Linde

♀ Girl

Pronounced LIN-duh /ˈlɪn.də/Medium

Meaning: Linde is the German word for the linden (lime) tree, long a symbol of love and community in German folklore, and it also served as a short form of longer names such as Linda, Belinda and Rosalinde.Low

In 30 seconds: Linde is a German girl's name meaning 'linden tree,' also short for Linda or Rosalinde. It appears in mid-century US records (said LIN-duh).

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Origin MediumGerman

MeaningLinde is the German word for the linden (lime) tree, long a symbol of love and community in German folklore, and it also served as a short form of longer names such as Linda, Belinda and Rosalinde.

U.S. rank (2012)#16086 ↘ Falling

2012 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 442

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rooted in the German word for the linden tree, Linde doubled as an affectionate short form of Linda, Belinda and Rosalinde. Its soft two-syllable sound traveled with German-speaking families to America, where it surfaced quietly in birth records around the middle of the twentieth century.

Never widespread, Linde was only about fifteen a year even at its peak around the late nineteen-fifties before slipping away. A girl named Linde then would be of grandmother age now, and the name still reads as a gentle European heirloom rather than a revival.

Did you know? In German villages the linden tree was the traditional gathering spot for dances and councils, so Linde carried a warm sense of home and belonging long before it was a given name.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Linde — German 'linden tree'; short form of Linda/Rosalinde; mid-century US usage

Variations

LindaRosalindeBelinda

Nicknames

LinLindy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Linde mean?

It is the German word for the linden or lime tree, and it also works as a short form of Linda and Rosalinde.

How do you pronounce Linde?

It is said LIN-duh /ˈlɪn.də/ - two syllables.

Is Linde a boy or girl name?

Linde is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Linde?

Linde was always uncommon in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its peak in the late nineteen-fifties.