Linus
Boy name · #1909 in 2025 · Very rare
Linus ranks #1909 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 82 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1152, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,951 boys born in 2025 was named Linus.
The 143-year story
Linus first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 166 boys were named Linus — good for #1141 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Linus per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Linus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Linus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Linus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Linus will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Linus is most common
State-level data for Linus is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Linus
Statistically, parents drawn to Linus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sylus, Syrus, Magnus, Tidus, and Tytus.
SylusSyrusMagnusTidusTytusLuciusLeviticusYunus
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Linus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #1906 |
| 2024 | 129 | #1423 |
| 2023 | 114 | #1539 |
| 2022 | 126 | #1440 |
| 2021 | 113 | #1546 |
| 2020 | 124 | #1398 |
| 2019 | 112 | #1515 |
| 2018 | 147 | #1255 |
| 2017 | 166 | #1141 |
| 2016 | 131 | #1356 |
| 2015 | 163 | #1152 |
| 2014 | 163 | #1158 |
| 2013 | 130 | #1321 |
| 2012 | 141 | #1249 |
| 2011 | 126 | #1344 |
| 2010 | 117 | #1415 |
| 2009 | 111 | #1497 |
| 2008 | 113 | #1452 |
| 2007 | 91 | #1669 |
| 2006 | 66 | #2010 |
| 2005 | 66 | #1922 |
| 2004 | 63 | #1934 |
| 2003 | 50 | #2180 |
| 2002 | 41 | #2428 |
| 2001 | 44 | #2277 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Linus a popular boy name?
Linus ranked #1909 among boys in 2025 with 82 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1152.
When was the name Linus most popular?
Linus peaked in 2017, when 166 American boys received the name (ranked #1141 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Linus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,951 newborn American boys was named Linus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.