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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lina

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

peak 202418802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

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

Explore names like Lina

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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.

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