An uncommon American pick — distinctive and rare.
A female given name originating as a coinage, variant of Melinda.
Malinda is a girl's baby name of American origin, an 18th-century coinage blending Mal- and the popular -linda suffix meaning 'beautiful' in Spanish. A variant of Melinda, it was popularized in early American culture and peaked in the mid-20th century.
With over 21,000 U.S. births recorded, Malinda has a warm, vintage charm — familiar yet slightly uncommon, with the gentle quality of a name from another era.
Malinda was #2035 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2905, but its charm endures.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 308 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 684 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 939 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 1,251 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 2,458 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 4,100 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 3,544 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 2,757 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 1,433 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 562 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 789 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 893 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 601 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 590 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 485 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 57 | #2905 |
| 2023 | 76 | #2388 |
| 2022 | 67 | #2621 |
| 2021 | 48 | #3323 |
| 2020 | 60 | #2767 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2740 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2498 |
| 2017 | 62 | #2762 |
| 2016 | 66 | #2658 |
| 2015 | 80 | #2332 |
| 2014 | 84 | #2247 |
| 2013 | 75 | #2425 |
| 2012 | 59 | #2927 |
| 2011 | 55 | #3081 |
| 2010 | 70 | #2604 |
| 2009 | 97 | #2098 |
| 2008 | 83 | #2348 |
| 2007 | 82 | #2342 |
| 2006 | 96 | #2058 |
| 2005 | 77 | #2330 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology