Melinda
Encyclopedia
Etymology
The modern name Melinda is a combination of "Mel" with the suffix "-inda"."Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie
Melanie
Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία , "blackness" and that from μέλας , meaning "dark". Borne in its Latin form by two saints: Melania the Elder and her grand-daughter Melania the Younger, the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form Melanie...
meaning "dark, black" in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, or from Melissa
Melissa
Melissa is a given name for a female child. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα , "honey bee" and from μέλι , "honey". Compare Hittite melit, "honey"....
meaning "honeysuckle" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek word meli, meaning "honey", and with Linda
Linda (name)
Linda is a female given name.*The name might be derived from the same root as the linden tree, from Germanic lind meaning "soft, tender" ultimately from a Celtic root...
, meaning "gentle, soft, tender" in the Germanic languages
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
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Pronunciation
The typical English pronunciation of Melinda is məˈlɪndə. In Romanian, the stress is also on the second syllable: meˈlinda. In Hungarian however, the stress is on the first syllable.Usage and popularity
The name Melinda is used in English, Romanian 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. Variations in spelling include Melynda, Melyndah, Malinda, and Milinda.József Katona
József Katona
József Katona was a Hungarian playwright and poet, creator of the Hungarian drama: author of the legendary historical tragedy: Bánk bán.-Biography:...
Hungarian playwright and poet, used the name Melinda first in 1815 in his legendary historical tragedy: Bánk bán
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. The main storyline is based on the assassination of Queen Gertrúd, wife of Andrew II in 1213...
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In Hungary
Name days in Hungary
This is a calendar of name days in Hungary.-External links:* - this is a sortable list allowing one to list alphabetically or chronologically...
, December 2 is Melinda Day
Name day
A name day is a tradition in many countries in Europe and Latin America that consists of celebrating the day of the year associated with one's given name....
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Famous Melindas
- Melinda ClarkeMelinda ClarkeMelinda Patrice Clarke is an American actress who has primarily worked in television. Clarke is best known for playing Faith Taylor on the daytime drama Days of our Lives, the manipulative and cunning Julie Cooper-Nichol on The O.C., and the professional dominatrix Lady Heather on CSI...
, American actress - Melinda CuleaMelinda CuleaMelinda Culea is an American film and television actress, who moved into acting after working as a model.-The A-Team:...
, American actress - Melinda CzinkMelinda CzinkMelinda Czink is a Hungarian professional female tennis player. On September 21, 2009 Czink reached her career-high singles ranking of World No. 37....
, Hungarian tennis player - Melinda DoolittleMelinda DoolittleMelinda Marie Doolittle is an American singer who finished as the third place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol...
, American singer and American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant - Melinda GatesMelinda GatesMelinda Ann French , later known as Melinda French Gates, is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the wife of Bill Gates...
, wife of Bill GatesBill GatesWilliam Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen... - Melinda MessengerMelinda MessengerMelinda Jayne Messenger is an English ex-glamour model, Page 3 Girl and a former presenter on the magazine programme Live from Studio Five. She is currently co-broadcaster of the reality show Cowboy Builders.-Biography:...
, English model & TV presenter - Melinda SaxeMelinda SaxeMelinda Saxe is a magician from Las Vegas, Nevada, best known for network television performances and Las Vegas stage shows in which she was billed as "The First Lady of Magic". She is often associated with the "Drill of Death" illusion which was a signature trick developed for her by Andre Kole...
, American magician - Melinda SzikMelinda SzikMelinda Szik is a retired female weightlifter from Hungary. She competed for her native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where she finished in ninth place in the women's superheavyweight division .-References:*...
, Czink's Hungarian compatriot and weightlifter
In film and television
- Melinda and MelindaMelinda and MelindaMelinda and Melinda is a 2004 film written and directed by Woody Allen. It was premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two storylines; one comic, one tragic...
, American film, 2005 - Melinda GordonMelinda GordonMelinda Irene Gordon, portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt is the title character of the American fantasy television series Ghost Whisperer created by John Gray.-Character background:...
, Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
character from Ghost WhispererGhost WhispererGhost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... - Melinda from The Real World: Austin
- Melinda Warren and Melinda Halliwell, from TV show CharmedCharmedCharmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
- Melinda WarnerMelinda WarnerDr. Melinda Warner is a fictional character on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played by Tamara Tunie. Tunie was originally a recurring cast member until she was added to the main credits in season 7. She became a recurring cast member again in season 13.-Character overview:As the...
, Medical ExaminerMedical examinerA medical examiner is a medically qualified government officer whose duty is to investigate deaths and injuries that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests....
on Law & Order: SVU - Melinda McClure, Actor on famous tv show Sugar Land
- Melinda (TV series), a Philippine TV series aired on GMA NetworkGMA NetworkGMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
starring Chin chin Guteirez.
In music
- Sweet Melinda, the peasants call her the Goddess of Gloom - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Bob Dylan
- Melinda, one of the two main characters in the story of SwedishSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
progressive death metal band OpethOpethOpeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
's 1999 concept album Still LifeStill Life (Opeth album)Still Life is the fourth studio album from Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth. The album was produced and engineered by Opeth "under the watchful eye" of Fredrik Nordström.-Style:...
, which includes the song "Face of Melinda" - Melinda DoolittleMelinda DoolittleMelinda Marie Doolittle is an American singer who finished as the third place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol...
