Linus

Latin form of the Greek Linos, a name borne by a musician in Greek myth and by an early bishop of Rome; it may come from linon, meaning flax.

Linus in 2025

Linus was given to 82 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 4,068th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 40,431 babies born.

The history of Linus

Linus reached its highest point in 2017, when 166 babies were given the name, ranking 2,501st that year. Its best-ever ranking was 1,210th, in 1882.

Across the 144 years of records since 1882, 5,342 babies have been named Linus. Half of them were born before 2002, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Z.

Linus by decade

DecadeBabies named LinusBest rank
1880s311,210
1890s261,993
1900s242,463
1910s3401,805
1920s5041,740
1930s3242,086
1940s3401,975
1950s2813,020
1960s2343,186
1970s1384,957
1980s1066,826
1990s2174,683
2000s6933,304
2010s1,3962,501
2020s6883,006

Where Linus is heading

Linus has fallen 50% over the past decade, from 163 babies in 2015 to 82 in 2025.

Names like Linus

Names that rose and fell at the same time as Linus.

Browse the most popular baby names