Linda Girl

Popularity: #659 · 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.

LisaLauraLilaLanaLydiaLeah

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.

LinaLanaLydiaLilaLindseyLindsay

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, Texas, and Ohio.

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.

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.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 294 0 294
2024 324 0 324
2023 324 0 324
2022 352 0 352
2021 328 0 328
2020 334 0 334
2019 362 0 362
2018 398 0 398
2017 410 0 410
2016 444 0 444
2015 429 0 429
2014 475 0 475
2013 447 0 447
2012 450 0 450
2011 491 0 491
2010 480 0 480
2009 555 0 555
2008 614 0 614
2007 662 0 662
2006 700 0 700
2005 754 0 754
2004 731 0 731
2003 741 0 741
2002 773 0 773
2001 839 0 839
2000 851 0 851
1999 900 0 900
1998 972 0 972
1997 1,099 0 1,099
1996 987 0 987
1995 1,234 0 1,234
1994 1,295 11 1,284
1993 1,495 7 1,488
1992 1,594 12 1,582
1991 1,618 10 1,608
1990 1,672 11 1,661
1989 1,861 17 1,844
1988 1,854 9 1,845
1987 1,946 15 1,931
1986 1,971 21 1,950
1985 2,126 12 2,114
1984 2,348 12 2,336
1983 2,498 24 2,474
1982 2,810 19 2,791
1981 2,743 15 2,728
1980 2,824 18 2,806
1979 2,755 16 2,739
1978 2,947 15 2,932
1977 2,934 22 2,912
1976 3,150 12 3,138
1975 3,542 20 3,522
1974 4,098 21 4,077
1973 4,751 20 4,731
1972 5,775 33 5,742
1971 7,403 27 7,376
1970 8,769 38 8,731
1969 10,295 49 10,246
1968 11,412 41 11,371
1967 13,229 33 13,196
1966 15,619 53 15,566
1965 19,408 63 19,345
1964 23,722 93 23,629
1963 27,812 85 27,727
1962 31,546 85 31,461
1961 35,683 86 35,597
1960 37,412 96 37,316
1959 40,531 121 40,410
1958 41,999 95 41,904
1957 44,637 120 44,517
1956 48,191 107 48,084
1955 51,404 104 51,300
1954 55,487 116 55,371
1953 61,395 114 61,281
1952 67,219 137 67,082
1951 74,107 125 73,982
1950 80,563 130 80,433
1949 91,184 169 91,015
1948 96,427 207 96,220
1947 99,908 216 99,692
1946 52,825 115 52,710
1945 41,576 111 41,465
1944 38,529 114 38,415
1943 38,576 137 38,439
1942 31,734 121 31,613
1941 23,801 80 23,721
1940 18,429 59 18,370
1939 10,757 44 10,713
1938 7,075 28 7,047
1937 4,397 19 4,378
1936 2,449 9 2,440
1935 1,207 10 1,197
1934 1,000 0 1,000
1933 791 9 782
1932 779 5 774
1931 535 0 535
1930 492 0 492
1929 516 7 509
1928 555 0 555
1927 516 0 516
1926 480 0 480
1925 444 6 438
1924 454 0 454
1923 423 0 423
1922 365 0 365
1921 367 0 367
1920 348 0 348
1919 282 0 282
1918 322 0 322
1917 291 0 291
1916 297 0 297
1915 290 0 290
1914 219 0 219
1913 238 0 238
1912 189 0 189
1911 130 0 130
1910 137 0 137
1909 105 0 105
1908 93 0 93
1907 102 0 102
1906 98 0 98
1905 105 0 105
1904 101 0 101
1903 90 0 90
1902 91 0 91
1901 86 0 86
1900 125 0 125
1899 98 0 98
1898 102 0 102
1897 81 0 81
1896 104 0 104
1895 96 0 96
1894 94 0 94
1893 82 0 82
1892 83 0 83
1891 78 0 78
1890 54 0 54
1889 74 0 74
1888 77 0 77
1887 50 0 50
1886 49 0 49
1885 60 0 60
1884 33 0 33
1883 49 0 49
1882 36 0 36
1881 38 0 38
1880 27 0 27

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 39
15%
PA 37
14%
CA 34
13%
OH 19
7%
FL 16
6%
NY 13
5%
IL 12
4%
VA 11
4%
MI 10
4%
KY 8
3%
ID 7
3%
MD 7
3%
CO 7
3%
MO 7
3%
NC 7
3%
NJ 6
2%
IN 6
2%
GA 6
2%
AL 5
2%
MN 5
2%
WI 5
2%