Find out how popular the first name Melinda has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Melinda by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Melinda is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Melinda being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 90 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Melinda.

The history of the first name Melinda

Melinda is a feminine given name of English origin, derived from the Greek words "meli" meaning "honey" and "linda" meaning "soft, tender, or sweet." The name first emerged in England during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Melinda, Countess of Roucy, who lived in the late 12th century and was the wife of Hugues IV, Count of Roucy. The name also appears in the medieval romance "The Squire's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, Melinda was a character in the pastoral play "Il Sacrificio" by Italian playwright Agostino Beccari. This helped popularize the name in Italy. Another notable Melinda from this era was Melinda de Cabrera, a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the name gained popularity in England and Scotland. One notable bearer was Melinda, Lady Saltoun, who lived from 1610 to 1658 and was the wife of Alexander Fraser, 10th Lord Saltoun.

In the 18th century, the name was used by the English novelist and playwright Aphra Behn for one of her characters in the play "The Rover." This further contributed to its popularity in English-speaking countries.

Other notable Melindas throughout history include Melinda Gayman, an American Revolutionary War heroine who lived from 1753 to 1827, and Melinda Crail, an American suffragette and activist born in 1844.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Melinda was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Melinda, please contact us.

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