Meaning of name Melinda

The names of some famous persons by the name Melinda (or its variants) are:

Melinda French Gates, born on 15 August, a famous manager. Melinda French Gates's background: Former unit manager for several Microsoft products: Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Encarta, and Expedia. In 1994, she married Bill Gates, founder, chairman, and former chief software architect of Microsoft. They have three children: Jennifer Katharine Gates (b. April 26, 1996), Rory John Gates (b. May 23, 1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (b. September 14, 2002). Today Gates also attends Bilderberg Group conferences and holds a seat on the board of directors of the Washington Post company. She retired from the board of Drugstore.com in August 2006 to spend more time working for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates have donated more than US$24 billion to the Foundation. In December 2005, she and her husband, along with musician Bono, were named by Time as Persons of the Year. The Gateses received the 'Spanish Medal of Freedom' prize — the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation — on May 4, 2006, in recognition of their world impact through charity giving.

Melinda Schwegmann, born on 25 October, a famous governor. Melinda Schwegmann's background: The lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 1992-1996 -- the first woman to hold the position. She made an unsuccessful run for governor of Louisiana in 1995. In 1997, she won a special election to the Louisiana State House of Representatives, District 98, from the Orleans Parish Lakefront, a predominantly African American area. She was elected to a full term in 1999. In 2003, she relinquished the House seat, which was dismembered by reapportionment. Formerly a member of the Democratic Party, that same year she switched affiliation to the Republican Party in a fruitless effort to regain the lieutenant governor's position.