Melinda
Girl name · #1982 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Melinda? In official American birth records, Melinda has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 97 baby girls were named Melinda, placing it at #1982 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1362, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,557 girls born in 2025 was named Melinda.
The 145-year story
Melinda first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 14 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1970, when 4,225 girls were named Melinda — good for #93 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 Melinda per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Melinda against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Melinda in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Melinda is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Melinda will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Melinda is most common
State-level data for Melinda 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 Melinda
Statistically, parents drawn to Melinda tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Malinda, Yolanda, Belinda, Lucinda, and Brenda.
MalindaYolandaBelindaLucindaBrendaTamaraDeannaMelisa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Melinda | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97 | #1981 |
| 2024 | 91 | #2099 |
| 2023 | 91 | #2107 |
| 2022 | 83 | #2253 |
| 2021 | 93 | #2057 |
| 2020 | 105 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 98 | #1971 |
| 2018 | 120 | #1717 |
| 2017 | 131 | #1643 |
| 2016 | 139 | #1590 |
| 2015 | 174 | #1362 |
| 2014 | 165 | #1391 |
| 2013 | 150 | #1479 |
| 2012 | 174 | #1346 |
| 2011 | 193 | #1237 |
| 2010 | 227 | #1095 |
| 2009 | 209 | #1198 |
| 2008 | 253 | #1036 |
| 2007 | 251 | #1045 |
| 2006 | 252 | #1015 |
| 2005 | 217 | #1096 |
| 2004 | 219 | #1058 |
| 2003 | 209 | #1067 |
| 2002 | 242 | #923 |
| 2001 | 306 | #772 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Melinda?
In official American birth records, the name Melinda first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 14 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Melinda a popular girl name?
Melinda ranked #1982 among girls in 2025 with 97 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1362.
When was the name Melinda most popular?
Melinda peaked in 1970, when 4,225 American girls received the name (ranked #93 that year). Since 1970 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Melinda?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,557 newborn American girls was named Melinda. 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.