The baby name Larkin combines medieval roots with a current style.
Thanks to Willow for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LARKIN MEAN?
To the twenty-first century ear, Larkin might sound a little bit like Wrenley or Oaklynn – a nature name with an extra syllable tacked on.
Instead, Larkin started out as a surname. It has more in common with Hudson or Jenkins, in fact.
That’s because the name Larkin comes from Lawrence.
Lawrence, in turn, traces its history to the Roman name Laurentius. That name referred to the ancient city of Laurentum, which likely came from laurel leaves.
The name endured thanks to a saint.
During the third century, Saint Laurence met a grisly demise. Roman authorities insisted Laurence hand over the church’s treasures. Instead of crates of gold and jewels, Laurence presented the poor and suffering people of faith. Legend tells us that Roman officials roasted him on a gridiron for his insolence.
The popularity of the saint helped the name spread far and wide. While Lawrence seems more familiar in the English-speaking world today, Laurence remains a popular spelling, too.
FROM LAURENCE TO LARKIN
If you know your medieval baby boy names, you might recognize KIN. It’s a common way to create a diminutive.
Many of those new nicknames led to familiar surnames.
To name just a few, John led to Jenkins; Robert to Rob then Hob then Hop and Hopkins; Walter to Wat and Watkins; William to Will, Willie, Wilkie, and Wilkins. (That final S often gets added to a surname, but it doesn’t have any specific meaning for the average last name.)
We know that Larry and Lars are both forms of Lawrence. It’s easy to imagine Larkin following, at least in an age when Ks and KINs were liberally added to names.
IS LARKIN RELATED TO LARK?
But how about the bird?
A lark is a songbird, known to Europe by the name since the 1300s. The exact origins are murky, but the Old English lawerce or laferce is similar to other names for the bird in European languages.
The Latin word alauda refers to the bird, too, and lead to the Spanish alondra, as well as other romance language forms.
Since the 1800s, we can lark about – play – or go on a lark – a frolic. It’s not clear if this started out as a reference to the cheerful bird, or if it’s something else. But Lark suggests joy and laughter, a happy name.
There’s no direct connection between Lawrence and Larkin, but the logical nickname Lark suggests the bird – and that puts this name in the company of stylish bird names like Robin, Raven, and Wren.
LARKIN and LORCAN
There’s one more name in the mix. Some connect the first name Larkin to the Irish Lorcan.
Saint Laurence O’Toole lived in Ireland in the 1100s. His birth name? Lorcan.
The name’s meaning isn’t related to Lawrence or laurel at all. Instead, it comes from an Old Irish word meaning fierce.
Here’s guessing that Lorcán became Laurence because they were similar names. Maybe it’s even thanks to the shared sounds between Larkin and Lorcán.
Despite the lack of a direct connection, some sites claim that Larkin means “descendant of Lorcán.” That’s a stretch.
LARKIN: BETTER FOR A BOY OR A GIRL?
Today the baby name Larkin seems most like a surname name.
Twentieth century poet Philip Larkin is one. So is ice hockey player Dylan Larkin. Musician Joan Jett was born Joan Larkin. Hairspray gave us teenage heartthrob Link Larkin, played by Zac Efron in the 2007 movie. In the 1990s, Catherine Zeta-Jones breakout role was as the part of the Larkin family in British television series The Darling Buds of May.
That’s not conclusive. When it comes to gender, file Larkin in the unisex category.
It’s very rare, and while it’s slightly more common as a girl’s name over time, there are enough uses as a boy’s name that it works for a daughter or a son.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LARKIN?
In the year 2023, 48 girls and 46 boys received the unisex name Larkin.
It’s drropping in use for girls. The name peaked with 115 girls receiving the name in 2006. (One possible reason: short-lived 2005 alien/extreme weather television series Invasion featured a female character called Larkin Groves.)
Back in the early days of the US Social Security Admistration rankings, the name appeared on the fringes of the US Top 1000 for boys. But it last appeared in the SSA data way back in 1909.
In other words, it’s pretty rare.
CHEERFUL and UNEXPECTED
Add it up, and the baby name Larkin is one of those surprising names. It’s not exactly unfamiliar, but it’s seldom heard.
Larkin makes a great honor name for a Lawrence. It’s a good mix of nature name and surname style, something that’s definitely trending now. And yet, it benefits from all the history attached to it, too. While it’s not truly linked to Irish culture, there’s a hint of it there thanks to sound-alike Lorcan.
If you’re after a name that’s modern with roots, and one that your child will likely never have to share? Larkin might be the perfect name for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Larkin?
First published on December 3, 2009, this post was revised and updated on October 22, 2024.
I had a good guy friend whose middle name was Larkin. He was killed in a car crash when he was 17, and a few years later his sister named her daughter after him- Mary Larkin. I think it’s a lovely name for a boy or girl.
Mary Larkin is lovely! What a meaningful way to commemorate a loved one.
I really like Larkin, but could never use it since I grew up in India and the name sounds similar to the Hindi word for boy (roughly transliterated “larka”) and — even worse — for girl (“larkee”).
I’m not a fan of surnames as first-names, but since my dad’s middle name is Lawrence and Lawrence doesn’t work with my surname… it’s a real possibility.
Still not a fan of surnamey first names.
Can’t get behind it but then I’m juvenile and like larkin’ about.
Prefer to see on a boy though. So far, I’ve only seen it proposed for girls. I was pleased that a mother of a boy Larkin popped in on the Lark post.
Replying to myself. So awesome.
Speaking of Robin, I would use it if I could summon the courage. It would be a very bold and refreshing choice for a boy around here.
Larken nn Lark on a girl is one of my biggest guilty pleasures. If I did meet a boy Larkin/Larken, though, I’d be pleasantly surprised!
My son is Larkin, and to be honest most people respond about Philip Larkin as who he must be named after. He wasn’t, but it is a nice association, especially since I am a Librarian:)
Thumbs up if its a family surname. If not…meh.
I’m not a big fan, though it certainly doesn’t fall on the “What were they thinking” list… For me, the strong -ar sound is just not attractive. Gets all caught up in my throat.
I think I do like it, but probably wouldn’t use it myself. I’m sure if I met a little boy called Larkin I’d think it was a really cool name. 🙂
I had to look it up, but there was a British poet called Philip Larkin – I guess I must have read his work in school – so that’s a good poetic association.