Linux
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, a kernel first released on 17 September 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries – most of which are provided by third parties – to create a complete operating system.
Meaning & Origin of Linux
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, a kernel first released on 17 September 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries – most of which are provided by third parties – to create a complete operating system.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Linux
As a girl name
Linux first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2016, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2016, when 5 Linuxs were born — ranking #16,210 that year. As of 2026, Linux ranks #16,210 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Linuxs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Linux first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2012, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 10 Linuxs were born — ranking #7,734 that year. As of 2026, Linux ranks #9,864 for boys with 7 births, rising sharply (+20% over the past five years). In total, more than 82 Linuxs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Linux
Phonetically similar names — useful when Linux 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 Linux
What does the name Linux mean?
How popular is Linux in 2026?
When was Linux most popular?
Is Linux a unisex name?
What names go well with Linux?
About the name Linux
Linux is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2012 and has accumulated 82 births in the dataset. Linux's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #7,734. Use the chart and map above to compare Linux's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "L" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.