Linell
A feminine name of English origin meaning "a tidy, fair one".
Name Census estimates that about 312 living Americans carry the first name Linell. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 64.8% of registrations being female. The average person named Linell today is around 65 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Linell births was 1952 (50 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Linell. 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
312
~ 1 in 1,098,572 Americans
Peak year
1952
50 babies that year
Average age
65
years old
1990 SSA rank
#8,958
Tracked since 1919
Gender
Gender distribution for Linell
Linell is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 452 total registrations, 159 (35.2%) were male and 293 (64.8%) were female.
Linell as a male name
- Ranked #8,958 in 1990
- 5 male births in 1990
- Peak: 1952 (9 births)
Linell as a female name
- Ranked #11,359 in 1981
- 5 female births in 1981
- Peak: 1952 (41 births)
Popularity
Linell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Linell from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 181 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Linell 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 Linell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Linells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Linell
The name Linell is a feminine given name that derives from the Old English word "lin," meaning "flax" or "linen." It is believed to have originated in medieval England, where the cultivation of flax and the production of linen were significant industries. The name likely arose as a descriptive moniker, either referring to a person's occupation in the linen trade or to someone with fair, flaxen hair.
In its earliest recorded usages, the name appeared as "Lynelle" or "Lynell" in various medieval English records and parish registers. One of the earliest documented instances is that of Lynelle de Avranches, a noblewoman mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror.
During the Middle Ages, the name Linell held associations with the Virgin Mary, as flax and linen were often used in the production of religious vestments and altar cloths. In some regions, it was a popular choice for girls born on or around the Feast of the Annunciation, a significant celebration in the Christian calendar.
As the name evolved over the centuries, it underwent various spelling variations, including Lynell, Lynelle, Linell, and Linelle. One notable historical figure bearing the name was Linell Cynthia Kickliter (1918-2007), an American artist and author known for her children's books and illustrations.
Another noteworthy individual was Linell Aycock (1934-2021), a pioneering American businesswoman who co-founded the successful restaurant chain Chili's Grill & Bar in the 1970s. Her entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen helped establish Chili's as a prominent national brand.
In the realm of literature, the name Linell has also made its mark. Linell Nash (1952-2022) was an American writer and journalist who contributed to numerous publications, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. Her work often explored cultural and social issues with depth and insight.
Historically, the name Linell has also been associated with the arts. Linell Capehart (1921-2006) was an American actress and dancer who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films during the mid-20th century, showcasing her talent and versatility on stage and screen.
While not a common name in modern times, Linell has maintained a presence throughout history, carrying with it the symbolic connections to the humble yet essential flax plant and the enduring tradition of linen production, woven into the tapestry of cultural heritage.
People
Linell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Linell 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
Linell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Linell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 312 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Linell 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 1,098,572 US residents.
Is Linell a common name?
We classify Linell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 452 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Linell most popular?
The single biggest year for Linell was 1952, when 50 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Linell is about 65 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Linell a female name?
Yes, 64.8% of people registered as Linell 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.