Melinda is a feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

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 Melissa is a female given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (''mélissa''), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (''meli''), "honey". In Hittite, ''melit'' signifies "honey". ''Melissa'' also refers to the plant '' ...

(μέλισσα) meaning "honeybee" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek word ''meli'', meaning "honey", and with Linda, from "lind" meaning "gentle, soft, tender" in the

Germanic languages The Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family spoken natively by a population of about 515 million people mainly in Europe, North America, Oceania and Southern Africa. The most widely spoken Germanic language, ...

Pronunciation

The typical English pronunciation of Melinda is . In Hungarian, the stress is on the first syllable: .

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.Popular Baby Names
Social Security Administration Variations in spelling include Melynda, Melyndah, Malinda, and Milinda. József Katona, Hungarian playwright and poet, used the name Melinda first in 1815 in his legendary historical tragedy ''

Bánk bán ''Bánk bán'' is an opera in 3 acts by composer Ferenc Erkel. The work uses a Hungarian-language libretto by Béni Egressy which is based on a stage play of the same name by József Katona. (''Bán'' is ban in English, similar to a viceroy, a du ...

''. In Hungary, December 2 is the name day for Melinda.

Notable people

Academics

Malinda Carpenter Malinda Carpenter,Ph.D, FRSE is a professor of developmental psychology at the University of St Andrews, an international researcher specialising in infant and child communications, prosocial behaviour and group reactions, in how people learn t ...

, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, child development psychology researcher * Melinda H. Keefe, American art restorer * Melinda Mills, British sociologist *

Melinda Takeuchi Melinda Takeuchi is an academic, an author, a Japanologist and a Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Department of Art History at Stanford University. Early life Takeuchi grew up in what was then rural-Malibu in ...

, American art historian * Melinda Tan, Singaporean linguist *

Melinda Wortz Melinda Wortz (April 30, 1940 – February 6, 2002) was an art historian, art critic, gallery director, and art collector based in Southern California. Early life and education Melinda Jane Farris was born in 1940, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her fath ...

, American art historian

Actors

* Melinda Clarke, American actress * Melinda Y. Cohen, American actress * Melinda "Mindy" Cohn, American actress *

Melinda Culea Melinda Culea (born May 5, 1955) is an American actress. Early life Culea was born on May 5, 1955, in Western Springs, Illinois. She worked as a model before acting.Dangaard, Colin (1983) "Melinda Culea: The Struggle Goes on", ''Milwaukee Jo ...

, American actress * Melinda Dillon, American actress * Melinda O. Fee, American actress *

Melinda Kinnaman Melinda Rosalie Kinnaman (born 9 November 1971) is a Swedish-American actress. Life and career Kinnaman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to American parents Dee and Steve Kinnaman. Her paternal half-brother Joel Kinnaman is also an actor. By a ...

, Swedish actress *

Melinda Marx Melinda Marie Marx (born August 14, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and musician who had a brief movie career. She is the daughter and only surviving child of Groucho Marx and his second wife, Kay Marvis Gorcey. Life and work Marx appeare ...

, American actress and daughter of Groucho Marx * Melinda McGraw, American actress * Melinda Messenger, English model and TV presenter * Melinda Mullins, American actress * Melinda Page Hamilton, American actress *

Melinda Shankar Melinda Leanna Shankar (born February 18, 1992) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for starring as Alli Bhandari in the television series '' Degrassi: The Next Generation'' (2008-2015) and as Indira "Indie" Mehta in the YTV series ''How T ...

, Canadian actress *

Melinda Sullivan Melinda Sullivan (born September 30, 1987) is an American dancer, choreographer and actress. She is known for her work on the U.S. version of '' So You Think You Can Dance'', where she was a finalist in the television series' seventh season, and ...

, American dancer and actress *

Melinda Sward Melinda Sward is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Pretty Crane on soap opera ''Passions'' (2007–2008). Career She portrayed Pretty Crane on soap opera ''Passions'' from July 30, 2007 to June 30, 2008. She had guest ro ...

, American actress * Malinda Williams, American actress

Artists

* Melinda Bordelon, American painter * Melinda Doring, Australian costume designer * Melinda Looi, Malaysian fashion designer * Melinda Rackham, Australian artist

Entertainers

Melinda Bam Melinda Bam (born 13 May 1989) is a South African TV Personality, presenting popular TV show Pasella & Wies Jou Poppie (season 1–3), international model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss South Africa 2011, becoming the offic ...

South African model and beauty pageant titleholder *

Melinda Ledbetter Melinda Kae Wilson (née Ledbetter, born October 3, 1946) is an American talent manager who is the second wife and longtime manager of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. She was formerly a model and car saleswoman. Ledbetter is credited with helpi ...

