What does Hui mean?
Hui is commonly the character 慧, “wisdom, intelligence,” or 辉, “brightness.”
What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
Hui vs Ling
Which is more popular?
Hui and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Hui | Ling | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Wisdom, bright (慧) | Delicate jade (玲) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HWAY | LING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1991 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 2001 (8) | 1981 (13) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hui
Ling
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hui | Ling |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 7 |
| 2010s | 0 | 30 |
| 2000s | 13 | 33 |
| 1990s | 17 | 42 |
| 1980s | 0 | 75 |
| 1970s | 0 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hui or Ling more popular?
Hui and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Hui and Ling?
Hui means Wisdom, bright (慧) (Chinese origin), while Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Hui or Ling?
In US records, Hui first appears in 1991 and Ling in 1977, so Ling has the longer recorded history.