
-
Roslyn Walker
stunt performer; circus performer; escape artist; magician
British escapologist
1981-
-
Roslyn Reynolds
rugby league player
English rugby league footballer
1930-1976
Related
Names similar to Roslyn
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Roslyn: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roslyn in the UK right now?
In 2024, Roslyn was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Roslyn most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 11 babies registered as Roslyn in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roslyn?
A feminine name with possible Old English origins, meaning "pretty rose" or "meadow land".
How many people are called Roslyn in the UK?
A total of 106 babies have been registered as Roslyn across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 330 more in Scotland.
Where is Roslyn most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Roslyn ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #790 in 2024. 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.