Melinda Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Melinda has its roots in Latin and Greek, meaning 'honey.' It has evolved through various forms, maintaining its sweetness in meaning. While it has no biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in the U.S. Today, it is viewed as a classic name associated with positive traits, and notable individuals bear this name.
The name Melinda is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Melinda has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Melinda' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4280th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2814th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6951st out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1515th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 547th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 159th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 100th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 187th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 908th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1762nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Melinda' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Melinda"
Pronunciation
/məˈlɪndə/
Origin
Latin and Greek
Etymology
The name Melinda is often thought to be a combination of the Greek word 'meli,' meaning 'honey,' and the Latin suffix '-inda.' It may also be derived from the name 'Melinda' from Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest,' where it appears as a character's name.
Meaning
honey
Language Evolution
Latin: Melinda, Greek: Meli, Modern English: Melinda
Historical Usage
Melinda gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly in the United States. It became more widely used after the publication of various literary works that featured the name.
Variants & Derivatives
Mindy, Mel, Linda
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Melinda is perceived as a classic and elegant name, often associated with warmth and kindness. It maintains a moderate level of popularity.
Famous People
Melinda Gates, philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Culea, actress known for her role in 'The A-Team', Melinda Messenger, television presenter and model
Explore More Melinda Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Melinda"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Melinda"
"Melinda" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4280th of 7552 | 57 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2814th of 10718 | 201 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6951st of 16616 | 79 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1515th of 9107 | 489 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 547th of 9204 | 2,926 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 159th of 12526 | 42,285 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 100th of 19264 | 58,251 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 187th of 27321 | 25,661 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 908th of 35406 | 4,366 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1762nd of 30306 | 1,440 |
Regional Popularity of "Melinda" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Melinda" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
80.39% 1902nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.53% 472nd/1546 |
33.03% 514th/1556 |
26.86% 632nd/2353 |
20.81% 322nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
7.50% 167th/2227 |
8.85% 215th/2430 |
4.80% 137th/2853 |
5.23% 145th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.20% 94th/2937 |
3.62% 126th/3483 |
2.13% 75th/3518 |
2.45% 99th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.40% 162nd/3685 |
3.87% 173rd/4475 |
3.56% 185th/5194 |
3.42% 216th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.71% 949th/4582 |
16.31% 842nd/5164 |
13.77% 1007th/7313 |
11.27% 841st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
51.76% 2062nd/3984 |
40.21% 1804th/4487 |
27.37% 1867th/6822 |
20.92% 1313th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Melinda"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Melinda" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.