Lina

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-nuh /ˈliː.nə/High

Meaning: Tender; a short form of names ending in -lina (Carolina, Angelina, Catalina) or independently an Arabic name meaning 'tender' or 'palm tree'High

In 30 seconds: A soft, versatile two-syllable name, Lina serves as both a standalone given name meaning 'tender' in Arabic and a diminutive of longer names like Carolina and Angelina.

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Origin HighGermanic, Greek, Arabic

MeaningTender; a short form of names ending in -lina (Carolina, Angelina, Catalina) or independently an Arabic name meaning 'tender' or 'palm tree'

U.S. rank (2025)#572 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births527 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 19,479

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Lina functions in several naming traditions. In Germanic and Romance languages it is a short form of names ending in -lina, such as Carolina, Angelina, and Catalina. In Arabic, Lina is an independent name meaning 'tender' or derived from linat, a young palm tree. In Greek, it echoes the suffix of names like Helena.

Lina has been used across Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, giving it a rare multicultural reach. In the United States it has grown as both a standalone name and a nickname, benefiting from the popularity of longer -lina names. Its brevity and clarity make it universally accessible.

Did you know? Lina is simultaneously a short form of many European names ending in -lina and an independent Arabic name meaning 'tender' or 'palm tree,' making it one of the few names that belongs equally to multiple linguistic traditions.

Overall data confidence 88%

Behind the Name — Lina — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LenaLeenaLinnaLinah

Nicknames

Lin

Famous Bearers

★Lina Wertmüller (1928–2021)
Italian film director, the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director (1977).

If you like Lina…

Lena— shares the same two-syllable structure and soft European diminutive tradition

Luna— fellow two-syllable L- name with soft vowels and wide international appeal

Nina— near-rhyme with the same gentle sound and cross-cultural nickname feel

Mina— shares the same short, soft pattern and similarly multicultural roots

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lina mean?

Lina means 'tender' in Arabic, or 'palm tree,' and also serves as a short form of names like Carolina and Angelina.

How do you pronounce Lina?

Lina is said LEE-nuh — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Lina a nickname or a given name?

Lina works as both — it is an independent given name in Arabic tradition and a nickname for longer European names ending in -lina.

Is Lina popular?

Lina has grown in popularity in the United States and ranks in the top 400 girls' names, with strong use in Europe and the Middle East.