Linus Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LYE-nus //ˈlaɪ.nəs//
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: 'flax'; Latin: 'from the town of Linus'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Linus has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the name Λῖνος (Linos), which is believed to be connected to the Greek word for 'flax' or 'linen.' This etymology suggests a link to the cultivation of flax, a plant used for making linen, which was significant in ancient agricultural societies. The name made its way into Latin as Linus, maintaining its original form and meaning, before being adopted into various languages, including English, through the influence of classical texts and translations.
Historically, Linus is associated with several notable figures in antiquity. In Greek mythology, Linus was a musician and poet, often credited as a son of Apollo.
He is also recognized in Christian tradition as a saint and the second pope of Rome, serving in the first century AD. His martyrdom is commemorated in the Roman Catholic Church, and he is often depicted in early Christian art.
The name Linus appears in various historical texts, including the writings of early Church Fathers, which helped solidify its presence in Christian nomenclature. Culturally, the name Linus has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing wisdom and creativity due to its associations with music and poetry.
In addition, the name has been used in literature and popular culture, further enhancing its resonance. A notable diminutive form is Lino, which has been used in several cultures.
The enduring nature of the name Linus can be attributed to its rich historical background and the positive connotations associated with its bearers throughout history.
Famous people named Linus
In this section, you will find notable people named Linus. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Linus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Linus who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Linus Torvalds is a software engineer best known for creating Linux and Git.
Linus Pauling is a chemist and peace activist best known for his work in quantum chemistry and for advocating for nuclear disarmament.
Linus Roache is an actor best known for his roles in Law & Order, The Chronicles of Riddick, and Vikings.
Linus Sandgren is a cinematographer best known for La La Land, First Man, and No Time to Die.
Fictional characters named Linus
The following list of fictional characters named Linus is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Linus van Pelt is a fictional character from the comic strip Peanuts. He is known for his security blanket and philosophical insights, often serving as Charlie Brown's best friend.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Linus, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Linus. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Linus was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Linus has ranked as high as #1220 nationally, which occurred in 2017, and has been most popular in California, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Linus has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Linus is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Linus was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Linus (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 10 | |
| CA | 10 | |
| MN | 9 | |
| WA | 8 | |
| PA | 7 | |
| MI | 6 | |
| NY | 5 | |
| WI | 5 | |
| IN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Linus.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 129 |
| 2023 | 114 |
| 2022 | 126 |
| 2021 | 113 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| 2019 | 112 |
| 2018 | 147 |
| 2017 | 166 |
| 2016 | 131 |
| 2015 | 163 |
| 2014 | 163 |
| 2013 | 130 |
| 2012 | 141 |
| 2011 | 126 |
| 2010 | 117 |
| 2009 | 111 |
| 2008 | 113 |
| 2007 | 91 |
| 2006 | 66 |
| 2005 | 66 |
| 2004 | 63 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2002 | 41 |
| 2001 | 44 |
| 2000 | 48 |
| 1999 | 49 |
| 1998 | 29 |
| 1997 | 32 |
| 1996 | 23 |
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1994 | 18 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1992 | 16 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1990 | 15 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 9 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 8 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 14 |
| 1980 | 17 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1972 | 14 |
| 1971 | 21 |
| 1970 | 14 |
| 1969 | 19 |
| 1968 | 20 |
| 1967 | 16 |
| 1966 | 24 |
| 1965 | 21 |
| 1964 | 19 |
| 1963 | 26 |
| 1962 | 31 |
| 1961 | 24 |
| 1960 | 34 |
| 1959 | 20 |
| 1958 | 35 |
| 1957 | 25 |
| 1956 | 32 |
| 1955 | 31 |
| 1954 | 30 |
| 1953 | 30 |
| 1952 | 31 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1950 | 29 |
| 1949 | 33 |
| 1948 | 32 |
| 1947 | 29 |
| 1946 | 24 |
| 1945 | 32 |
| 1944 | 33 |
| 1943 | 35 |
| 1942 | 43 |
| 1941 | 34 |
| 1940 | 45 |
| 1939 | 28 |
| 1938 | 40 |
| 1937 | 25 |
| 1936 | 33 |
| 1935 | 36 |
| 1934 | 31 |
| 1933 | 28 |
| 1932 | 39 |
| 1931 | 30 |
| 1930 | 34 |
| 1929 | 41 |
| 1928 | 46 |
| 1927 | 46 |
| 1926 | 61 |
| 1925 | 54 |
| 1924 | 48 |
| 1923 | 46 |
| 1922 | 45 |
| 1921 | 62 |
| 1920 | 55 |
| 1919 | 46 |
| 1918 | 49 |
| 1917 | 51 |
| 1916 | 49 |
| 1915 | 47 |
| 1914 | 30 |
| 1913 | 31 |
| 1912 | 20 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1905 | 7 |
| 1900 | 6 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1894 | 7 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1884 | 10 |
| 1882 | 10 |