Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda (2024)

Gender Feminine

Pronounced Pron. LIN-də(English) LIN-da(German, Dutch, Czech) LEEN-da(Italian) LEEN-DA(French) LEEN-dah(Finnish) LEEN-daw(Hungarian)[key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Originally a medieval short form of Germanic names containing the element lind meaning "soft, flexible, tender" (Proto-Germanic *linþaz). It also coincides with the Spanish and Portuguese word linda meaning "beautiful". In the English-speaking world this name experienced a spike in popularity beginning in the 1930s, peaking in the late 1940s, and declining shortly after that. It was the most popular name for girls in the United States from 1947 to 1952.

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classic natural wholesome refined

Name Days

Czechia: September 1

Estonia: June 25

Finland: April 15

Hungary: February 13

Latvia: April 30

Latvia: August 21

Norway: May 13

Slovakia: September 2

Sweden: June 20

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Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda (2)Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda (3)

Entry updated December 7, 2022

Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda (2024)

FAQs

Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda? ›

Linda is a feminine name of Spanish origin, meaning "pretty." It may also have German roots, stemming from the word "lind," which means "tender," or as a derivative of the linden tree.

What is the true meaning of the name Linda? ›

Meaning of Linda

The name Linda means "beautiful"in Spanish but has a Germanic origin meaning soft, tender. It's also Teutonic (Old German) for 'serpent' or 'lithe as a serpent'.

What is the meaning of Linda in the Bible? ›

"Linda" is a name of Spanish and Portuguese origin that means "beautiful" or "pretty." It has been used in various cultures and languages but does not have a specific biblical significance or origin.

What does Linda mean spiritually? ›

It is symbolically linked to the element Earth, representing the solid, stable, and grounded aspects of life.

What does being called a Linda mean? ›

Linda means “cute or pretty” in Spanish. In many areas of the U.S. there are Spanish speaking persons, who may use the term because it captures the sweet innocence of the new life. Others also may use the term as an adjective to describe other children whose given name is not Linda.

What is a fun fact about the name Linda? ›

The German name Linde was originally an abbreviated form of older names such as Dietlinde and Sieglinde. In the form Linda, it was used by the writer Jean Paul for a leading character in his four-volume novel Titan, published 1800–1803, and it became popular in German-speaking countries thereafter.

What does Linda mean in Hebrew? ›

Linda is not a Hebrew name, therefore it does not have a meaning in Hebrew (naturally). This question would be like asking what the name “Bob” means in Vietnamese. In Portuguese, and likely in a few other Romance languages, the word linda (or variations of it, such as lindo) means beautiful.

What year was Linda a popular name? ›

Their name's popularity climbed in the 1930s, then eclipsed “Mary”—a biblical juggernaut—in 1947, a year when nearly 100,000 baby girls in the U.S.—or about one in every 18 born—were Lindas. There were nearly 5,000 Lyndas, too, a name the club accepts.

What decade was the name Linda popular? ›

In every generation, certain names stand out, becoming hallmarks of the era. In the late 1940s, 'Linda' was one such name, a moniker that every classroom and playground seemed to echo. Fast forward to today, and the name Linda, once so popular, is now a rarity among newborns.

What does Linda mean in Spanish? ›

One can also just say 'cute' or 'mona'. Linda, kind of generally attractive. Not very specific. Still a nice complement.

Is Linda an old fashioned name? ›

All that said, it's not as though Linda was never very popular. It was. In 1942, 5.5 percent of baby girls in the US were given that name. But, according to data from the United States Social Security Administration, Linda didn't crack the top 10 again until the sixties and has petered out considerably since that time.

What is a good nickname for Linda? ›

Common Nicknames for Linda: Lindy.

What does Linda mean in Indian? ›

Linda appears to be of Spanish origin. If that be so, its meaning in English is i) beautiful, (i) pretty (iii) cute (iv) lovely (v) handsome (vi) goodlooking (vii) nice, etc. Exactly, this could be translated into Hindi as follows: सुन्दर ,प्यारा, खूबसूरत.

Does Linda mean pretty or beautiful? ›

= cute, pretty, lovely.

What year was the name Linda most popular? ›

Their name's popularity climbed in the 1930s, then eclipsed “Mary”—a biblical juggernaut—in 1947, a year when nearly 100,000 baby girls in the U.S.—or about one in every 18 born—were Lindas. There were nearly 5,000 Lyndas, too, a name the club accepts.

Does Linda mean serpent? ›

In German Baby Names the meaning of the name Linda is: Snake.

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