Literal meaning uncertain in the documented Greek name tradition.
The exact English personal-name entry derives Linus through Latin from Greek Linos and explicitly calls its meaning uncertain. This does not turn an unverified flax or song interpretation into an established translation.
Origin
Greek, through Latin
From Greek Linos through Latin Linus. The reviewed source describes its meaning as uncertain.
English pronunciation
/ˈlaɪ.nəs/
General American English; the first syllable rhymes with eye.
Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.
Published name usage
Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.
Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
Place
Year
Recorded usage
Published births
Rank
Notes
Canada
2025
Boys
15 · preliminary
1500
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France
2018
Boys
5 (rounded to 5)
5047
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2025
Boys
5
3684
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland
2009
Boys
3
626
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States
2025
Boys
82
1906
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.
Sources & notes
Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.
Language of use: English
Checked against cited source
The exact English entry explicitly documents masculine given-name use, separate from the page’s geographical sense. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Linus entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Linus&oldid=93462571. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Meaning: Literal meaning uncertain in the documented Greek name tradition.
Checked against cited source
The exact English personal-name entry derives Linus through Latin from Greek Linos and explicitly calls its meaning uncertain. This does not turn an unverified flax or song interpretation into an established translation. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Linus entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Linus&oldid=93462571. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin: Greek, through Latin
Checked against cited source
From Greek Linos through Latin Linus. The reviewed source describes its meaning as uncertain.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
English pronunciation: /ˈlaɪ.nəs/
Checked against cited source
General American English; the first syllable rhymes with eye.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Syllables: 2 (the recorded General American reading)
Checked against cited source
The existing full General American personal-name reading /ˈlaɪ.nəs/ has two syllables. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Linus entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Linus&oldid=93462571. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
License: Statistics Canada Open Licence
Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.