Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Melinda
GirlEnglish, Greek· “from Greek meli honey plus -inda”
- Meaning
- from Greek meli honey plus -inda
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- muh-LIHN-duh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,985
- US babies 2025
- 97
- Best rank
- #72 (1973)
- Peak year
- 1970
Meaning and origin of Melinda
Melinda is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “from Greek meli honey plus -inda”.
Melinda is usually explained as a combination of the Greek meli, honey, with the ending -inda, seen in names like Belinda and Lucinda. It belongs to a group of decorative English names with the same ending. The honey element gives it a sweet image, though the name as a whole is an English formation rather than an ancient Greek one. Melinda has a friendly, slightly retro sound that recalls the later twentieth century. Mel, Mindy and Linda are all familiar nicknames.
Popularity over time
Melinda has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 90 different years. Its best national rank was #72 in 1973, and the most babies received it in 1970, when 4,225 were named Melinda. In 2025, 97 babies were named Melinda, and it ranked #1,985 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,790 in 1920, #222 in 1950, #92 in 1980, #696 in 2000, #1,099 in 2010, and #1,985 in 2025. Of the 135,822 US girls named Melinda since records began, 27% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 36,297 babies. Since 2010, 2,131 more have been named Melinda.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Jodi, Deanna, Traci, Yolanda, and Tamara.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Melinda ranked highest in Illinois, California, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | #1197 | 7 |
| California | #1461 | 16 |
| New York | #1613 | 8 |
| Texas | #2003 | 11 |
| Florida | #2063 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Melinda is usually pronounced muh-LIHN-duh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Melinda
A few middle names that flow with Melinda: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Melinda
Similar names
Belinda Girl
buh-LIHN-duh
Germanic
#1,819
Miranda Girl
mur-AN-duh
“worthy of admiration” · Latin
#656
Pamela Girl
PA-muh-luh
“often said to mean 'all sweetness'” · English
#2,251
Alexa Girl
uh-LEK-suh
“defender of men” · Greek
#1,029
Matilda Girl
muh-TIL-duh
“strength in battle” · Germanic
#365
Yolanda Girl
yoh-LAHN-duh
“uncertain; possibly violet” · Spanish
#3,248
Nereida Girl
neh-RAY-duh
“sea nymph” · Greek
rare
Melony Girl
MEH-luh-nee
“variant of Melanie, dark” · Greek
#7,032
Imelda Girl
ih-MEL-duh
“whole battle” · Italian
#4,295
Melody Girl
MEH-luh-dee
“song” · Greek
#79
Harmony Girl
HAHR-muh-nee
“agreement, concord” · Greek
#276
Amanda Girl
uh-MAN-duh
“worthy of love” · Latin
#493
Lists that include Melinda
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melinda mean?
Melinda is an English and Greek name that is usually said to mean “from Greek meli honey plus -inda”.
What is the origin of the name Melinda?
Melinda has English and Greek roots. Melinda is usually explained as a combination of the Greek meli, honey, with the ending -inda, seen in names like Belinda and Lucinda.
Is Melinda a popular name?
Not especially. Melinda ranked #1,985 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Melinda a boy or girl name?
Melinda is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Melinda?
Melinda is usually pronounced muh-LIHN-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