Linda is a feminine given name of Spanish and Italian origin. It means "beautiful" or "fair" in both languages. The name Linda was popularized by the famous German novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the late 18th century. In this novel, the main character, Werther, falls in love with a woman named Lotte, who is often referred to as Linda throughout the story. Since then, the name Linda has been widely used and loved across many cultures around the world.
The name Linda gained significant popularity during the mid-20th century and was among the top 10 names for girls born in the United States from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. Today, Linda is still a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet timeless name for their daughter.
Some notable people named Linda include American singer and actress Linda Ronstadt, former First Lady of the United States, Linda Johnson-Bird, and Australian tennis player, Linda Hemmingsson.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Linda has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over time in the United States.
The earliest recorded year for the name Linda is 1925, with only 6 births that year. This number doubled by 1929 to reach 7 births. The decade following saw fluctuations in popularity, with the highest number of Linda births reaching 44 in 1939 and dropping back down to 28 in 1938.
However, it was during World War II that the name Linda began to gain widespread recognition. Between 1941 and 1946, Linda births grew exponentially from 80 to 216, marking a significant increase in popularity. This trend continued into the post-war period, with 207 Linda births in 1948.
Reaching its peak popularity was the early 1950s, with 216 Linda births recorded in 1947 and 137 in 1952. However, this popularity did not last long as it began to decline steadily from the mid-1950s onwards.
By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Linda births had decreased significantly, with only 85 births recorded between 1962 and 1963. This downward trend continued into the 1970s, with fewer than 40 Linda births annually recorded from 1971 to 1975.
The popularity of the name Linda saw a brief resurgence in the mid-1980s, with 21 births in 1986 and 17 in 1989. However, it soon fell back into obscurity, with fewer than 15 Linda births recorded annually between 1990 and 1994.
In conclusion, the name Linda has a rich history of popularity in the United States, reaching its peak during World War II and maintaining high levels of popularity until the mid-20th century. However, as with many names, its popularity has fluctuated significantly over time.