, wife and manager of Brian Wilson * Malinda Kathleen Reese, American YouTube personality, actress and singer *

Melinda Saxe Melinda is a feminine given name. 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 (μέλισσα) meaning ...

, American magician

Lawyers

* Melinda Haag, former US attorney * Melinda Harmon, US judge *

Melinda Taylor Melinda Taylor is an Australian criminal lawyer who was arrested and detained in Libya in 2012 after being assigned by the International Criminal Court to defend Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Muammar Gaddafi. Early life and education Taylor ...

, Australian ICC lawyer

Musicians

* Melinda Caroll, American singer * Melinda Doolittle, American singer and ''American Idol'' contestant * Melinda Kistétényi, Hungarian organist * Melinda Maxwell, English oboist and composer * Melinda O'Neal, American conductor * Melinda Schneider, Australian Country Singer *

Melinda Watts Melinda Frances Watts (''née'', Pickett; born July 20, 1978) is an American urban contemporary gospel artist and musician. She started her music career, in 2009, with her first studio album, ''People Get Ready'', released by Razor & Tie. This a ...

, American singer and musician

Philanthropists

* Melinda Gates, philanthropist and ex-wife of

Bill Gates William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is a co-founder of Microsoft, along with his late childhood friend Paul Allen. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions ...

Politicians

Malinda Brumfield White Malinda Grace Brumfield White (born April 1967) is an American businesswoman and Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. She formerly ran as an independent and as a Democrat. In the primary election held on October 24, 201 ...

(born 1967), American politician * Melinda Bush, Illinois senator * Melinda Katz, New York politician *

Melinda MacLean Melinda Jane MacLean (née McLellan; January 19, 1946) is a Canadian former politician. She represented the electoral district of Colchester in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1974 to 1978. She was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Part ...

, Canadian politician *

Melinda Pavey Melinda Jane Pavey (; born 1969), an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Water, Property and Housing since April 2019 in the second Berejiklian ministry and the Perrottet ministry. Pavey has been a member of the New Sout ...

, Australian politician * Melinda Schwegmann, Louisiana state representative and lieutenant-governor *

Melinda Smyser Melinda S. Smyser (born October 29, 1958) is an American politician who served as a member of the Idaho Senate from 2009 to 2012, representing District 11. Smyser previously served as Director of the Idaho Department of Labor and currently serves ...

, Idaho senator * Melinda Széky-Sztrémi, Hungarian politician

Reporters

* Melinda Murphy, American reporter

Scientists

* Melinda Estes, American neuropathologist

Sportswomen

Melinda Cooper Melinda "La Maravilla" Cooper (born March 6, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of ...

, American boxer * Melinda Copp, Canadian swimmer *

Melinda Czink Melinda Czink (born 22 October 1982) is a former professional tennis player from Hungary. On 21 September 2009, she reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 37. Czink reached two WTA Tour singles finals. In 2005, she lost to Ana Iva ...

, Hungarian tennis player *

Melinda Gainsford-Taylor Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (born 1 October 1971 in Narromine, New South Wales) is a retired Australian athlete, who specialised in sprint events. In 1995 Gainsford-Taylor won the World Indoor championship over 200 m. During her career she al ...

, Australian athlete * Melinda Geiger, Romanian handballer * Melinda Hale, American handball player * Mélinda Hennaoui, Algerian volleyball player * Melinda Henshaw, New Zealand yachtswoman * Melinda Jacques, French handball player * Melinda Kunhegyi, Canadian figure skater * Melinda McLeod, Australian BMX cyclist * Melinda Padovano, American wrestler * Melinda Pastrovics, Hungarian handballer * Melinda Patyi, Hungarian canoeist *

Melinda Sun Melinda Sun (born 23 February 1995) is an Australian badminton player. In 2013, she won the bronze medal at the Oceania Junior Championships in the mixed doubles event partnered with Pit Seng Low. In 2016, she won the silver medal at the 2016 O ...

, Australian badminton player * Melinda Szikora, Hungarian handballer * Melinda Szik, Hungarian weightlifter * Melinda Szvorda, Hungarian footballer * Melinda Vernon, Australian triathlete * Melinda Vincze, Hungarian handballer * Melinda Wang, Taiwanese figure skater * Melinda Young, Australia basketball

Writers

* Melinda Camber Porter, British author, poet and painter * Melinda Gebbie, American comic author and artist * Melinda Hammond, British romance novelist * Melinda Haynes, American novelist *

Melinda Hsu Taylor Melinda Hsu Taylor is an American television writer and producer, co-creator and showrunner of ''Tom Swift'' and showrunner of ''Nancy Drew'' for the CW Network. Hsu Taylor is well known for her work on the ABC series ''Lost''. She was nominate ...

