It’s Linh Mai: National Zoo decides name for baby elephant following public vote

The voters have spoken. The name of the baby female Asian elephant at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is Linh Mai, zoo officials announced Friday.

In Vietnamese, Linh means spirit and Mai means blossom, referring to the apricot blossom flower associated with celebrations of the Lunar New Year, also known as Tet, that kick off Tuesday.

The name was one of four options offered for the 13-day-old calf by the zoo in a 10-day poll. The names were all in Vietnamese to echo the name of Linh Mai’s mother, 12-year-old Nhi Linh.

To participate, poll voters had to donate at least $5, with each $1 counting for a single vote.

Zoo officials said the poll brought in $58,892.70 overall, with Linh Mai garnering $22,885 worth of votes, 39% of the total.

The name Tu Ahn, which means “talented, gifted, bright and intelligent,” came in narrowly at second place with $20,627 worth of votes, 35% of the total.

Zoo officials said on social media that 1,835 people cast votes in the poll.

The other two names had less support. Tuyet, Vietnamese for snow, got 14% of the total for $8,153.70 worth of votes, while Thao Nhi, meaning gentle and beloved, got 12% and $7,227, zoo officials said.

Linh Mai is the first new Asian elephant born at the National Zoo in nearly 25 years. Previously, the male Kandula was born at the D.C. zoo in 2001, living there until 2015 when he was sent off to the Oklahoma City Zoo.

Linh Mai is expected to make her inaugural appearance before the viewing public in the spring, zoo officials said.