Linda Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Linda is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Linda?
Linda is spelled L-I-N-D-A. The name has 5 letters.
Linda at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Linda means “soft,” “tender,” or “pretty,” derived from the Spanish and Portuguese adjective for “pretty.”
- Origin
- Linda is commonly associated with Spanish and Portuguese languages, where it functions as a descriptive adjective meaning “pretty” or “beautiful.”
- Pronunciation
- LIN-duh · 2 syllables
Linda Popularity in 2025
Rank#902
Recorded Births294
- Girls usage fell 66 places to #902 and recorded 30 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Linda Mean?
Linda means “soft,” “tender,” or “pretty,” derived from the Spanish and Portuguese adjective for “pretty.”
Origin: Linda is commonly associated with Spanish and Portuguese languages, where it functions as a descriptive adjective meaning “pretty” or “beautiful.”
How Do You Pronounce Linda?
PronunciationLIN-duh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Linda?
- History
- Linda became popular as a given name in English-speaking countries in the 20th century and is derived from older Iberian linguistic roots.
Linda Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 294 | #902 |
| 2024 | Girls | 324 | #836 |
| 2023 | Girls | 324 | #841 |
| 2022 | Girls | 352 | #800 |
| 2021 | Girls | 328 | #841 |
| 2020 | Girls | 334 | #814 |
| 2019 | Girls | 362 | #768 |
| 2018 | Girls | 398 | #717 |
| 2017 | Girls | 410 | #704 |
| 2016 | Girls | 444 | #658 |
| 2015 | Girls | 429 | #664 |
| 2014 | Girls | 475 | #612 |
| 2013 | Girls | 447 | #626 |
| 2012 | Girls | 450 | #633 |
| 2011 | Girls | 491 | #587 |
| 2010 | Girls | 480 | #614 |
| 2009 | Girls | 555 | #548 |
| 2008 | Girls | 614 | #507 |
| 2007 | Girls | 662 | #492 |
| 2006 | Girls | 700 | #451 |
| 2005 | Girls | 754 | #415 |
| 2004 | Girls | 731 | #417 |
| 2003 | Girls | 741 | #409 |
| 2002 | Girls | 773 | #382 |
When Was Linda Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1947 · Girls
99,692 recorded births
National rank #1
1948 · Girls
96,220 recorded births
National rank #1
1949 · Girls
91,015 recorded births
National rank #1
1950 · Girls
80,433 recorded births
National rank #1
Where Linda Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| PA | #294 | 37 |
| KY | #498 | 8 |
| AR | #555 | 5 |
| NC | #560 | 19 |
| AZ | #676 | 9 |
| WI | #700 | 6 |
| IN | #721 | 8 |
| OH | #743 | 12 |