Malinda
Variant of Melinda, used since the eighteenth century.
Every Malinda since 1880 — 21,464 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Malinda
Malinda is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,881 in 2025 with 59 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 21,464 American babies have been named Malinda. Its peak came in 1969, when 460 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Malinda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Malinda year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2,881 |
| 2024 | 58 | #2,880 |
| 2023 | 76 | #2,390 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2,624 |
| 2021 | 48 | #3,326 |
| 2020 | 60 | #2,767 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2,741 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2,499 |
| 2017 | 64 | #2,707 |
| 2016 | 67 | #2,635 |
| 2015 | 80 | #2,333 |
| 2014 | 84 | #2,249 |
| 2013 | 75 | #2,425 |
| 2012 | 59 | #2,927 |
| 2011 | 55 | #3,081 |
| 2010 | 70 | #2,604 |
| 2009 | 97 | #2,098 |
| 2008 | 83 | #2,348 |
| 2007 | 83 | #2,323 |
| 2006 | 97 | #2,045 |
| 2005 | 80 | #2,272 |
| 2004 | 90 | #2,035 |
| 2003 | 89 | #2,029 |
| 2002 | 108 | #1,705 |
| 2001 | 108 | #1,680 |
| 2000 | 111 | #1,596 |
| 1995 | 119 | #1,386 |
| 1990 | 187 | #987 |
| 1985 | 212 | #791 |
| 1980 | 355 | #533 |
| 1975 | 353 | #507 |
| 1970 | 453 | #463 |
| 1965 | 372 | #494 |
| 1960 | 316 | #547 |
| 1955 | 263 | #562 |
| 1950 | 224 | #555 |
| 1945 | 128 | #650 |
| 1940 | 102 | #690 |
| 1935 | 42 | #1,081 |
| 1930 | 46 | #1,096 |
| 1925 | 81 | #831 |
| 1920 | 117 | #674 |
| 1915 | 113 | #620 |
| 1910 | 48 | #607 |
| 1905 | 60 | #434 |
| 1900 | 81 | #373 |
| 1895 | 60 | #364 |
| 1890 | 62 | #323 |
| 1885 | 45 | #298 |
| 1880 | 35 | #263 |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Malinda mean?
Variant of Melinda, used since the eighteenth century.
How popular is the name Malinda in 2025?
Malinda ranked #2,881 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 59 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Malinda?
21,464 babies have been named Malinda in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Malinda most popular?
Malinda peaked in 1969, when 460 newborns received the name.
Is Malinda a boy or girl name?
Malinda is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Malinda rising or falling?
Malinda has been roughly stable over the past decade.