Linda
Girl name · #902 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Linda? In official American birth records, Linda has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Linda ranks #902 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 294 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #664, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,122 girls born in 2025 was named Linda.
The 145-year story
Linda first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 27 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1947, when 99,692 girls were named Linda — good for #1 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Linda per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Linda against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Linda in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Linda is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Linda will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Linda is most common
Geography matters for names, and Linda is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Linda is most common in PA (0.8 per 1,000), NC (0.4 per 1,000), OH (0.3 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Linda is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Linda
Statistically, parents drawn to Linda tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Brenda, Lucinda, Barbara, Sandra, and Belinda.
BrendaLucindaBarbaraSandraBelindaLisaNancyRita
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Linda | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 294 | #902 |
| 2024 | 324 | #836 |
| 2023 | 324 | #841 |
| 2022 | 352 | #800 |
| 2021 | 328 | #841 |
| 2020 | 334 | #814 |
| 2019 | 362 | #768 |
| 2018 | 398 | #717 |
| 2017 | 410 | #704 |
| 2016 | 444 | #658 |
| 2015 | 429 | #664 |
| 2014 | 475 | #612 |
| 2013 | 447 | #626 |
| 2012 | 450 | #633 |
| 2011 | 491 | #587 |
| 2010 | 480 | #614 |
| 2009 | 555 | #548 |
| 2008 | 614 | #507 |
| 2007 | 662 | #492 |
| 2006 | 700 | #451 |
| 2005 | 754 | #415 |
| 2004 | 731 | #417 |
| 2003 | 741 | #409 |
| 2002 | 773 | #382 |
| 2001 | 839 | #354 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Linda?
In official American birth records, the name Linda first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 27 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Linda a popular girl name?
Linda ranked #902 among girls in 2025 with 294 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #664.
When was the name Linda most popular?
Linda peaked in 1947, when 99,692 American girls received the name (ranked #1 that year). Since 1947 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Linda?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,122 newborn American girls was named Linda. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.