Lin
How to say it: LIN · /ˈlɪn/
Chinese 'lin' meaning 'forest, jade' - also short for Linda; widely used across cultures.
Lin was the 1,575th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 7 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 13% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,826 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,575 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 7 |
| Share of births | 1 in 30,984 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −13% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,826 |
| In France, 2025 | #540 among girls’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Lin peaked in the 1950s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Lin is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German.
In France: #540 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Lin
- Lin Shaye (born 1943)American actress
- Lin Carter (1930–1988)American fantasy writer, editor, critic
- Lin Dunn (born 1947)American basketball coach
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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