Linda

Linda is a name with roots in multiple traditions, most directly from the Germanic element lind, meaning soft, tender, or flexible, often associated with the linden tree or a shield made of linden wood. It also gained widespread use as a short form of longer Germanic names ending in -lind, such as Rosalind and Belinda, and was further reinforced by the Spanish and Italian word linda, meaning beautiful or pretty. The name surged in popularity across English-speaking countries during the mid-twentieth century, briefly becoming one of the most common girls' names in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. Variant forms and related names include Lynda, Melinda, and Belinda.