Updated May 24, 2023

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Girl name origins & meanings

  • Middle English: Narrow road

Girl name variations

Laine

Laine

+ 5% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Layne

Layne

- 8% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Layna

Layna

+ 13% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Boy name origins & meanings

  • Middle English: Narrow road

What does the name Lane mean and stand for?

The name Lane is of English origin and means "narrow road." It was originally a surname given to someone who lived near a lane or path.

Syllables: 1

Discover more baby name meanings to learn what's behind every name. 

Boy name variations

Laine

Laine

+ 5% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS
Layne

Layne

- 8% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS
Layna

Layna

+ 13% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS

How Popular Is The Name Lane

Family name origins & meanings

  • English: topographic name for someone who lived in a lane, Middle English, Old English lane, originally a narrow way between fences or hedges, later used to denote any narrow pathway, including one between houses in a town.
  • Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Laighin ‘descendant of Laighean’, a byname meaning ‘spear’, or ‘javelin’.
  • Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Luain ‘descendant of Luan’, a byname meaning ‘warrior’.
  • Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Liatháin (see Lehane).
  • Southern French: variant of Laine.
  • Possibly also a variant of Southern French Lande.

What Does the Name Lane Mean?

The name Lane is a gender-neutral name of English origin meaning "a small roadway or path." It was originally a surname and invokes images of tree lined, country path.

How to Pronounce Lane?

Lane is pronounced /lAYn/

How Popular is the Name Lane?

Lane is the number 261 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. It was slowly increasing in rank until 2019. Since then, Lane has remained fairly stagnant.

However, Lane is the 9th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Lane in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Lane was at its peak popularity in August 2018.

Lane was searched for most often in the following states:

  1. Oregon
  2. Kentucky
  3. Connecticut
  4. Tennessee
  5. North Carolina

Famous People Named Lane and Lane in Pop Culture

Though originally a surname, Lane now has many notable namesakes, including actor Lane Edward Garrison, actor Lane Chandler, Congressman Lane Allen Evans, NFL coach Lane Monte Kiffin, and Club Penguin founder Lane Merrifield. The name has also appeared in Better Off Dead, 8 Seconds, and The Days.

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

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Meaning and Origin of Lane Name