Linda

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Linda

Gender: Feminine
Language: English

Etymology:
1. Linda is an ancient Germanic name meaning “serpent” and signifying wisdom.
2. Linda is short for Germanic names like Belinda, or Melinda, where the “linda” still means “serpent.”
3. Linda is a Spanish word meaning “pretty.”

History:
Linda, the Old Germanic name, was fairly common in early Medieval Germany, but died out. It was unknown in England and the United States until the late 19th century, when it was revived, from a variety of new sources.

Pronunciation: linn-da.

Diminutives: Lin, Lindy, Lynn.

Alternates: Lynda, Lenda.
Hawaiian: Linaka.

See also: Lynda.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Linda Gilbert (1847-1895)
American social worker. Worked for providing prisoners with libraries. Born Zelinda Gilbert.

Miscellaneous:
Linda Goodman (1925-1995)
American astrologer.
Linda Louise Eastman McCartney (1941-1998)
The wife of Sir Paul McCartney.

Singers and Entertainers:
Linda Ronstadt (1946-)
American singer.

Popularity of Linda:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
1.035 % named Linda
0.053 % named Lynda
0.005 % named Lindy

Popularity of Linda:
Popularity (for newborns):
1850: 195th most popular.
1875: 272nd most popular.
1900-1910: 327th most popular.
1910-1920: 337th most popular.
1920-1930: 235th most popular.
1930-1940: 95th most popular.
1940-1950: 2nd most popular.
1940: 10th most popular.
1941: 5th most popular.
1942: 5th most popular.
1943: 4th most popular.
1944: 4th most popular.
1945: 2nd most popular.
1946: 2nd most popular.
1947: 1st most popular.
1948: 1st most popular.
1949: 1st most popular.
1950-1960: 2nd most popular.
1950: 1st most popular.
1951: 1st most popular.
1952: 1st most popular.
1953: 2nd most popular.
1954: 3rd most popular.
1955: 3rd most popular.
1956: 4th most popular.
1957: 3rd most popular.
1958: 2nd most popular.
1959: 3rd most popular.
1960-1970: 7th most popular.
1961: 6th most popular.
1962: 6th most popular.
1963: 7th most popular.
1964: 8th most popular.
1965: 9th most popular.
1970-1980: 63rd most popular.
1980-1990: 133rd most popular.
1990: 170th most popular.
1991: 186th most popular.
1992: 192nd most popular.
1993: 195th most popular.
1994: 223rd most popular.
1995: 230th most popular.
1996: 290th most popular.
1997: 264th most popular.
1998: 314th most popular.
1999: 340th most popular.
2000: 357th most popular.
2001: 355th most popular.
2002: 388th most popular.
2003: 412th most popular.

In France...
1900-1950: N/A
1954: 189th most popular.
1960: 142nd most popular.
1970: 113th most popular.
1980: 69th most popular.
1990: 160th most popular.
2000: 181st most popular.