Linda
Girl name · #902 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Linda against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Linda in class?
Linda scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Linda is most common
Geography matters for names, and Linda is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lindas were TX (38), PA (37), CA (31), NC (19), FL (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.