What does Jing mean?
Jing is commonly the character 静, “quiet, tranquil,” among other possibilities.
What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
Jing vs Ling
Which is more popular?
Jing and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Jing | Ling | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Quiet, still (静) | Delicate jade (玲) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | JING | LING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1991 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 2003 (12) | 1981 (13) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Jing
Ling
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Jing | Ling |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 7 |
| 2010s | 12 | 30 |
| 2000s | 72 | 33 |
| 1990s | 41 | 42 |
| 1980s | 0 | 75 |
| 1970s | 0 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jing or Ling more popular?
Jing and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Jing and Ling?
Jing means Quiet, still (静) (Chinese origin), while Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Jing or Ling?
In US records, Jing first appears in 1991 and Ling in 1977, so Ling has the longer recorded history.