What does Ling mean?
Ling is commonly the character 玲, the tinkling of fine jade, or 灵, “spirit, quick.”
What does Zhen mean?
Zhen is commonly the character 珍, “precious, treasure.”
Ling vs Zhen
Which is more popular?
Ling and Zhen are given to a similar number of US babies today.
| Ling | Zhen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Delicate jade (玲) | Precious (珍) |
| Origin | Chinese | Chinese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LING | JEN |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1977 | 2016 |
| Peak year | 1981 (13) | 2024 (7) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ling
Zhen
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ling | Zhen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7 | 7 |
| 2010s | 30 | 15 |
| 2000s | 33 | 0 |
| 1990s | 42 | 0 |
| 1980s | 75 | 0 |
| 1970s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ling or Zhen more popular?
Ling and Zhen are given to a similar number of US babies today.
What is the difference between Ling and Zhen?
Ling means Delicate jade (玲) (Chinese origin), while Zhen means Precious (珍) (Chinese origin).
Which name is older, Ling or Zhen?
In US records, Ling first appears in 1977 and Zhen in 2016, so Ling has the longer recorded history.