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