Linna
A feminine given name of Finnish origin meaning "fortress" or "stronghold".
Name Census estimates that about 523 living Americans carry the first name Linna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Linna today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Linna births was 1950 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Linna. 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
523
~ 1 in 655,362 Americans
Peak year
1950
20 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,274
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Linna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Linna from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 101 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Linna remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Linna 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 Linna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Linnas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Linna
The name Linna has its origins in the Finnish language, where it is a feminine form of the name Lino, which means "flax" or "linen". The name first emerged in Finland during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century, when the cultivation of flax and the production of linen were important industries in the region.
In its earliest recorded usage, the name Linna appeared in Finnish folklore and traditional tales, often associated with characters connected to the textile industry or the natural world. It was a popular name among Finnish peasants and artisans involved in the production of linen and other textile goods.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Linna was Linna Eriksdotter (born around 1430), a skilled weaver and textile artist from the town of Turku, Finland. Her intricate tapestries and embroidered works were highly regarded in her time and are still preserved in several Finnish museums.
Another notable Linna from history was Linna Juhontytär (1520-1589), a respected herbalist and healer from the village of Kauhava in western Finland. She was renowned for her knowledge of medicinal plants and her ability to treat various ailments using natural remedies.
In the 17th century, Linna Laurinantytär (1635-1712) was a prominent figure in the Finnish resistance against the Swedish occupation. She played a crucial role in organizing and inspiring local uprisings against the Swedish authorities, earning her a reputation as a fearless patriot and leader.
During the 19th century, Linna Söderholm (1834-1901) was a pioneering Finnish educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in Finland and fought tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.
In more recent times, Linna Järvinen (1909-1987) was a renowned Finnish author and poet, known for her poignant works that explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. Her poetry collections and novels garnered critical acclaim and cemented her place as one of Finland's most celebrated writers of the 20th century.
While the name Linna has its roots in Finnish culture and history, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in Scandinavian countries and among communities with Finnish heritage. However, its use as a first name remains most prevalent in Finland, where it continues to carry its historical associations with the textile industry, natural world, and national identity.
People
Linna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Linna 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
Linna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Linna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 523 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Linna 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 655,362 US residents.
Is Linna a common name?
We classify Linna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 876 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Linna most popular?
The single biggest year for Linna was 1950, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Linna is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Linna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Linna 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.