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