Name meaning & stats
Linda
Linda means “tender, soft” (Germanic origin). 1,420,193 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Lindas are 1.8× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
“tender, soft”
GermanicWell documented
A short form of names ending in -lind.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
1,420,193 US babies were named Linda between 1940 and 2025. Linda is often a nickname, so many people called Linda are registered under a longer name.
Where Lindas end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.8× | High · 118 people |
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 101 people |
| Actor | 0.6× | High · 74 people |
| Professor | 1.3× | High · 58 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, Lindas show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Linda has a surprise career: 1.8×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 95% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)