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