Linus Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Linus is a name of Greek origin meaning 'flax.' It has evolved from its ancient Greek form 'Linos' to Latin and into modern English. The name is often associated with creativity and intelligence, reflecting its mythological roots. It has biblical relevance through Saint Linus, the second pope. Linus remains a classic name with notable figures contributing to its perception.
The name Linus is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Linus has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Linus' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 988th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1155th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1473rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2409th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4084th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1761st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1367th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Linus' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Linus"
Pronunciation
/ˈlaɪ.nəs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Linus is derived from the Greek name 'Linos,' which is associated with the mythological figure Linus, the son of Apollo and a skilled musician. In Greek mythology, Linus was also known for his connection to the arts and music.
Meaning
flax
Language Evolution
Linos (Ancient Greek), Linus (Latin), Linus (English)
Historical Usage
The name Linus gained popularity in the early Christian era, particularly due to Saint Linus, who is believed to have been the second pope after Saint Peter. It became more widely used during the Middle Ages.
Variants & Derivatives
Lino, Linas, Linny
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Linus is perceived as a classic and sophisticated name, often associated with intelligence and creativity, partly due to the character Linus van Pelt from the Peanuts comic strip.
Famous People
Linus Pauling (American chemist and activist), Linus Torvalds (Finnish-American software engineer, creator of Linux)
Explore More Linus Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Linus"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Linus"
"Linus" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 988th of 7545 | 775 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1155th of 6773 | 633 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1473rd of 7552 | 534 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2409th of 10718 | 255 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4084th of 16616 | 196 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1761st of 24088 | 1,187 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1367th of 23106 | 1,618 |
Regional Popularity of "Linus" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
36.58% 518th/1416 |
69.25% 955th/1379 |
77.22% 1827th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
39.59% 612th/1546 |
- |
82.83% 1949th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
54.42% 1212th/2227 |
- |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
57.82% 2034th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
52.49% 3316th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
33.85% 1551st/4582 |
30.83% 1592nd/5164 |
35.35% 2585th/7313 |
19.70% 1470th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
28.29% 1127th/3984 |
32.74% 1469th/4487 |
27.38% 1868th/6822 |
19.18% 1204th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Linus" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Linus"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Linus" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.