After 56 years, people finally understand the meaning behind the band name Thin Lizzy

n board in 1980. With their string of international hits, Thin Lizzy achieved global success.

Despite their popularity, there is still a mystery surrounding the origin of the band’s name. Recently, a thread on Reddit sparked a conversation about the meaning behind the name “Thin Lizzy.” Many fans shared their theories, with one suggesting that it may have derived from a character called Tin Lizzie in The Dandy, a British children’s comic magazine. Others proposed that it could be a nod to the colloquial Dublin accent, where “thin” would be pronounced as “t’in.”

The answer to this mystery goes back to the character Tin Lizzie in The Dandy comic. Illustrated by Jack Prout, Tin Lizzie was a metallic robot maid featured in the 1950s. The idea for the band’s name came about when guitarist Eric Bell remembered this character while brainstorming for a band name in the late 1960s. After tossing around various ideas, Bell suggested Tin Lizzie, inspired by the old comic android. The band found humor in the play on words and decided to go with Thin Lizzy instead. Bell made the change in spelling to reflect their Dublin accent, where “thin” sounded like “t’in.”

Original Thin Lizzy drummer Brian Downey shared that it was Bell who initially suggested Tin Lizzie as a potential band name after a rehearsal one night. Despite the laughter it initially evoked, the name stuck, and the band eventually settled on Thin Lizzy after Bell’s spelling adjustment.

This revelation sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of the iconic Irish rock band. While fans may continue to enjoy their timeless hits, knowing the origin of the band’s name adds an extra layer of appreciation for Thin Lizzy’s rich history. Their music continues to resonate with audiences around the world, transcending generations and solidifying their status as legendary rockers in the music industry.