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
1940s
Peak decade

25% of everyone ever named Linn was born in this single decade.

1947
Single peak year

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 1989

Total births

1,450

Since 1882

108 years of records

Peak year

1947

50 births that year

Strongest decade: 1940s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1989

Active since

1882

Recorded for 108 years

Last year on file: 1989

Linn popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–1989

Last recorded 1989
Peak year (1947)
50
Annual births at peak, across 108 years of records
0102030405060 188219161927193819491960197119841989 5

Linn popularity over time - girls

844 total births recorded since 1930 (Linn as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 844 births
0102030405060 193019441951195819651972198119922005 5

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

births

What this shows Peak: 1940s at 361 births (25% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of July 2026

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 vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%2%4%6%8%10%12% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Linn
Linn vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Linn by state

Where Linn concentrates geographically, total births since 1882

Geographically diffuse
Top 7 states by recorded births for the name Linn
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%
Pennsylvania share of Linn's total US births 5.2%
Even split

76 of 1,450 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Linn?
1,450 babies have been named Linn since 1882. It was last recorded in 1989. The peak year was 1947 with 50 births.
When was Linn most popular?
Linn was most popular in the 1940s decade with 361 total births. The single peak year was 1947.
Where is Linn most popular?
The top states for the name Linn are Pennsylvania (76 births), Ohio (16 births), California (11 births).
Is Linn a unisex name?
Yes, Linn is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,450 births, and as a girl's name it has 844 births.
How long has the name Linn been used?
Records for Linn go back to 1882, giving 108 years of history through 1989.
What names are similar to Linn?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lincoln, Linwood, Lindsey, Linus, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

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.

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.