Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Meiling since 1960
Babies named Meiling per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 34 |
| 1980s | 65 |
| 1990s | 36 |
| 2000s | 113 |
| 2010s | 82 |
| 2020s | 29 |
Meaning & origin
Meiling combines the elegant sounds of Mei and Ling, drawn from Chinese characters meaning 'beautiful' and 'clever'. First recorded in U.S. data in 1960, the name saw a modest rise in usage, reaching its highest rank of 14,942 in 2005. Despite never cracking the top 1,000, it has maintained a steady presence, reflecting its appeal among families with Chinese heritage and those drawn to its melodic quality. The name's trajectory remains stable, with no significant surge or decline. Its 1-in-321,453 frequency underscores its rarity, making it a distinctive choice.
Meiling is a combination of two Chinese characters: 美 (měi) meaning 'beautiful' and 玲 (líng) meaning 'clever' or 'ingenuous'. The name gained recognition in English-speaking countries through Pearl S. Buck's 1931 novel 'The Good Earth', which featured a character named Meiling. It has since been used by Chinese and Western families alike.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mei, Ling, Mimi
Variants: Mei Ling, Mayling
Sibling names for Meiling
Names that share Meiling's style, for a brother or sister.
