Linda
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1947, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Linda has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Linda has two commonly cited roots: the Spanish and Portuguese word linda, meaning "pretty" or "beautiful," and the Germanic element lind, meaning "soft, tender, or flexible" (as in the linden tree) — the same root found in older names like Belinda and Rosalind.
Notable people & culture
Linda had one of the most dramatic rises and falls of any name in this dataset — it shot to #1 in the United States in the late 1940s, a boom often associated with the popularity of the 1946 song "Linda," before falling out of the top ranks by the early 2000s. Well-known bearers from its peak decades include Linda McCartney and Linda Ronstadt.
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Linda — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1
in 1947
Current rank
#835
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Linda reached its peak popularity for girls in 1947, ranking #1 nationally with 99,693 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #612 (2014) to #835 (2024) — a 27% drop.
As of 2024, Linda ranks #835 nationally for girls, with 321 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #835 | 321 |
| 2023 | #841 | 324 |
| 2022 | #802 | 352 |
| 2021 | #845 | 327 |
| 2020 | #815 | 334 |
| 2019 | #769 | 362 |
| 2018 | #718 | 398 |
| 2017 | #704 | 409 |
Linda — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#458
in 1947
Last ranked
#5307
in 1994
Years tracked
64
1925–1994
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1925, Linda reached its peak popularity for boys in 1947, ranking #458 nationally with 216 babies given the name that year.
Linda hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 1994, when it stood at #5307.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | #5,307 | 11 |
| 1993 | #7,293 | 7 |
| 1992 | #4,750 | 12 |
| 1991 | #5,337 | 10 |
| 1990 | #4,875 | 11 |
| 1989 | #3,394 | 17 |
| 1988 | #5,051 | 9 |
| 1987 | #3,285 | 15 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Linda most popular?
Linda was most popular in 1947, when it ranked #1 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Linda becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Linda?
At least 1,458,588 babies have been recorded with the name Linda in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Linda? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.