Given name & surname
Linda
“one who is soft and beauti-”
Linda is used as a given name and a surname. One Spanish interpretation is “one who is soft and beauti-.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Spanish interpretation is “one who is soft and beauti-.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Spanish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In German usage, Linda is a short form of Sieglinde. In German usage, Linda is a short form of Dietlinde.
The story
Linda was in use during the 19th century.
Linda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,458,899
- 3,756 boys · 1,455,143 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 99,908 babies
- 2025
- 294
- #902 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −17%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 294 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 902 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 99,692 in 1947. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (38). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,164,876 as a first name in 2020; 1,088 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Linda’s family of names
In German usage, Linda has a short form in Lynn. In English usage, Linda has a related form in Lynda. In English usage, Linda has a related form in Lynda.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Linda has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Spanish roots to each of them.
14 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 30
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Lindydiminutive · English
- Lynnshort form · German
- Lyndivariant
- Lyndavariant · English
- Lyndeevariant
- Lyndyvariant
- Innadiminutive · Estonian
- Linniediminutive · English
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Lindiepet form · English
- Lindivariant
- Lindeevariant
- Linndalikely variant
- Lindevariant · Slovene, English
- Lynndavariant
- Lyndallvariant
- Lyndevariant
- Lindeyvariant
- Lindaleevariant
- Sieglindefull form · German
- Linddalikely variant
- Lyndeavariant
- Lindeavariant
- Lueindavariant
- Lynndievariant
- Lindkavariant
- Lindiravariant
- Lindičkadiminutive · Slovak, Czech
- Linduškadiminutive · Slovak, Czech
- Lindusdiminutive · Hungarian
- Dietlindefull form · German
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Milaequivalent
- Linaequivalent
- Lidaequivalent
- Olindaequivalent
- Lyudmilaequivalent
- Mirlindaequivalent
- Ludmillaequivalent
- Erlindaequivalent
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 6
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Linda
- Linda B. BuckAmerican biologistborn 1947
- Linda HamiltonAmerican actressborn 1956
- Linda RonstadtAmerican singer (born 1946)
- Linda BlairAmerican actressborn 1959
- Linda EvangelistaCanadian model (born 1965)
- Linda HuntAmerican actressborn 1945
- Linda CardelliniAmerican actress (b. 1975)
- Linda McCartneyAmerican photographer, musician and animal rights activist (1941–1998)
- Linda McMahonUnited States Secretary of Education since 2025born 1948
Characters named Linda: Linda Park (the DC Comics universe).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Linda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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