The first element is the genitive case of the river name Rinda which is derived from the verb rinna which means to "run" or "flow".

On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Rindal, removing the definite form ending -en.

The official blazon is "Vert, a gavel Or" (Norwegian: I grønt en opprett gull klubbe).

The gavel has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

The gavel is meant to symbolize John Neergaard, who is considered the father of municipal governments in Norway, (formannskapets far), who was from Rindal.

He was responsible for pushing for local government reform which led to the approval of the Formannskapsdistrikt law in 1837.

It was historically part of the Indre Nordmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

On 1 January 2020, the parish of Rindal was transferred to the Orkdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

The lakes Foldsjøen and Gråsjøen lie along the border with Surnadal Municipality to the southwest.