Mindy

♀ Girl

Pronounced MIHN-dee /ˈmɪn.di/Medium

Meaning: Diminutive of Melinda (from Greek 'meli', honey, with the suffix -inda), giving a sense of 'sweet'. Occasionally a pet form of Miranda.Medium

In 30 seconds: Mindy is a friendly pet form of Melinda, which draws on the Greek 'meli' for honey, giving it a 'sweet' undertone.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningDiminutive of Melinda (from Greek 'meli', honey, with the suffix -inda), giving a sense of 'sweet'. Occasionally a pet form of Miranda.

U.S. rank (2025)#2401 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births75 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 42,615

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

It began as a diminutive of Melinda, whose 'meli' element means honey and lends the sense of sweetness. Occasionally it stands in as a short form of Miranda instead. Either way, Mindy works as an affectionate nickname that grew into a name in its own right.

The bright, two-syllable sound gives it a cheerful, approachable ring. It connects to the wider Melissa and Melanie family, all sharing that honeyed 'mel' root. Comedian and writer Mindy Kaling, of The Office and The Mindy Project, is a familiar bearer.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Mindy is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Mindy — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MelisaMelissaMelittaMelánieMelanie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Mindy Cohn (b. 1966)
American actress; played Natalie Green on the sitcom 'The Facts of Life' and voiced Velma in the Scooby-Doo franchise.
★Mindy Kaling (b. 1979)
American actress, comedian, writer and producer; known for 'The Office' and creator of 'The Mindy Project' and 'Never Have I Ever'.

If you like Mindy…

Melinda— The fuller name Mindy is a diminutive of

Melissa— Shares the Greek 'meli' (honey) root and sense

Melanie— From the same 'mel' name family in sound

Miranda— The other name Mindy occasionally shortens

Cindy— A comparable cheerful '-indy' pet name of the era

Explore names like Mindy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mindy mean?

Mindy is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Mindy?

It's commonly said MIHN-dee /ˈmɪn.di/.

Is Mindy a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Mindy is used as a girl name.

How popular is Mindy?

In 2024, Mindy ranked #1984 in the U.S. for girls, with 99 births recorded.