What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
What does Ning mean?
Ning is commonly the character 宁, “peaceful, tranquil.”
Ling vs Ning
Which is more popular?
Ling and Ning are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Ling | Ning | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Delicate jade (玲) | Peaceful (宁) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LING | NING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 2017 |
| Peak year | 1981 (13) | 2017 (10) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ling
Ning
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ling | Ning |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7 | 6 |
| 2010s | 30 | 10 |
| 2000s | 33 | 0 |
| 1990s | 42 | 0 |
| 1980s | 75 | 0 |
| 1970s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ling or Ning more popular?
Ling and Ning are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Ling and Ning?
Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin), while Ning means Peaceful (宁) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ling or Ning?
In US records, Ling first appears in 1977 and Ning in 2017, so Ling has the longer recorded history.