Girl · #14,580 in 2026

Zilin

The Zilin or Forest of Characters was a Chinese dictionary compiled by the Jin dynasty (266–420) lexicographer Lü Chen (呂忱). It contained 12,824 character head entries, organized by the 540-radical system of the Shuowen Jiezi. In the history of Chinese lexicography, the Zilin followed the Shuowen Jiezi and preceded the Yupian.

Current Rank
#14,580
Peak Rank
#14,580 (2013)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2013
First Year
2013
Last Year
2013
Peak Year
#14580
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Zilin

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Zilin or Forest of Characters was a Chinese dictionary compiled by the Jin dynasty (266–420) lexicographer Lü Chen (呂忱). It contained 12,824 character head entries, organized by the 540-radical system of the Shuowen Jiezi. In the history of Chinese lexicography, the Zilin followed the Shuowen Jiezi and preceded the Yupian.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
The Zilin was popular in the Northern and Southern dynasties period (420–589), when "lexicography in China entered the stage of exploration and development. There were more new dictionary types coming into being and discoveries were waiting to be made in format and style, in mode of definition, and in phonetic notation.". During the Liu Song dynasty (420–479), Wu Gongceng (吳恭曾) from Yang Province compiled the first commentary to the Zilin , the Zilin yinyi (字林音義; "Pronunciations and Meanings in the Zilin ") in 5 volumes. Jiang Shi (江式) was a renowned calligrapher and epigraphist during the Nor

The Story of Zilin

Zilin first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2013, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 6 Zilins were born — ranking #14,580 that year. As of 2026, Zilin ranks #14,580 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Zilins have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Where is Zilin most common?

Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.

  • China
    43%
  • Singapore
    15%
  • Latvia
    15%
  • Saint Lucia
    14%
  • Malaysia
    13%

Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.

Names that sound like Zilin

Phonetically similar names — useful when Zilin is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Xylan
  • Zeilen
  • Xylene
  • Xylem
  • Zahlen
  • Zelen
  • Silen
  • Zlin
  • Zeitlin
  • Zylon
  • Silan
  • Sellin

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Zilin

What does the name Zilin mean?
The Zilin or Forest of Characters was a Chinese dictionary compiled by the Jin dynasty (266–420) lexicographer Lü Chen (呂忱). It contained 12,824 character head entries, organized by the 540-radical system of the Shuowen Jiezi. In the history of Chinese lexicography, the Zilin followed the Shuowen Jiezi and preceded the Yupian.
How popular is Zilin in 2026?
In 2026, Zilin ranks #14,580 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Zilin most popular?
Zilin reached its peak popularity in 2013, ranking #14,580 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Zilin a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Zilin is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Zilin?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Zilin include Arrah, Neia, Yenta. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Zilin

Zilin is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2013 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Zilin's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #14,580. Use the chart and map above to compare Zilin's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.