Åhlin (also spelled Ahlin) is a Swedish surname. The name is of Swedish origin and has several possible etymological interpretations:
- It may be derived from the personal name "Ahl," which relates to the Swedish word al meaning "alder tree" (or "elder tree"), with the suffix -in (a common Swedish patronymic or adjectival ending, derived from Latin -in(i)us meaning "relating to"). Thus, Åhlin can be interpreted as "son of Ahl" or "descendant of Ahl."
- Alternatively, it may be an ornamental or topographic name derived from places containing the element al ("alder"), or from a place name such as Altuna.
- Another theory suggests it may be a patronymic derived from the given name Alf, meaning "elf" or "supernatural being," hence "son of Alf."
Notable people with the surname Åhlin / Ahlin
- Per Åhlin (1931–2023) – Swedish artist and director of animated films, known for Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton and Voyage to Melonia; often called "Sweden's Miyazaki."
- Karin Åhlin (1830–1899) – Swedish educator.
- Lars Ahlin (1915–1997) – Swedish author and aesthetician.
- Urban Ahlin (born 1964) – Swedish Social Democratic politician.
- Cvetka Ahlin (1927–1985) – Slovenian opera singer.
- Harry Ahlin (1900–1969) – Swedish film actor.
- Lennart Ahlin (1916–1995) – Swedish sports shooter.
- Rudy Ahlin (1914–1976) – American ice hockey player.
- Tina Ahlin (born 1967) – Swedish composer, pianist, and singer.
The name is most commonly found in Sweden and among Swedish diaspora communities.
