Boy name · Greek
Linus
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: flax plantLinus is a boy's name that comes from Greek and means "flax plant". It is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
- Meaning
- Flax plant
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- LEE-noos (German)
Meaning and origin of Linus
As a boy's name, Linus comes from Greek and means "flax plant". It is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
In German, say LEE-noos. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Linus on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Linus on 7 lists.
“Flax; Greek. Christian named in 2 Timothy 4”
From Biblical names, names from the Gospels and Acts
“Greek for flax, gentle and thoughtful”
From Boy dog names, unique male dog names
“The second pope, successor to Peter”
From Priest names, papal names
“Flax; Greek. Say LEE-noos”
From German boy names, popular German boy names
“Flax plant; Greek. Charlie Brown's thoughtful friend”
From Old man names, distinguished old man names
“From Greek linon, flax; an early pope, and Charlie Brown's friend in Peanuts”
From Plant names, plant names for boys
“Flax plant; Greek, also the blanket-carrying Peanuts kid”
From Unique boy names, uncommon boy names from Greek and Latin
How popular is Linus?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,913
- 82 babies, 48 per million boys
- Best rank
- #625 in 1882
- Most babies: 166 in 2017
- Babies since 1882
- At least 5,342
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 28 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 23 per million |
| 1900s | 18 per million |
| 1910s | 51 per million |
| 1920s | 46 per million |
| 1930s | 31 per million |
| 1940s | 23 per million |
| 1950s | 14 per million |
| 1960s | 12 per million |
| 1970s | 8 per million |
| 1980s | 6 per million |
| 1990s | 11 per million |
| 2000s | 35 per million |
| 2010s | 74 per million |
| 2020s | 66 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,363 | #1,147 | #1,259 | #1,520 | #1,405 | #1,550 | #1,442 | #1,542 | #1,425 | #1,913 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Linus
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- LinosFlax (Greek, boy)
Names spelled like Linus
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LinForest; fine jade (depends on characters) (Chinese, unisex)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Linus
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Greek
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- HectorHolding fast (Greek, boy)
- TheoGift of God (Greek, boy)
- AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
- LucaMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- SebastianMan of sebaste, venerable (Greek, boy)
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
Linus: common questions
What does the name Linus mean?
Linus comes from Greek and means "flax plant".
Is Linus a boy or girl name?
Linus is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Linus come from?
Linus comes from Greek and means "flax plant". Today it is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
How do you pronounce Linus?
In German, say LEE-noos. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Linus?
Linus ranked #1,913 in the US in 2025, with 82 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Linus?
Forms of Linus with the same meaning and origin include Linos (Greek).
What middle names go with Linus?
Middle names that flow well with Linus include Abraham, Alexander, Bartholomew, Bradley and Cooper. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.