Given name & surname · also Old English
Linden
“from the hill of lime trees”·“from the lime tree”
Linden is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the hill of lime trees” (English) and “from the lime tree” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the hill of lime trees” (English) and “from the lime tree” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Linden through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,100
- 4,102 boys · 1,998 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 210 babies
- 2025
- 210
- #1,415 for boys · #2,269 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 58% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 129 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,415 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 5.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 81 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,302 as a first name in 2020; 5,828 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.
Linden’s family of names
Linden has a related form in Lin. Linden has a related form in Lyndon. Linden has a related form in Lynden.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Linden
- Linden AshbyAmerican actor (born 1960)
- Linden HallAustralian athletics competitorborn 1991
- Linden VeyCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1991
- Linden ChilesAmerican actor (1933-2013)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Linden, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arley
“from the hare's meadow”
68% boys · 32% girls
Rowan
“of the red-berry tree”
74% boys · 26% girls
Oakley
“from the field of oak trees” · “from the meadow of oak trees”
35% boys · 65% girls
River
“from the river”
65% boys · 35% girls
Royal
“of the king; a regal man”
69% boys · 31% girls
Murphy
“daughter of a great sea warrior” · “a warrior of the sea”
38% boys · 62% girls
Quincy
“the fifth-born child”
66% boys · 34% girls
Ellis
“Jehovah is my God” · “noble”
73% boys · 27% girls