Flint

Gender: Boy

Meaning: Happy; fortunate; lucky

Origin: Latin — from felix (happy, fortunate, fruitful)

Popularity: Ranked #2293 in 2025 with 61 babies born.

History: Flint is an English word-name rooted in Old English, derived from the hard sedimentary rock that shaped human civilization. For over two million years, flint stone was essential to survival—our ancestors used it to craft tools, weapons, and to strike fire. In this sense, Flint carries the weight of primal human resilience and ingenuity. The name entered American birth records in 1913, emerging as a distinctly masculine choice during an era when word-names and nature-inspired names began gaining traction among English-speaking families. Captain Flint, the legendary pirate antagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1883), gave the name a literary edge of danger and cunning that resonated with American culture. Flint peaked in American usage in 1959, when 100 babies were given the name—a modest but meaningful moment reflecting mid-century tastes. Across its recorded history, approximately 2,600 American boys have been named Flint, with the name ranking as high as #766 nationally. The name has remained exclusively masculine in U.S. records. Flint, Michigan—a major American industrial city—bears witness to the name's geographic significance; the city was named for the Flint River, which itself was named for the flint stone deposits along its banks. The city's automotive heritage and complex modern history have added layers of meaning to the name for contemporary Americans aware of its place-name origins.

Nicknames: Fli, Fliny, F

Personality vibes: Tough, Resilient, Sharp, Grounded, Primal

Sibling name pairings: Slate, Stone, Ash, Sage, River, Silas, Miles

Middle name ideas: Flint Alexander, Flint James, Flint Henry, Flint Owen, Flint Xavier, Flint Cole, Flint Marcus

Famous people named Flint:

• Captain Flint — Fearsome pirate antagonist in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
• Flint Michigan — Major U.S. city named for the river and the stone found along its banks.

Flint in America Today

Flint occupies a niche position in contemporary American naming. As of 2025, the name ranks #2284 nationally with 61 babies born that year, reflecting a steady but modest presence. The name appeals to parents drawn to short, hard-sounding masculine names with elemental or geological roots. It has never trended as mainstream, remaining a distinctive choice rather than a popular one. Modern American parents who choose Flint tend to value its connection to strength, history, and natural imagery. The name reads as rugged and unpretentious, carrying associations with self-reliance and durability. Generationally, Flint resonates most with parents who appreciate vintage Americana, nature-based naming conventions, and names with deep etymological roots. It remains exclusively a boy's name in American records, with no recorded female usage.

Naming Trends

Flint's American trajectory reveals an interesting arc. The name first appeared in records in 1913, entering the cultural landscape during the early twentieth century. It gradually gained modest traction through the mid-1900s, reaching its peak in 1959 when 100 babies were named Flint. This mid-century spike aligns with broader trends toward shorter, strong masculine names and Americana-inspired choices. After 1959, the name's usage gradually declined, though it has maintained a consistent small footprint. The name never achieved top-100 status and best ranked at #766 nationally across its recorded history. With approximately 2,600 total American births bearing the name, Flint remains relatively rare. The decline from its 1959 peak likely reflects shifting naming fashions toward different styles and the rise of other nature-based or short masculine names.

Cultural Notes

Flint carries multiple layers of American cultural meaning. Historically, it represents human ingenuity and survival—the stone that enabled fire-making and tool-creation. Literary culture gave it gravitas through Captain Flint in Treasure Island, a figure of cunning and danger. Geographically, Flint, Michigan carries complex associations. Once a prosperous automotive manufacturing hub symbolizing American industrial might, the city has faced significant economic challenges and gained national attention for its water crisis beginning in 2014. This recent history has added sobering real-world resonance to the name for many Americans. In contemporary pop culture, Flint appears occasionally in adventure narratives and character names, typically embodying toughness or roughness. The name appeals to parents seeking authenticity and historical depth rather than contemporary trendiness. It remains distinctly American while rooted in ancient human history—a name that speaks to both primal resilience and industrial heritage.

Similar names: felina, flynt, fin, finn

Name length: 5 letters

How common is Flint? About 1 in 54,566 babies born in 2025 were named Flint, or roughly 0.2 per day in the United States.

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