 An ancient word 'lind,' which stands for a shield made of linden tree | |
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | German |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Lynda, Lyndal, Linde, Dietlinde, Sieglinde |
Linda is an English feminine given name that has been widespread in the English-speaking world since the end of the nineteenth century. [1]
The German name Linde was originally an abbreviated form of older names such as Dietlinde and Sieglinde. [2] In the form Linda, it was used by the writer Jean Paul for a leading character in his four-volume novel Titan , published 1800–1803, and it became popular in German-speaking countries thereafter. [2]
The name-element Linde is possibly derived from the same root as the linden tree, with reference to a shield made of that wood, [2] but may have become associated with Germanic lind meaning "soft, tender", the image of the tree being used to indicate a gentle personality. Subsequent support for its appeal may have come from the Neo-Latin language (Italian, Spanish or Portuguese) word linda, which is the feminine form of lindo, meaning "beautiful, pretty, cute" (Spanish and Portuguese) and "clean" (Italian). It is also a common name in South Africa, Linda, meaning "Wait" (IsiZulu and IsiXhosa).
Among other names in use in English-speaking countries that include the -linda suffix are Melinda, Belinda, Celinda, and Rosalinda.
The name days for Linda are on February 13 (Hungary, Poland), April 15 (Finland, Germany), May 17 (United States), [3] June 19 (Switzerland), June 20 (Sweden), June 25 (Estonia), August 21 (Latvia), September 1 (Czech Republic), September 2 (Slovakia), and September 4 (Poland)[ citation needed ].
In the Albanian version, Linda is a feminine name which means "birth" or "fertility". The masculine form is Lind. [4] In South African terms the name Linda means "wait" and is not gender based; similar names are Lindiwe also meaning "waited for" but often just written as Lindi in short.[ clarification needed ] Lindokuhle (waiting for something beautiful) and its short form Lindo are related South African-American names.
Linda was at the height of popularity in the Anglosphere in the middle of the 20th century, particularly in the 1950s. [5] Increased use of the name has been attributed to the hit song “Linda” written by Jack Lawrence and recorded by different artists in 1946. [6] The name has since declined in use. In recent years, Linda has been a name that is more common for the daughters of Chinese and South Korean immigrants to the United States. [7]
Sharon, also spelled Saron, is a given name as well as a Hebrew name.
Amy is an English feminine given name, the English version of the French Aimée, which means beloved. It was used as a diminutive of the Latin name Amata, a name derived from the passive participle of amare, “to love”. The name has been in use in the Anglosphere since the Middle Ages. It was among the 50 most popular names for girls in England between 1538 and 1700. It was popularized in the 19th century in the Anglosphere by a character in Sir Walter Scott's 1821 novel Kenilworth, which was based on the story of Amy Robsart. Enslaved Black women in the United States prior to the American Civil War were more likely to bear the name than white American women because slave masters often chose their names from literary sources. The name declined in use after 1880 but was revived due to the hit song Once in Love with Amy from the 1948 Broadway musical Where's Charley?. The name peaked in usage in the United States between 1973 and 1976, when it was among the five most popular names for American girls. It remained among the top 250 names for American girls in the early 2020s.
Maggie or Maggy is a common short form of the name Magdalena, Magnolia, Margaret, Marigold.
Yvonne is a feminine given name, the female form of Yvon, which is derived from the French name Yves and Yvette. It is from the French word iv, meaning "yew". Since yew wood was used for bows, Ivo may have been an occupational name meaning "archer". Yvonne/Ivonne is also a Spanish girl name.
Sarah is a common feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives its popularity from the biblical matriarch Sarah, the wife of Abraham and a major figure in the Abrahamic religions. It is a consistently popular given name across Europe, North America, and the Middle East — being commonly used as a female first name by Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, and remaining popular also among non-religious members of cultures influenced by these religions.
Siobhán is a female name of Irish origin. The most common anglicisations are Siobhan, Shavawn,Shevaun and Shivaun. A now uncommon spelling variant is Siubhán.
Hannah, also spelled Hanna, Hana, Hanah, or Chana, is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the root ḥ-n-n, meaning "favour" or "grace". A Dictionary of First Names attributes the name to a word meaning 'He (God) has favoured me with a child'. Anne, Ana, Ann, and other variants of the name derive from the Hellenized Hebrew: Anna (Ἅννα)
Jessica is a female given name of Hebrew origin.
Kate is a feminine given name, and a short form of the names Katherine, Caitlin and others.
Tina is a largely feminine given name that originated as a diminutive for names ending in -tina such as Christina. Teena and Tena are modern English variant spellings of Tina. Tiina is an Estonian and Finnish variant. Tine is a Danish and Norwegian variant. Its masculine counterpart is Tino, Tin, or the Slovene Tine.
Anita is a feminine given name. The name and its variants are now common worldwide, especially in regions where Indo-European languages are spoken, namely Europe, South Asia, and North America.
Jennifer, also spelled Jenifer or Jenefer, is a feminine given name, the Cornish form of Guinevere, that became popular in the English-speaking world in the 20th century.
Jenny was originally the diminutive form of Jane, but it is now associated with Jennifer.
Emily is a feminine given name derived from the Roman family name "Aemilius", and is the feminine form of the name Emil.
Daisy is a feminine given name. The flower name comes from the Old English word dægeseage, meaning "day's eye". The name Daisy is therefore ultimately derived from this source. Daisy is also a nickname for Margaret because Marguerite, the French version of the latter name, is also a French name for the oxeye daisy.
Yvette is a feminine given name, the French feminine form of Yves, which means yew or archer in some cases.
Lydia is a feminine first name. It derives from the Greek Λυδία, Ludía, from λυδία, a feminine form of the ancient given name Λυδός (Lydus). The region of Lydia is said to be named for a king named Λυδός; the given name Lydia originally indicated ancestry or residence in the region of Lydia.
Camilla or Camila is a feminine given name. It originates as the feminine of camillus, a term for a youth serving as acolyte in the ritual of ancient Roman religion, which may be of Etruscan origin. Hypocorisms of the name include Milly, Millie, and Milla.
Janice is a modern feminine given name, an extended version of Jane, an English feminine form of John which is itself derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning or Yehohanan. The name Janice was first used by American author Paul Leicester Ford for the heroine of the 1899 novel Janice Meredith. Janice Meredith was a 1924 silent film based on the novel by Ford and the 1900 stage play A Colonial Girl. Janis is a spelling variant.
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