, American TV writer and producer * Malinda Lo, American author * Melinda Lopez, American playwright *

Melinda Metz Melinda Metz (born March 7, 1962) is an American author of young adult books as well as a series for adults. Her series ''Roswell High'', about teenage aliens, serves as the basis of The WB television series '' Roswell'' and The CW television ...

, American children's author * Melinda Nadj Abonji, Hungarian writer and performance artist *

Melinda Rankin Melinda Rankin (March 21, 1811 – December 6/7, 1888) was a 19th-century American Presbyterian missionary, teacher, and writer. Born in New England, she found her life work in Mexico, opening the first Protestant mission in Mexico in 1866. She des ...

(1811–1888), American missionary, teacher, and writer *

Melinda Smith Melinda Smith (born 1971) is an Australian poet. Smith won the poetry section of the Prime Minister's Literary Awards in 2014 for her collection ''Drag Down to Unlock or Place an Emergency Call''. The award citation said, "From its range of techn ...

, Australian poet * Melinda M. Snodgrass, American science fiction writer * Melinda Tankard Reist, Australian writer and social campaigner * Melinda Wagner, American composer and Pulitzer Prize winner

Other

* Melinda Loveless, American teenager convicted for her role in the 1992

murder of Shanda Sharer Shanda Renée Sharer (June 6, 1979 – January 11, 1992) was an American girl who was tortured and burned to death in Madison, Indiana by four teenage girls. She was 12 years old at the time of her death. The incident attracted international att ...

In popular culture

In film and television

*'' Melinda (film)'', American film, 1972 *'' Melinda and Melinda'', American film, 2005 *

Melinda Gordon Melinda Irene Gordon is the title character of the American paranormal television series ''Ghost Whisperer'' created by John Gray. Gordon was portrayed by American actress Jennifer Love Hewitt. Character background Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love ...

, Jennifer Love Hewitt's character from '' Ghost Whisperer'' *Melinda from '' The Real World: Austin'' *

Melinda Warren ''Charmed'' is an American television series that was originally broadcast by The WB for eight seasons from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006. The series narrative follows a trio of sisters, known as the Charmed Ones, the most powerful good w ...

and Melinda Halliwell, from TV show '' Charmed'' * Melinda Warner, Medical examiner on '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' *Melinda Cramer,

character Character or Characters may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk * ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to The ...

on '' One Life to Live'' *Melinda May from '' Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' *Melinda, a centaur from the Disney movie ''

Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcor ...

In music

*"Sweet Melinda, the peasants call her the Goddess of Gloom" from ''

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan. It was originally recorded on August 2, 1965, and released on the album ''Highway 61 Revisited''. The song was later released on the compilation album '' Bob Dylan's Grea ...

'' by Bob Dylan, 1965 *"I can't stay much longer, Melinda, the sun is getting high." Cumberland Blues. Lyrics by Robert Hunter, performed by the Grateful Dead. *Melinda, one of the two main characters in the story of Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth's 1999 concept album '' Still Life'', which includes the song "Face of Melinda" *"Sweet Dreams, Melinda" by Trey Anastasio on the album '' Shine'' *"Sweet Melinda" by John Denver on the album ''John Denver'' *" Come Away Melinda", written by Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff, and recorded by

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an internati ...

(on the album ''

Streets I Have Walked ''Streets I Have Walked'' is an album by Harry Belafonte, released in 1963. Allmusic entry for ''Streets I Have Walked''Retrieved October 2009. The album contains songs from around the world as well as gospel songs. It reached #30 on the Billboar ...

''), Judy Collins ('' Judy Collins 3''), Theodore Bikel (''A Folksinger's Choice''), Tim Rose (''Tim Rose''), Bobbie Gentry ('' Local Gentry''), Uriah Heep ('' ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble''), Velvett Fogg), Kenny Rankin (''Mind-Dusters''), The Big 3 (''Live at the Recording Studio''), and L.Stadt. *"Me and My Melinda" by Kay Kyser *"Remember Melinda" by TQ on the album '' They Never Saw Me Coming'' *"Melinda was mine..." from '' Solitary Man'' by Neil Diamond *"Melinda" by Curved Air, on the album ''Retrospective'' *"Melinda" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

In literature

*Melinda, wife of Bánk in József Katona's legendary historical tragedy ''

'' *Melinda ("Lindy") in the book '' The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles'' by Julie Andrews * Melinda Sordino, main character of the book '' Speak'' (1999) by Laurie Halse Anderson *Melinda, porn star mentioned in the book ''

Snow Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water throughou ...

'' by Orhan Pamuk *Melinda, picture book written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dagmara Matusak

In agriculture

*Melinda (consortium) is a consortium producing apples in

Trentino Trentino ( lld, Trentin), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento, is an autonomous province of Italy, in the country's far north. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, an autonomous region ...

In geography

* Melinda Airport, Belize

References

{{given name English feminine given names English given names Feminine given names Hungarian feminine given names