Linda
Linda is a girl's name of Spanish origin.
Meaning
Beautiful, pretty, or soft and tender.
Origin and history
Linda originates as a Spanish adjective meaning 'pretty' or 'beautiful', though it also derives from a short form of Germanic names containing the element 'linde', meaning 'soft' or 'tender'. It became exceptionally popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, holding the title of top girl name for several years. Today, it remains a well-known classic name, though its usage for newborns has significantly declined.
Popularity in the United States
1,455,143 babies in the United States have been named Linda since 1880. It ranks #5 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #802.
States where it is most popular
- CA (7.9 %)
- NY (7.9 %)
- PA (6.1 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 493 |
| 1890-1900 | 872 |
| 1900-1910 | 996 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,395 |
| 1920-1930 | 4,455 |
| 1930-1940 | 29,358 |
| 1940-1950 | 531,660 |
| 1950-1960 | 564,364 |
| 1960-1970 | 225,454 |
| 1970-1980 | 45,900 |
| 1980-1990 | 22,819 |
| 1990-2000 | 12,815 |
| 2000-2010 | 7,220 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,386 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,956 |
Famous people named Linda
- Linda Ronstadt: Singer, Musician
- Linda Hamilton: Actress
- Linda Evans: Actress
Nicknames
Lin, Lindy
Fun facts
- Linda was the most popular name for baby girls in the United States from 1947 through 1952, unseating Mary.
- While directly adopted from the Spanish word for 'pretty', it also originated as a suffix in Germanic names like Melinda and Belinda.