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
| Decade | Babies named Linus | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 | 1,210 |
| 1890s | 26 | 1,993 |
| 1900s | 24 | 2,463 |
| 1910s | 340 | 1,805 |
| 1920s | 504 | 1,740 |
| 1930s | 324 | 2,086 |
| 1940s | 340 | 1,975 |
| 1950s | 281 | 3,020 |
| 1960s | 234 | 3,186 |
| 1970s | 138 | 4,957 |
| 1980s | 106 | 6,826 |
| 1990s | 217 | 4,683 |
| 2000s | 693 | 3,304 |
| 2010s | 1,396 | 2,501 |
| 2020s | 688 | 3,006 |
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.