What does Lan mean?
Lan is commonly the character 兰, “orchid,” a flower of refinement.
What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
Lan vs Ling
Which is more popular?
Lan and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Lan | Ling | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Orchid (兰) | Delicate jade (玲) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LAHN | LING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1972 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 1982 (47) | 1981 (13) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Vintage | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lan
Ling
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lan | Ling |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 7 |
| 2010s | 61 | 30 |
| 2000s | 92 | 33 |
| 1990s | 183 | 42 |
| 1980s | 336 | 75 |
| 1970s | 97 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lan or Ling more popular?
Lan and Ling are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Lan and Ling?
Lan means Orchid (兰) (Chinese origin), while Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Lan or Ling?
In US records, Lan first appears in 1972 and Ling in 1977, so Lan has the longer recorded history.