Quinn

Often associated with Irish surname roots, commonly connected to Ó Cuinn/Ó Coinn name forms.

Quinn is a short, one-syllable name with Irish surname roots and broad modern usage as a given name. It’s used for all genders in many places today, which is one reason it often reads as contemporary even though its roots are older. Etymologically, Quinn is commonly traced to Irish surname forms such as Ó Cuinn or Ó Coinn, and it appears in English-language contexts as both a surname and a first name. Because surname histories can be complex and sources differ in how they explain older name elements, the exact ancient meaning is not always presented the same way, but the Irish surname connection is a widely cited origin pathway. Pronunciation is typically KWIN (one syllable). A practical tip is that “Qu-” can prompt people to ask for spelling; saying “Quinn with Q-U” once is usually enough.

Etymology: Used in English as both a surname and a given name, commonly traced to Irish surname origins (Ó Cuinn/Ó Coinn). Older meaning explanations vary by source.