Lien
A feminine name of Vietnamese origin meaning "lotus flower".
Name Census estimates that about 500 living Americans carry the first name Lien. It is a predominantly female name (98.9% of registrations). The average person named Lien today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lien births was 1982 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lien. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
500
~ 1 in 685,509 Americans
Peak year
1982
34 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2013 SSA rank
#11,595
Tracked since 1975
Gender
Gender distribution for Lien
Lien leans heavily female at 98.9% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Lien as a male name
- Ranked #11,595 in 2013
- 6 male births in 2013
- Peak: 2013 (6 births)
Lien as a female name
- Ranked #16,684 in 2022
- 5 female births in 2022
- Peak: 1982 (34 births)
Popularity
Lien: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lien from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 242 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lien by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lien during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Liens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Lien, while Louisiana, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 39 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lien
The given name Lien has its roots in the Vietnamese language. It is a gender-neutral name that originated in Vietnam, a country located in Southeast Asia with a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years.
Lien is derived from the Vietnamese word "liên," which means "lotus" or "water lily." The lotus flower holds great significance in Vietnamese culture, symbolizing purity, beauty, and spiritual enlightenment. It is often associated with Buddhism, a religion that has had a profound influence on the region.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Lien can be found in ancient Vietnamese literature and poetry, where the lotus flower was frequently used as a metaphor for beauty, grace, and resilience. The name was likely bestowed upon children as a symbol of these desirable qualities.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lien. One such figure was Lien Ngo Van Vien (1612-1673), a renowned Vietnamese poet and scholar during the Le Dynasty. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting Vietnamese literature and culture.
Another prominent individual with the name Lien was Lien Hui (1826-1867), a Chinese-Vietnamese revolutionary and leader of the Taiping Rebellion, one of the bloodiest civil wars in human history. Despite her ultimate defeat, Lien Hui's courage and determination made her a revered figure in the fight against the Qing Dynasty.
In the realm of arts and culture, Lien Phuong (1956-present) is a celebrated Vietnamese-American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous films and television shows, showcasing her talent and contributing to the representation of Vietnamese culture in the entertainment industry.
Lien Huong (1764-1813) was a Vietnamese poet and writer who gained recognition for her poetic works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her writings have been celebrated for their lyrical beauty and profound insights.
Lien Giang (1927-2022) was a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist who played a pivotal role in advocating for non-violence and reconciliation during the Vietnam War. His efforts to promote peace and understanding earned him international recognition and respect.
While the name Lien has its origins in Vietnam, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly among individuals with Vietnamese heritage or those drawn to the beauty and symbolism of the lotus flower.
People
Lien + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lien as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lien: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lien?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 500 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lien going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 685,509 US residents.
Is Lien a common name?
We classify Lien as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 525 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lien most popular?
The single biggest year for Lien was 1982, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lien is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lien a female name?
Yes, 98.9% of people registered as Lien in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.