Linus
Linus, a male given name, is the Latin form of the Greek name Linos. It is a common given name in Sweden. The origin of the name is unknown although the name appears in antiquity both as a musician who taught Apollo and as a son of Apollo who died in infancy from anicient greece.
Meaning & Origin of Linus
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Linus, a male given name, is the Latin form of the Greek name Linos. It is a common given name in Sweden. The origin of the name is unknown although the name appears in antiquity both as a musician who taught Apollo and as a son of Apollo who died in infancy from anicient greece.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Linus
Linus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1882, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 166 Linuss were born — ranking #1,141 that year. As of 2026, Linus ranks #1,455 for baby boys with 126 births, gradually falling (-6%). In total, more than 6K Linuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Linus
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Pope Linus (died c. 76 ), second Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church
- Linus Arnesson (born 1994), Swedish ice hockey player
- Linus Bylund (born 1978), Swedish politician
- Linus B. Comins (1817–1892), American politician
- Linus Diaz (born 1933), Sri Lankan long-distance runner
- Linus Eklöf (born 1989), Swedish motorcycle speedway rider
- Linus Eklöw (born 1979), better known by the stage name Style of Eye, Swedish DJ, producer, and songwriter
- Linus Fernström (born 1987), Swedish hockey player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Linus
Phonetically similar names — useful when Linus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Linus
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About the name Linus
Linus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1882 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Linus's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #611. Use the chart and map above to compare Linus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2017 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.