, an American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 6 contestant - "Sweet Dreams, Melinda" by Trey AnastasioTrey AnastasioTrey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
on the album ShineShine (Trey Anastasio album)Shine is Trey Anastasio's fourth solo studio album, and his first release since the breakup of Phish in August 2004. Included in this release is new material written by Anastasio in late 2004 and early 2005. Shine also marks the first release by Anastasio apart from Elektra Records, as Anastasio... - "Sweet Melinda" by John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
on the album John Denver - "Come Away Melinda", written by Fred HellermanFred HellermanFred Hellerman, born in Brooklyn, New York and educated at Brooklyn College, is an American folk singer, guitarist, producer and song writer, primarily known as one of the members of The Weavers, together with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Ronnie Gilbert...
and Fran MinkoffFran MinkoffFrances "Fran" Minkoff was an American lyricist.She is best known for her songs co-written with Fred Hellerman of The Weavers...
, and recorded by Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
(on the album Streets I Have WalkedStreets I Have WalkedStreets I Have Walked is an album by Harry Belafonte, released in 1963.-Track listing:# "Sit Down" – 2:29 # "Erev Shel Shoshanim" – 3:11 # "Waltzing Matilda" – 3:14 # "My Old Paint" – 3:27...
), Judy CollinsJudy CollinsJudith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
(Judy Collins 3Judy Collins 3 (Judy Collins album)Judy Collins #3 is an album by American folk singer Judy Collins released in 1963. It spent 10 weeks on Billboard's Top 150 album charts in 1964, peaking at #126 on May 16.-Track listing:# "Anathea"...
), Theodore BikelTheodore BikelTheodore Meir Bikel is a character actor, folk singer and musician. He made his film debut in The African Queen and was nominated for an Academy award for his supporting role as Sheriff Max Muller in The Defiant Ones ....
(A Folksinger's Choice), Tim RoseTim RoseTimothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
(Tim Rose), Bobbie GentryBobbie GentryRoberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...
(Local GentryLocal GentryLocal Gentry is the third album by Bobbie Gentry. The second of four albums she released in 1968, it was produced by Kelly Gordon.-Side one:# "Sweete Peony 2:26" *# "Casket Vignette 2:34" *...
), Uriah HeepUriah Heep (band)Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
(Very 'Eavy... Very 'UmbleVery 'eavy... Very 'umbleVery 'eavy... Very 'umble is the debut album of British hard rock band Uriah Heep.It was released in the United States as Uriah Heep with alternate sleeve artwork, and with "Bird of Prey" in place of "Lucy Blues." The album is notable for being rooted more in raunchy blues rock than the band's...
), Velvett FoggVelvett FoggVelvett Fogg are a cult British psychedelic rock band. Tony Iommi was a member in mid-1968, but soon left to form Black Sabbath. Their lone eponymous album was released in January 1969, and re-released on CD by Sanctuary Records in 2002.-Development:...
(Velvett Fogg), UFOUFO (band)UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
(UFO 1), Kenny RankinKenny RankinKenny Rankin was an American pop and jazz singer and songwriter, originally from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City, New York.-Biography:...
(Mind-Dusters), and The Big 3Tim RoseTimothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
(Live at the Recording Studio). - "Me and My Melinda" by Kay KyserKay KyserJames Kern Kyser was a popular bandleader and radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.-Early years:He was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the son of pharmacists Paul Bynum Kyser and Emily Royster Kyser. Editor Vermont C. Royster was his cousin...
- "Remember Melinda" by TQ on the album They Never Saw Me Coming
- "Melinda was mine..." from Solitary Man by Neil DiamondNeil DiamondNeil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
- "Face Of Melinda" by Mikael ÅkerfeldtMikael ÅkerfeldtLars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician who achieved fame as the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth as well as the lead vocalist of death metal band Bloodbath. He was the vocalist and guitarist for the band Sörskogen and the guitarist of the band Steel...
, from OpethOpethOpeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
's album Still LifeStill Life (Opeth album)Still Life is the fourth studio album from Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth. The album was produced and engineered by Opeth "under the watchful eye" of Fredrik Nordström.-Style:... - "Melinda" by Curved AirCurved AirCurved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
appears on the album Retrospective - "Melinda" by Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
In literature
- Melinda, wife of Bánk in József KatonaJózsef KatonaJózsef Katona was a Hungarian playwright and poet, creator of the Hungarian drama: author of the legendary historical tragedy: Bánk bán.-Biography:...
's legendary historical tragedy: Bánk bánBánk bánBánk 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. The main storyline is based on the assassination of Queen Gertrúd, wife of Andrew II in 1213...
. - Melinda ("Lindy") in the book The Last of the Really Great WhangdoodlesThe Last of the Really Great WhangdoodlesThe Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a children's novel written by Julie Edwards, the married name of singer and actress Dame Julie Andrews. More recent editions credit the book to "Julie Andrews Edwards".-Plot summary:...
by Julie AndrewsJulie AndrewsDame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors... - Melinda, main character of the book SpeakSpeak (novel)Speak is a 1999 novel by Laurie Halse Anderson about a girl named Melinda Sordino who is an outcast as a high school freshman. It was made into a film of the same name in 2004. The novel was a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller...
(1999) by Laurie Halse AndersonLaurie Halse AndersonLaurie Halse Anderson is an American author who writes for children and young adults.-Career:... - Melinda, porn star mentioned in the book SnowSnow (novel)Snow is a novel by Turkish author Orhan Pamuk. It was published in Turkish in 2002 and in English in 2004. The story encapsulates many of the political and cultural tensions of modern Turkey and successfully combines humor, social commentary, mysticism, and a deep sympathy with its characters.Kar...
by Orhan PamukOrhan PamukFerit Orhan Pamuk , generally known simply as Orhan Pamuk, is a Turkish novelist. He is also the Robert Yik-Fong Tam Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, where he teaches comparative literature and writing.... - Melinda, the wife of Kyle Burnett in the book "My life" by William Peterson
In Crime
- Melinda Loveless tortured and burned Shanda Sharer to death with the help of other teenage girls.