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At a Glance
- Origin
- Short form (of names like Angelina, Carolina, Evelina); occasionally feminine of Linus
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- LEE-nah
Lina is pronounced LEE-nah, and it most often works as a short form of longer names like Angelina, Carolina, or Evelina — occasionally it's used as a feminine take on Linus. You may have come across the idea that it means "tender" or "young palm tree," but that particular meaning isn't backed by dictionary sources, which trace Lina back to those longer names rather than to any meaning of its own. If the sound is what drew you in, that link to longer, familiar names is really the story behind it.
Meaning & Origin of Lina
Origin: short form (of names like Angelina, Carolina, Evelina); occasionally feminine of Linus.
A common claim: Lina is often said to mean 'tender' or 'young palm tree,' an Arabic meaning cited on many baby-name sites. Actually: Wiktionary treats Lina as a short form of names like Angelina or Carolina (occasionally a feminine of Linus), rather than a name with its own independent meaning.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Lina
LEE-nahIPA /ˈliːnə/
Popularity of Lina
SSA records for Lina go back to 1880, the very year it hit its highest popularity at #221 with 49 babies given the name; more recently, in 2024, it ranked #567 with 530 babies.
Names Like Lina
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Lina mean?
Lina is often said to mean ‘tender’ or ‘young palm tree,’ an Arabic meaning cited on many baby-name sites. Wiktionary treats Lina as a short form of names like Angelina or Carolina (occasionally a feminine of Linus), rather than a name with its own independent meaning.
How do you pronounce Lina?
Lina is pronounced LEE-nah (IPA: /ˈliːnə/).
Is Lina a popular name right now?
Lina peaked at #221 in 1880 and is ranked #567 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Lina Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lina, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Lina? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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