Lynda
Lynda is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Soft, tender, or pretty.
Origin and history
Lynda is a variant spelling of Linda, which ultimately derives from Germanic elements meaning 'soft' or 'tender', as well as the Spanish word for 'pretty'. It reached peak popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century. Today, it remains a traditional name with occasional contemporary usage.
Popularity in the United States
77,979 babies in the United States have been named Lynda since 1880. It ranks #447 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1962.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.2 %)
- TX (8 %)
- NY (7.6 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
- PA (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 16 |
| 1890-1900 | 39 |
| 1900-1910 | 42 |
| 1910-1920 | 148 |
| 1920-1930 | 282 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,195 |
| 1940-1950 | 27,952 |
| 1950-1960 | 22,689 |
| 1960-1970 | 15,694 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,349 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,293 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,058 |
| 2000-2010 | 683 |
| 2010-2019 | 400 |
| 2020-2029 | 139 |
Famous people named Lynda
- Lynda Carter: Actress, Singer
- Lynda Barry: Cartoonist, Author
Nicknames
Lyn, Lynn, Lindy
Fun facts
- The spelling with a 'y' gained traction in the mid-20th century as a stylized alternative to Linda.
- Lynda achieved its highest U.S. popularity during the 1940s and 1950s alongside its counterpart Linda.