Melinda
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The name Melinda is a feminine first name.
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[edit] Etymology
The modern name Melinda is a combination of "Mel" with the suffix "inda".
"Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie meaning "dark, black" in Greek or from Melissa meaning "bee" in Greek[1]. According to different sources, it can also mean "honey" (probably from Melissa) and "gentle" (probably because of association with Linda)[1]
[edit] Pronunciation
The typical English pronunciation of Melinda is /mɛ'lɪn.də/. In Hungarian however, the stress is on the first syllable and the vowels are pronounced as in Hungarian.
[edit] Stereotype
According to The Baby Name Personality Survey by Bruce Lansky and Barry Sinrod (1990), people have good images of the name Melinda: "a perky, open, fun girl; a sweet, shy dreamer; but never a spoiled, self-centered brat" [2].
[edit] Usage and popularity
The name Melinda is used in English and Hungarian. In the United States, its popularity peaked in 1973 at No. 72. In 1990 it was in the top 1000 names in the US, and in 2002 it was in the top 100 names in Hungary. Since its peak the popularity of the name Melinda has been gradually declining in the United States, to last be seen on the top 1000 list in 2002 at No. 932. [3]
[edit] Name day
In Hungary, December 2 is Melinda Day.
[edit] Famous Melindas
- Melinda Gates, wife of Bill Gates
- Melinda Culea, American actress
- Melinda Messenger, English model & TV presenter
- Melinda Clarke, American actress
- Melinda Doolittle, American singer and American Idol contestant
[edit] The name Melinda in popular culture
[edit] In film and television
- Melinda and Melinda, American film, 2005
- Melinda Gordon, Jennifer Love Hewitt character from Ghost Whisperer
- Melinda from The Real World: Austin
- Melinda Warren, from TV show Charmed
- Melinda Warner, Medical Examiner on Law & Order: SVU
- Melinda Gram, Water Girl on Colbert Report
[edit] In music
- Melinda, one of the two main characters in the story of Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth's 1999 concept album Still Life
[edit] In literature
- Melinda ("Lindy") in the book The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews
- Melinda, main character of the book Speak (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson
[edit] Other forms
- Melynda
- Malynda
- Malinda
- Milinda
- Mylinda
[edit] Nicknames
Nicknames for Melinda include:
- Em
- Inda
- Lili
- Lin
- Linda
- Lindy
- Marin
- Mel
- Melindy
- Melly
- Minda
- Mindy
- Minna
- Mel Mel
- Millers
[edit] Related names
Other names that are combinations of "Mel" with popular suffixes include Melina and Melantha.
[edit] References
- ^ The Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World (1984) by Bruce Lansky
- ^ The Baby Name Personality Survey (1990) by Bruce Lansky and Barry Sinrod
- ^ Popular Baby Names, Social Security Administration
