A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Linnie since 1880
Babies named Linnie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Linnie's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 696 | 0 |
| 1890s | 875 | 11 |
| 1900s | 924 | 40 |
| 1910s | 1,399 | 68 |
| 1920s | 1,388 | 111 |
| 1930s | 918 | 89 |
| 1940s | 719 | 125 |
| 1950s | 488 | 101 |
| 1960s | 240 | 102 |
| 1970s | 128 | 50 |
| 1980s | 65 | 15 |
| 1990s | 25 | 0 |
| 2000s | 15 | 0 |
| 2010s | 37 | 0 |
| 2020s | 80 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Linnie has experienced a modest revival in recent years. First recorded in the Social Security Administration data in 1880, the name reached its peak popularity in 1881, when it ranked 7,491 in 2025, or approximately 1 in every 114,805 births. The trajectory of the name shows a steady rise since 2013, suggesting a renewed interest in vintage nicknames. Historically, Linnie was most common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the 1880s, but saw a decline in the mid-20th century. Its recent resurgence aligns with broader trends favoring old-fashioned names, though it remains relatively uncommon. Top states where Linnie appears are not particularly concentrated, indicating broad but sparse use across the country.
Linnie originated as a pet form of Linette, itself from Welsh llin meaning 'flax', or as a variant of Lynn, an English name derived from a place name meaning 'lake'. It was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States, where it appeared as a diminutive for several names ending in -line or -lyn.
Where Linnie is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lin, Linn
Variants: Linny
Sibling names for Linnie
Names that share Linnie's style, for a brother or sister.
