Given name
Linnea
Linnea is used as a given name. One Scandinavian interpretation is “resembling a small mountain flower; of the lime tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scandinavian interpretation is “resembling a small mountain flower; of the lime tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scandinavian.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1894. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Swedish use, Linnea has a related form in Linnéa. The history of Linnéa gives this family its wider story. An earlier form, Linnaea, was in use during the mid-19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Linnea through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,944
- 0 boys · 9,944 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 177 babies
- 2025
- 149
- #1,449 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 149 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,449 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 2.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 177 in 2015. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,792 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Linnea’s family of names
In Finnish usage, Linnea has a short form in Nea. Linnea has a related form in Lynnea. Linnea has a related form in Lynae.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Linnea has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
6 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
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 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Linnea
- Linnea QuigleyAmerican actressborn 1958
- Linnea BerthelsenDanish actressborn 1993
- Linnea TorstenssonSwedish handball playerborn 1983
- Linnea LiljegärdSwedish association football playerborn 1988
- Linnea DaleNorwegian singerborn 1991
- Linnea SödahlSwedish singerborn 1987
- Linnea GustafssonSwedish orienteerborn 1986
- Linnea OlssonSwedish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (born 1983)
- Linnea DebSwedish singer, songwriter and producerborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Linnea, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dahlia
“from the valley; resembling the flower”
>99% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Applegarth
“apple tree”
—
Gersemi
“as precious as a jewel”
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Bjorklund
“birch tree” · “grove”
—
Ekstrom
“oak” · “river, current, stream”
—
Engholm
“meadow” · “small island”
—
Liv
“one who protects others” · “from the olive tree”
>99% girls