Lin
Lin is a unisex name of Chinese origin meaning “forest, jade, beautiful.” Lin (林) means 'forest' or 'woods,' representing the beauty and interconnectedness of nature.
how do you pronounce Lin?
LIN
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Lin mean?
The name Lin means “forest, jade, beautiful.” It comes from the Chinese language tradition.
Lin (林) means 'forest' or 'woods,' representing the beauty and interconnectedness of nature. As 琳, it means 'beautiful jade.' Lin is both one of China's most common surnames and a popular given name, evoking natural beauty and scholarly refinement.
where does the name Lin come from?
Wiktionary confirms the character 林 (Lin) is formed by a reduplication of the character for wood or tree, supporting the forest/woods meaning given elsewhere. Wikipedia adds that Lin is the Mandarin romanization of this surname, used across Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Neither source mentions the alternative jade character (琳) or a 'beautiful jade' meaning, so that reading isn't confirmed here.
the history of Lin
The sources describe Lin chiefly as a widespread Chinese surname rather than detailing its history as a given name specifically.
who are famous people named Lin?
- Lin-Manuel Miranda (American playwright)
- Jeremy Lin (American-Taiwanese basketball player)
- Maya Lin (American architect and designer)
what names are similar to Lin?
what names go well with Lin?
Sibling names that share Lin's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Lin? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation