Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Glenda
GirlWelsh· “pure and good”
- Meaning
- pure and good
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- GLEHN-duh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #5,987
- US babies 2025
- 20
- Best rank
- #79 (1944)
- Peak year
- 1950
Meaning and origin of Glenda
Glenda is a Welsh name that is usually said to mean “pure and good”.
Glenda is a Welsh name usually said to mean pure and good, from glân, clean or pure, and da, good. It came into use in the twentieth century along with other modern Welsh names like Glenys and Gwenda. It is said GLEHN-duh. The actress and politician Glenda Jackson is a well-known bearer. People sometimes connect it with Glinda, the good witch in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but that name has a different spelling and a separate origin. Glen is the obvious short form.
Popularity over time
Glenda first appears in US Social Security records in 1900. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 79 different years, starting in 1911. Its best national rank was #79 in 1944, and the most babies received it in 1950, when 4,215 were named Glenda. In 2025, 20 babies were named Glenda, and it ranked #5,987 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #697 in 1920, #87 in 1950, #567 in 1980, #1,805 in 2000, #3,480 in 2010, and #5,987 in 2025. Of the 109,227 US girls named Glenda since records began, 32% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 33,348 babies. Since 2010, 461 more have been named Glenda.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Constance, Marcia, Gayle, Ellen, and Jacquelyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Glenda ranked highest in Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #2737 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Glenda is usually pronounced GLEHN-duh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with G and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Glenda
A few middle names that flow with Glenda: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Glenda
Similar names
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Lists that include Glenda
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Glenda mean?
Glenda is a Welsh name that is usually said to mean “pure and good”.
What is the origin of the name Glenda?
Glenda has Welsh roots. Glenda is a Welsh name usually said to mean pure and good, from glân, clean or pure, and da, good.
Is Glenda a popular name?
Not especially. Glenda ranked #5,987 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Glenda a boy or girl name?
Glenda is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Glenda?
Glenda is usually pronounced GLEHN-duh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings