Linda Girl

Popularity: #636 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LIN-duh /ˈlɪn.də/

Origin: Spanish; Germanic; English

Meaning: Spanish: beautiful; Germanic: soft, tender; English: noble

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Linda has its roots in the Spanish and Portuguese word "linda," meaning "pretty" or "beautiful." This term is derived from the Latin word "linda," which is a diminutive form of "linna," meaning "flax" or "flaxen-haired." The name entered the English language in the 19th century, influenced by the romanticized notions of beauty prevalent in literature and art of the time. Its adoption in English-speaking countries can be traced back to the 19th century, particularly through the popularization of the name in the United States, where it gained significant traction after being used in the 1942 Disney film "Bambi," which featured a character named Linda.

Historically, the name Linda has been associated with various cultural figures and milestones. One notable instance is the use of the name in the 19th century, where it appeared in literature and was sometimes used as a diminutive for names like Belinda or Melinda.

The name's rise in popularity can also be linked to the 20th century, particularly with the publication of the song "Linda" by Buddy Holly in 1947, which further cemented its place in popular culture. Additionally, the name has been borne by various notable individuals, including Linda McCartney, an influential figure in music and photography, who contributed to the cultural landscape of the 20th century.

Culturally, Linda has resonated with themes of beauty and femininity, often symbolizing grace and charm. The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, from literature to music, reflecting its aesthetic appeal.

Its simplicity and melodic quality have contributed to its enduring presence in various cultures. While diminutive forms like Lindy have emerged, the name Linda itself remains a standalone representation of beauty and elegance, rooted in its linguistic origins and historical significance.

Famous people named Linda

In this section, you will find notable people named Linda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Linda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Linda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Linda Ronstadt is a singer and songwriter best known for Heart Like a Wheel, Blue Bayou, and You're No Good.

Linda Hamilton is an actress best known for The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Beauty and the Beast.

Linda Blair is an actress best known for The Exorcist, Roller Boogie, and Hell Night.

Linda Cardellini is an actress best known for Freaks and Geeks, Dead to Me, and Scooby-Doo.

Linda Evangelista is a supermodel best known for her work with Versace, Chanel, and her iconic status in the fashion industry.

Linda Gray is an actress best known for Dallas, The Big Valley, and Models Inc.

Linda McCartney was a photographer and musician best known for her work with Paul McCartney and Wings, and her vegetarian cookbooks.

Linda B. Buck is a biologist best known for her research on the olfactory system and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Fictional characters named Linda

The following list of fictional characters named Linda is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Linda is a fictional character from the film The Incredibles. She is a supporting character who works as a receptionist at the superhero agency.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Linda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Linda. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Linda was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Linda has ranked as high as #1 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Linda has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Linda is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Linda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Linda (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 39
15%
PA 37
14%
CA 34
13%
OH 19
7%
FL 16
6%
NY 13
5%
IL 12
5%
VA 11
4%
KY 8
3%
MD 7
3%
CO 7
3%
MO 7
3%
NC 7
3%
ID 7
3%
IN 6
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Linda.

YearBirths
2024321
2023324
2022352
2021327
2020334
2019362
2018398
2017409
2016443
2015429
2014475
2013447
2012450
2011490
2010480
2009553
2008614
2007662
2006700
2005754
2004731
2003741
2002773
2001839
2000851
1999900
1998972
19971,099
1996987
19951,234
19941,284
19931,488
19921,582
19911,608
19901,661
19891,845
19881,845
19871,931
19861,950
19852,115
19842,336
19832,476
19822,791
19812,729
19802,806
19792,740
19782,930
19772,912
19763,138
19753,522
19744,077
19734,731
19725,743
19717,376
19708,730
196910,246
196811,371
196713,196
196615,564
196519,343
196423,632
196327,723
196231,463
196135,592
196037,315
195940,412
195841,905
195744,515
195648,085
195551,300
195455,371
195361,281
195267,081
195173,982
195080,431
194991,016
194896,216
194799,693
194652,710
194541,465
194438,415
194338,439
194231,614
194123,721
194018,369
193910,713
19387,047
19374,378
19362,440
19351,197
19341,000
1933782
1932774
1931535
1930492
1929509
1928555
1927516
1926480
1925438
1924454
1923423
1922365
1921367
1920348
1919282
1918322
1917291
1916297
1915290
1914219
1913238
1912189
1911130
1910137
1909105
190893
1907102
190698
1905105
1904101
190390
190291
190186
1900125
189998
1898102
189781
1896104
189596
189494
189382
189283
189178
189054
188974
188877
188750
188649
188560
188433
188349
188236
188138
188027