Malinda
Girl name · #2859 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Malinda? In official American birth records, Malinda has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 59 baby girls were named Malinda, placing it at #2859 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2318, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,508 girls born in 2025 was named Malinda.
The 145-year story
Malinda first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 35 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1969, when 460 girls were named Malinda — good for #447 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 Malinda per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malinda against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malinda in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malinda is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Malinda will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Malinda is most common
State-level data for Malinda is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Malinda
Statistically, parents drawn to Malinda tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Melinda, Yolanda, Belinda, Lucinda, and Melisa.
MelindaYolandaBelindaLucindaMelisaBrendaCorinnaSuzanna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malinda | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2859 |
| 2024 | 58 | #2857 |
| 2023 | 76 | #2379 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2604 |
| 2021 | 48 | #3297 |
| 2020 | 60 | #2748 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2729 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2478 |
| 2017 | 64 | #2689 |
| 2016 | 67 | #2617 |
| 2015 | 80 | #2318 |
| 2014 | 84 | #2236 |
| 2013 | 75 | #2408 |
| 2012 | 59 | #2901 |
| 2011 | 55 | #3051 |
| 2010 | 70 | #2589 |
| 2009 | 97 | #2090 |
| 2008 | 83 | #2334 |
| 2007 | 83 | #2311 |
| 2006 | 97 | #2031 |
| 2005 | 80 | #2254 |
| 2004 | 90 | #2030 |
| 2003 | 89 | #2019 |
| 2002 | 108 | #1695 |
| 2001 | 108 | #1671 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malinda?
In official American birth records, the name Malinda first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 35 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Malinda a popular girl name?
Malinda ranked #2859 among girls in 2025 with 59 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2318.
When was the name Malinda most popular?
Malinda peaked in 1969, when 460 American girls received the name (ranked #447 that year). Since 1969 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malinda?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,508 newborn American girls was named Malinda. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.