Girl
Malinda
gentle serpent
About Malinda
Malinda presents a sophisticated alternative to the more common Melinda, offering distinctive spelling while maintaining familiar pronunciation. This name exudes warmth and approachability, suggesting someone naturally kind and genuinely interested in others. The "Ma" beginning provides comforting maternal energy, while the "linda" ending adds continental flair. Malinda works across generations without feeling dated, having proven its staying power without ever becoming overused. The name offers friendly nickname options like Lindy or Mal for those seeking something more casual. It pairs particularly well with strong, single-syllable middle names that provide nice contrast. Malinda suggests reliability and grace—qualities parents hope to nurture in their daughters. The name maintains professionalism in adult contexts while remaining playful enough for childhood. Its relatively uncommon status means your daughter likely won't share her name with classmates, yet it never requires explanation or repeated spelling.
Popularity of the Name Malinda
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | |
|---|---|
| 1880 | #263 |
| 1881 | #254 |
| 1882 | #267 |
| 1883 | #266 |
| 1884 | #264 |
| 1885 | #298 |
| 1886 | #284 |
| 1887 | #305 |
| 1888 | #271 |
| 1889 | #365 |
| 1890 | #323 |
| 1891 | #308 |
| 1892 | #367 |
| 1893 | #430 |
| 1894 | #354 |
| 1895 | #364 |
| 1896 | #394 |
| 1897 | #363 |
| 1898 | #376 |
| 1899 | #379 |
| 1900 | #373 |
| 1901 | #494 |
| 1902 | #375 |
| 1903 | #417 |
| 1904 | #455 |
| 1905 | #434 |
| 1906 | #412 |
| 1907 | #442 |
| 1908 | #484 |
| 1909 | #550 |
| 1910 | #607 |
| 1911 | #561 |
| 1912 | #527 |
| 1913 | #559 |
| 1914 | #622 |
| 1915 | #620 |
| 1916 | #652 |
| 1917 | #741 |
| 1918 | #650 |
| 1919 | #699 |
| 1920 | #674 |
| 1921 | #809 |
| 1922 | #783 |
| 1923 | #771 |
| 1924 | #911 |
| 1925 | #831 |
| 1926 | #891 |
| 1927 | #870 |
| 1928 | #911 |
| 1929 | #997 |
| 1931 | #981 |
| 1933 | #965 |
| 1934 | #931 |
| 1936 | #926 |
| 1937 | #822 |
| 1938 | #854 |
| 1939 | #802 |
| 1940 | #690 |
| 1941 | #716 |
| 1942 | #653 |
| 1943 | #692 |
| 1944 | #677 |
| 1945 | #650 |
| 1946 | #628 |
| 1947 | #623 |
| 1948 | #649 |
| 1949 | #553 |
| 1950 | #554 |
| 1951 | #592 |
| 1952 | #599 |
| 1953 | #591 |
| 1954 | #590 |
| 1955 | #561 |
| 1956 | #532 |
| 1957 | #528 |
| 1958 | #501 |
| 1959 | #496 |
| 1960 | #547 |
| 1961 | #544 |
| 1962 | #518 |
| 1963 | #529 |
| 1964 | #533 |
| 1965 | #494 |
| 1966 | #537 |
| 1967 | #519 |
| 1968 | #494 |
| 1969 | #447 |
| 1970 | #463 |
| 1971 | #468 |
| 1972 | #449 |
| 1973 | #427 |
| 1974 | #455 |
| 1975 | #507 |
| 1976 | #482 |
| 1977 | #511 |
| 1978 | #454 |
| 1979 | #500 |
| 1980 | #533 |
| 1981 | #577 |
| 1982 | #617 |
| 1983 | #704 |
| 1984 | #666 |
| 1985 | #791 |
| 1986 | #833 |
| 1987 | #834 |
| 1988 | #895 |
| 1990 | #985 |
Top names by country: United States
Variations of Name Malinda
Names Similar to Malinda
Nicknames for Malinda
- Mal
- Mali
- Linda
- Lindy
- Mally
Famous People Named Malinda
| Malinda Panton | American YouTube personality |
| Malinda Williams | American actress |
| Malinda Lo | American author |
| Malinda Kathleen Reese | American actress and YouTuber |
| Malinda Damgaard | Danish handball player |
| Malinda Prince Sapp | American Gospel singer |
| Malinda Coleman | American abolitionist and suffragist |
| Malinda Mansfield | American artist |
| Malinda Russell | African American cookbook author |
| Malinda Cramer | American metaphysical leader |
| Malinda Seymore | American civil rights activist |
| Malinda Blalock | American Civil War soldier |
| Malinda Brumfield | American painter |
| Malinda Chouinard | Co-founder of Patagonia |
| Malinda Sherwood | American physician and missionary |
| Malinda Sapp | American Gospel singer |
| Malinda Markham | American artist |
| Malinda Snow | American astronomer |
| Malinda Laine | American singer-songwriter |
Characters Named Malinda
| Malinda Mayfair | Character in the "Mayfair Witches" series by Anne Rice |
| Malinda "Minty" Johnson | Character in the novel "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom |
| Malinda "Mindy" McCready | Character in the TV show "The Mindy Project" |
| Malinda Gardner | Character in the "Bloodlines" series by Richelle Mead |
| Malinda "Molly" Weasley | Character in the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling |
| Malinda Sue Jenkins | Character in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" |
| Malinda Loomis | Character in the "Dear America" book series |
| Malinda "Linda" Radcliffe | Character in the novel "Heart-Shaped Box" by Joe Hill |
| Malinda "Malia" Travers | Character in the TV show "Lost" |
| Malinda "Lindy" Lemay | Character in the book "Seventeenth Summer" by Maureen Daly |
| Malinda Barrett | Character in the book "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| Malinda Rivers | Character in the book "Whistle for the Crows" by Dorothy Eden |
| Malinda O'Malley | Character in the book "The Wide House" by Taylor Caldwell |
| Malinda Riggs | Character in the TV show "The Walking Dead" |
| Malinda Kelly | Character in the book "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón |
| Malinda "Lindy" Simpson | Character in the book "Keeping the Moon" by Sarah Dessen |
| Malinda "Lindy" Owens | Character in the book "What Happened to Lani Garver" by Carol Plum-Ucci |
| Malinda Peale | Character in the TV show "Timeless" |
| Malinda Page | Character in the book "New Moon Rising" by Eugenia Riley |