Given name & surname
Lina
“of the palm tree”
Lina is used as a given name and a surname. One Arabic interpretation is “of the palm tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Arabic interpretation is “of the palm tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
How it developed
In Italian usage, Lina is a feminine form of Lino.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Lina is a feminine form of Linus. The history of Linus gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Linus is associated with the musician son of Apollo.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lina through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 19,494
- 5 boys · 19,489 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 534 babies
- 2025
- 527
- #572 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 527 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 572 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 34.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (74). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 28,814 as a first name in 2020; 615 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lina’s family of names
In German usage, Lina is a diminutive of Caroline. In Italian usage, Lina is a feminine form of Lino. Lina has a related form in Lena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lina has relatives in 11 languages. Lines run from its Arabic roots to each of them.
13 related names in 11 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 27
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Milaequivalent
- Stellaequivalent
- Lianaequivalent
- Elinaequivalent
- Lindaequivalent
- Linusmasculine form · English
- Linomasculine form · Italian, Spanish
- Evangeliaequivalent
Show 19 moreShow fewer
People named Lina
- Lina KostenkoUkrainian writerborn 1930
- Lina MedinaPeruvian woman, youngest confirmed mother in medical historyborn 1933
- Lina SternSoviet biochemist, physiologist and humanist (1875-1968)1878–1968
- Lina HurtigSwedish association football playerborn 1995
- Lina Bo BardiItalo-Brazilian architect (1914-1992)
- Lina RomaySpanish actress (1954-2012)
- Lina KhanAmerican legal scholar and jurist (born 1989)
- Lina Cheryazovafreestyle skier (1968–2019)
- Lina RadkeGerman middle distance runner (1903-1983)
Characters named Lina: Lina Inverse (the Slayers franchise).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Luna
“the moon”
>99% girls
Mariam
Mariam is a feminine given name. It is used in Lun Bawang.
>99% girls
Yasmin
“resembling the jasmine flower”
>99% girls
Zaleene
“of the moon”
—
Oilbhries
“olive tree”
—
Maïssa
“twinkling star”
>99% girls
Oballa
“a river goddess”
—
Zaleen
“of the moon”
—