Declining since 1985, #6,838 for girls today.
Popularity of Linh since 1975
Babies named Linh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 64 | 16 |
| 1980s | 558 | 140 |
| 1990s | 420 | 57 |
| 2000s | 218 | 0 |
| 2010s | 183 | 0 |
| 2020s | 76 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Linh is a Vietnamese unisex name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1975. It reached its highest popularity in 1984, ranking among the more distinctive choices for families with Vietnamese heritage. Since 1985, its usage has been gradually declining, but it remains a meaningful and culturally rich option. The name is given to roughly 1 in every 100,454 babies in the United States as of 2025, reflecting its steady but niche presence. While top states for Linh are not recorded in the available data, the name is most commonly found in communities with Vietnamese American populations.
Linh is a unisex Vietnamese name derived from the Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese characters. The most common interpretation connects it to 靈 (líng), meaning 'soul, spirit, or divine'. Alternatively, it may come from 嶺 (lǐng), meaning 'mountain range'. As a given name, Linh gained popularity in Vietnam during the late 20th century and is now a top choice for both girls and boys, though it is more frequently given to girls in the United States, where it first appeared in records in 1975.
“Linh” around the world
Where Linh lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lin
Sibling names for Linh
Names that share Linh's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mai, Anh, Hoa, Thy, Huong, Phuong, Thao, Diem, Ha, Hang, Hanh, Lan, Ngoc, Nhi, Thu, Trang, Trinh, Vy, An, Chau, Duyen, Nhu, Nhung, Quyen, Tran, Truc, Tuyen, Uyen, Vung, Xuan, Anhthu, Bich, Huyen, Nga, Tuyet, Yen
Brothers: Minh, Duc, Quan, Tuan, Huy, Khang, Le, Long, Nam, Thai, Thanh, Tou, Vinh, Binh, Cuong, Dat, Duy, Hien, Hieu, Hoang, Hung, Khoa, Khoi, Kien, Lam, Liem, Loan, Phong, Quang, Quoc, Thang, Thien, Toan, Trung, Tu, Viet, Dang, Dao, Hai, Khanh, Kiet, Nguyen, Nhan, Phuc, Seng, Thinh, Thong, Tien, Truong, Vuong, Cung, Danh, Duong, Hau, Hiep, Khiem, Nghia, Phuoc, Quy, Thuan, Tung, Vong
