Lemon
The lemon is a species of small evergreen tree in the Citrus genus of the flowering plant family Rutaceae. A true lemon is a hybrid of the citron and the bitter orange. Its origins are uncertain, but some evidence suggests lemons originated during the 1st millennium BC in what is now northeastern India. Some other citrus fruits are called lemon.
Meaning & Origin of Lemon
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The lemon is a species of small evergreen tree in the Citrus genus of the flowering plant family Rutaceae. A true lemon is a hybrid of the citron and the bitter orange. Its origins are uncertain, but some evidence suggests lemons originated during the 1st millennium BC in what is now northeastern India. Some other citrus fruits are called lemon.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Lemon
As a girl name
Lemon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1913, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 50 Lemons were born — ranking #3,213 that year. As of 2026, Lemon ranks #4,696 for girls with 29 births, gradually rising (+5%). In total, more than 389 Lemons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Lemon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1882, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1927, when 30 Lemons were born — ranking #1,350 that year. As of 2026, Lemon ranks #8,435 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 1K Lemons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Lemon
Phonetically similar names — useful when Lemon is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lemon
What does the name Lemon mean?
How popular is Lemon in 2026?
When was Lemon most popular?
In which U.S. states is Lemon most popular?
Is Lemon a unisex name?
What names go well with Lemon?
About the name Lemon
Lemon is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1882 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Lemon's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #1,350. Use the chart and map above to compare Lemon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1927 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.