Malynda
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly deriving from Melinda.
Name Census estimates that about 822 living Americans carry the first name Malynda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malynda today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malynda births was 1979 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malynda. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
822
~ 1 in 416,976 Americans
Peak year
1979
36 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
2021 SSA rank
#16,798
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Malynda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malynda from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 275 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malynda by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Malynda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Malyndas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Michigan, Utah recorded the most babies named Malynda, while Utah, Michigan, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Malynda
The given name Malynda is believed to have originated from the Old English language, derived from the combination of two words: "mæl" meaning "speech" or "communication," and "lind" meaning "linden tree" or "shield made of linden wood." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with concepts of eloquence, protection, or a connection to nature.
During the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which lasted from the 5th to the 11th centuries, variations of the name, such as "Maelind" or "Mælind," were not uncommon. It is possible that the name was initially used as a descriptive byname or nickname before becoming a standard given name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of a name similar to Malynda can be found in the Old English poem "Beowulf," which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century. In this epic, a character named "Mæglind" is mentioned, though it is unclear whether this was a personal name or a descriptive term.
Throughout the medieval period, the name continued to appear in various forms, such as "Malinda" or "Melinda," in different regions of Europe. It is worth noting that during this time, spelling conventions were not as standardized as they are today, leading to numerous variations.
One notable historical figure who bore a name similar to Malynda was Melinda of Sempringham (c. 1135-1201), an English noblewoman and religious reformer who founded the Gilbertine Order, a monastic community that followed Augustinian rules.
Another notable individual was Malinda Blalock (1776-1855), an American pioneer and early settler in the state of Tennessee. She is remembered for her role in establishing the town of Blountville and her contributions to the development of the region.
In the realm of literature, Melinda Haynes (1920-2008) was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her works exploring the lives of African American women in the rural South.
Malinda Cramer (1768-1844) was a Dutch-American Quaker minister and abolitionist who advocated for the abolition of slavery and the rights of Native Americans.
Lastly, Malinda Lo (born 1974) is a contemporary American author known for her works of young adult fiction, particularly focused on LGBTQ+ themes and diverse characters.
While the origins of the name Malynda can be traced back to Old English roots, its enduring popularity throughout different eras and cultures demonstrates its lasting appeal and adaptability across generations.
People
Malynda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malynda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malynda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malynda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 822 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malynda going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 416,976 US residents.
Is Malynda a common name?
We classify Malynda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 908 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malynda most popular?
The single biggest year for Malynda was 1979, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malynda is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malynda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malynda in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.