Linus
Linus is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Flax or flaxen-haired.
Origin and history
Linus is a name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from the word for flax or linen thread. In Greek mythology, Linus was a famous musician and personification of a lamentation song. It has maintained steady, moderate usage in the United States, bolstered by pop culture and historic associations.
Popularity in the United States
5,342 babies in the United States have been named Linus since 1880. It ranks #1675 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1278.
States where it is most popular
- CA (19.9 %)
- MN (10.3 %)
- NY (8.8 %)
- TX (8.5 %)
- OH (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 31 |
| 1890-1900 | 26 |
| 1900-1910 | 24 |
| 1910-1920 | 340 |
| 1920-1930 | 504 |
| 1930-1940 | 324 |
| 1940-1950 | 340 |
| 1950-1960 | 281 |
| 1960-1970 | 234 |
| 1970-1980 | 138 |
| 1980-1990 | 106 |
| 1990-2000 | 217 |
| 2000-2010 | 693 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,396 |
| 2020-2029 | 688 |
Famous people named Linus
- Linus Pauling: Chemist, Nobel Laureate
- Linus Torvalds: Software Engineer, Creator of Linux
- Linus Roache: Actor
Fun facts
- The name is widely recognized in American pop culture through Linus van Pelt, the blanket-carrying character in Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip.
- Linus Torvalds created the Linux operating system kernel, making the name prominent in the technology world.