What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
What does Ying mean?
Ying is commonly the character 英, “flower, brave, outstanding.”
Ling vs Ying
Which is more popular?
Ling and Ying are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Ling | Ying | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Delicate jade (玲) | Flower, hero (英) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LING | YING |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 1980 |
| Peak year | 1981 (13) | 1992 (16) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ling
Ying
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ling | Ying |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7 | 0 |
| 2010s | 30 | 0 |
| 2000s | 33 | 70 |
| 1990s | 42 | 84 |
| 1980s | 75 | 106 |
| 1970s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ling or Ying more popular?
Ling and Ying are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Ling and Ying?
Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin), while Ying means Flower, hero (英) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ling or Ying?
In US records, Ling first appears in 1977 and Ying in 1980, so Ling has the longer recorded history.