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The short answer
Linda is a feminine name used in English and German. Behind the Name describes it this way: "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’." It ranked #902 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, 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’. The entry lists its usage as English, German, Dutch, Italian and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Linda ranked #902 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #902 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Linda in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Linda mean?
Linda means "soft, flexible, tender", according to Behind the Name.
Is Linda a popular name?
Linda ranked #902 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Linda a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Linda appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Linda — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
