Total births
1,034
Unisex name · since 1917
Lin
Lin has 1,034 recorded births since 1917 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1952 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #13602
- among girls today
- 1,034
- born since 1917
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 23%
- more common than other girls
1,034 babies have been named Lin since 1917, making it today's #13602 unisex name.
Lin has 1,034 recorded births among girls since 1917, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #13602 as of the latest data, more common than 23% of girls, busiest in the 1950s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1917 to 2025.
- #13602 among girls today
- 1,034 born since 1917
- 1950s peak decade
- 23% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Lin is currently the #13602 unisex name in America, more common than 23% of girls - 1,034 born since 1917, peaking in the 1950s.
- #13602
- among girls today
- 1,034
- born since 1917
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 23%
- more common than other girls
Lin vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#13602
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 23% of names given to girls today.
1950s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Lin was born in this single decade.
1952
Single peak year
35 babies were named Lin in 1952 - its busiest year on record.
How Lin compares
1,034 Top 31% higher than 69% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Lin's all-time total is 171% above the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Lin | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,034 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 35 | 48 | 19,840 |
Lin's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Lin's full recorded timeline at 1981, 37% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 63% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1917, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1952 peak of 35 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Lin at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1952
Current rank
#13,602
Active since
1917
Lin popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1917–2025
- Peak year (1952)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 109 years of records
Lin popularity over time - boys
863 total births recorded since 1898 (Lin as boys' name)
Lin by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Lin's strongest decade.
269 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Lin births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 5
1910s
5 births
- 1930s 23
1930s
23 births
- 1940s
1940s
133 births
- 1950s
1950s
269 births
- 1960s
1960s
166 births
- 1970s 45
1970s
45 births
- 1980s 81
1980s
81 births
- 1990s 76
1990s
76 births
- 2000s
2000s
113 births
- 2010s 80
2010s
80 births
- 2020s 43
2020s
43 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 269 births (26% of all-time use).
How Lin compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Lin's total volume
Lin vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Lin by state
Where Lin concentrates geographically, total births since 1917
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 63 | 6.1% |
| #2 | New York | | 35 | 3.4% |
California share of Lin's total US births 6.1%
Even split
63 of 1,034 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Lin? ▼
1,034 babies have been named Lin since 1917. It currently ranks #13602 among girls. The peak year was 1952 with 35 births.
When was Lin most popular? ▼
Lin was most popular in the 1950s decade with 269 total births. The single peak year was 1952.
Where is Lin most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Lin are California (63 births), New York (35 births).
Is Lin a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Lin is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,034 births, and as a boy's name it has 863 births.
How long has the name Lin been used? ▼
Lin has been recorded in Social Security data since 1917, spanning 109 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Lin? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Linda, Lindsey, Lindsay, Lina, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Lin's data
- Lin's decade-level peak was the 1950s (269 total births); usage has since declined to 43 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Lins (63 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Lin
Nearby Names Like Lin
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Lin
Linda Girl
#836 1,455,143 births
Lindsey Girl
#1284 157,551 births
Lindsay Girl
#1984 130,365 births
Lina Girl
#565 19,489 births
Linnea Girl
#1601 9,944 births
Compare Lin side by side: Lin vs Linda Lin vs Lindsey Lin vs Lindsay
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Lin
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1917–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Lin: #13602 Unisex Name - 1,034 Births, Peak 1952." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/lin. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Lin draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.