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Linus Name Meaning, Origins & History

Linus

Pronunciation: LY-nuhs

Meaning Flaxen, blond Origin Latin Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,913
TREND
488
Peak Years
2017, 2014, 2015
Lowest Years
1906, 1895, 1885
Energy Archetype
Wise & Balanced

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Linus in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Linus

  • More than 5 thousand babies named Linus: U.S. records list 5,343 babies given the name Linus from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Linus Mean?

Linus is the Latin and English form of the Greek name Λῖνος (Linos), whose meaning is uncertain. A common but unproven explanation connects it with the Greek word λίνον (linon), 'flax' or 'linen,' so the name has sometimes been glossed as 'flax.' Other explanations treat Λῖνος as a pre-Greek name or connect it with αἴλινος (ailinos), a lament or dirge associated with the mythological Linos. Because these derivations compete and none is proved, the safest statement is that the name's etymology is uncertain; 'flax' is a possible literal association rather than a certain translation.

Linus Name History & Origins

The name appears in Greek tradition as Λῖνος, the name of several figures. One was a musician, often called a son of Apollo, who in some versions taught Heracles and was killed by him. Greek writers also knew a lament called αἴλινος, and the name Linos was associated with songs of mourning in some accounts. These mythological uses are traditional stories, not documents that fix the name's origin.

The New Testament mentions a Christian named Linus in 2 Timothy 4:21, where greetings are sent from 'Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.' Through the Latin Bible and later Christian writings, this Linus became associated with the early church in Rome. Early Christian tradition, recorded by Irenaeus and others, lists Linus as a bishop of Rome following the apostles Peter and Paul; later Catholic tradition venerates him as Pope St. Linus. The exact nature of his role in Rome is not clear from the earliest sources.

From Greek and Latin, Linus passed into Western European languages, including English, where it appears in Bible translations and traditional lists of saints. In modern English, the name is also known from Linus van Pelt in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts; that is a literary use, separate from the name's older Greek and Christian history.

How Popular is the Name Linus?

Linus recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2017. Its best rank was #625 in 1882.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Linus Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.

✦ Linus's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Linus's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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