How Many People Are Named Lin?
Complete statistics for the name Lin: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Lin means 'forest' in Chinese, making it a nature-inspired choice. There are only 1,395 people named Lin in the US today, which means 1 in 236,492 Americans have this name, making it very rare indeed. The majority of people named Lin are over 60, reflecting its peak popularity in 1959.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 8 symbolizes leadership, success, and material prosperity.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 60All 1,890 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Lin Through the Generations
Lin's journey through the generations shows a slow decline since its peak in 1959 when there were 59 births. Today, the average age of someone named Lin is 60, with 62% being over 60 years old. This indicates that Lin is predominantly used by older generations, with fewer younger individuals adopting the name.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
📄 About the Name Lin
How Many People Have the Name Lin?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 116,776 people in the United States currently share the name Lin. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,838 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Lin a Common or Rare Name?
Lin is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Lin Mean?
Lin means "forest" and comes from Chinese origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 8.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Lin in SSA data, approximately 37% are male and 63% are female.
When Was Lin Most Popular?
The name Lin reached peak popularity in 1959, with 59 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Lin?
Approximately 116,776 people named Lin live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 116,776. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,838 Americans.
Is Lin a rare name?
Lin is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,838 Americans has this name.
What does the name Lin mean?
Lin means "forest" and comes from Chinese origins.
Is Lin more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 37% of people named Lin are male and 63% are female.
When was Lin most popular?
Lin peaked in 1959 with 59 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.