Unisex name · since 1882
Linn
Since 1882, U.S. Social Security records show 1,450 babies named Linn, peaking in 1947. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,450
- total births
- 1882–1989
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
1,450 boys have been named Linn since 1882, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Linn has been recorded 1,450 times among boys since 1882, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1882 to 1989.
- 1,450 total births
- 1882–1989 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 25% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,450 boys have been named Linn since 1882, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 1989.
- 1,450
- total births
- 1882–1989
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
25% of everyone ever named Linn was born in this single decade.
50 babies were named Linn in 1947 - its busiest year on record.
Linn's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Linn splits its recorded history at 1945: 60% of all births land in the more recent half, 40% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1884 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1947 peak of 50 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Linn at a glance
Last recorded 1989Peak year
Current rank
Active since
Linn popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–1989
- Peak year (1947)
- 50
- Annual births at peak, across 108 years of records
No longer in the modern top-1000, last recorded 1989.
1,450 total births across 108 years of SSA records. Peaked in 1947 with 50 births in a single year.
Linn popularity over time - girls
844 total births recorded since 1930 (Linn as girls' name)
Unisex use is substantial
The girls' variant of Linn accounts for 37% of total recorded use across both genders.
Linn by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Linn's strongest decade.
361 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Linn births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 11
1880s
11 births
- 1890s 16
1890s
16 births
- 1900s 6
1900s
6 births
- 1910s 92
1910s
92 births
- 1920s
1920s
157 births
- 1930s
1930s
152 births
- 1940s
1940s
361 births
- 1950s
1950s
339 births
- 1960s
1960s
180 births
- 1970s 89
1970s
89 births
- 1980s 47
1980s
47 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 361 births (25% of all-time use).
Linn decade highlights
- Peak decade 361 births
- Runner-up 339 births
- Modern era share 2010s + 2020s
- Decades tracked with recorded births
How Linn compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Linn's total volume
Linn vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Linn by state
Where Linn concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 76 | 5.2% |
| #2 | Ohio | | 16 | 1.1% |
| #3 | California | | 11 | 0.8% |
| #4 | Iowa | | 11 | 0.8% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 10 | 0.7% |
| #6 | Missouri | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.3% |
76 of 1,450 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Top 5 states
- Pennsylvania 5.2% of nationwide
- Ohio 1.1% of nationwide
- California 0.8% of nationwide
- Iowa 0.8% of nationwide
- Illinois 0.7% of nationwide
Recorded in 7 of 51 SSA jurisdictions
Pennsylvania accounts for 5.2% of all recorded births nationwide - a relatively diffuse profile for this name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Linn? ▼
When was Linn most popular? ▼
Where is Linn most popular? ▼
Is Linn a unisex name? ▼
How long has the name Linn been used? ▼
What names are similar to Linn? ▼
What to do with Linn's data
- Linn's decade-level peak was the 1940s (361 total births); usage has since declined to 47 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Linns (76 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania 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 Linn
Nearby Names Like Linn
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Linn
Compare Linn side by side: Linn vs Lincoln Linn vs Linwood Linn vs Lindsey
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1882–1989 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Linn: Baby Name Since 1882 - 1,450 Births, Peak 1947." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/linn. 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 Linn 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 July 2026.
Published by
NameAlmanac Editorial
Independent public-data reference that compiles, verifies, and contextualizes official datasets. We do not accept compensation from entities we cover, and every dataset cites its originating public source.