Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

1K Shares
1K Shares
SatMay 17

National Linda Day – May 17, 2025

National Linda Day is celebrated on May 17 every year. It is a day to celebrate everyone named Linda. It is predominantly a female name and is of German origin and stems from the word ‘Linde’ — but has become associated with the German word ‘Lind,’ which means ‘soft’ or ‘tender.’ Over time, support for its appeal came from the neo-Latin language (Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese) word ‘Linda’ which is the feminine form of ‘Lindo’ and means ‘beautiful,’ ‘pretty,’ or ‘cute’ in Spanish and Portuguese and means ‘clean’ in Italian. The variation of the name is spelled ‘Lynda.’

History of National Linda Day

The name ‘Linda,’ although of German origin, became widespread in the English-speaking world since the end of the 19th century. It was originally an abbreviated form of names such as ‘Dietlinde’ and ‘Sieglinde.’ The name was used as the leading character in a four-volume novel written by Jean Paul from 1800 to 1803 and this led to more adoption of the name as it became more popular in German-speaking countries.

The name is popular in the United States but has seen a decline in recent years. It will always be known as the name that toppled the name ‘Mary’ from the number one spot for baby names. The name saw a spike in popularity in the 1930s and peaked in the late 1940s, after which it started declining. The name was the most popular female name in America from 1947 to 1952. Nowadays, it is ranked as the 13th most popular name in America with an estimated population of 1,998,259 bearing this name. Even though it has seen a decline from its top spot in the years past, the name still stays relevant today. For every 100,000 Americans, there are 626.69 people named Linda according to the Social Security Administration based on 100 years of data of baby names gathered. The name is used as a first name 99% of the time.

The racial distribution of the name is 78% White, 12.2% Black, 5.3% Hispanic, 1.9% Asian or Pacific Islander, 1.4% Mixed races, and 0.6% American Indian or Alaskan native. California is the state with the most people named Linda — with a population of about 213,978, and the state where you are most likely to meet a Linda is Iowa, as 753.5 in every 100,000 Iowans bear this name.

National Linda Day timeline

1800
Jean Paul Starts His Four-Volume Novel

Jean Paul starts his four-volume novel in which the lead character is named ‘Linda’ and helps to drive the adoption of the name in German-speaking countries.

Late 19th Century
Linda is Used in English

Linda becomes a widespread name in English-speaking countries.

1930s
Linda Gains Popularity

The name ‘Linda’ starts gaining popularity in America.

1947
Most Popular Name in the U.S.

The name ‘Linda’ becomes the most popular female name in the United States and reigns for five years.

National Linda Day FAQs

How many kids does Linda Ronstadt have?

She has two kids.

What is a nickname for Linda?

A good nickname for Linda is ‘Lindy.’

Who did Linda Ronstadt marry?

Linda Ronstadt has never been married.

National Linda Day Activities

  1. Say a prayer for them

    Celebrate the day by saying a prayer for people named Linda. It might just be what helps someone in their time of need.

  2. Research the name

    Celebrate by finding out more about the name. After all, no knowledge is wasted. By understanding the name, you might brighten a Linda’s day.

  3. Spread awareness

    Spread awareness of the day and the name. It gets more people to join in on the celebration, plus you’ll get to know more people named Linda!

5 Facts About Linda Ronstadt

  1. She was an amazing rock artist

    She was one of the women that influenced rock music and her influence is still felt today.

  2. She was part of a group

    She formed the group The Stone Poneys with Bob Kimmel and Kenny Edwards in 1964 after which she went solo in 1969.

  3. She has multiple Grammys

    In the course of her career, she won 10 Grammy awards.

  4. She was a versatile artist

    She did rock, country, folk, jazz, opera, and even mariachi music.

  5. President Obama awarded her

    She was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities in 2014 by President Barack Obama.

Why We Love National Linda Day

  1. It educates people about the name

    On this day, people are educated about the name Linda — be it the origins or variations of the name. Find out more about the origins of your name on this day.

  2. It drives adoption of the name

    The name is adopted more when people see it being celebrated. This way, more people can have this beautiful name.

  3. Every Linda gets celebrated

    Every Linda gets celebrated on this day. It is always a pleasant thing when someone is celebrated not just on their birthday.

National Linda Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 May 17 Saturday
2026 May 17 Sunday
2027 May 17 Monday
2028 May 17 Wednesday
2029 May 17 Thursday