So we are looking for an L name for our son as a tribute to my husband's deceased mother (her name was Lorrayne) and have had some trouble settling on a winner. For quite some time we've been dancing around Luke. We both like it, but hadn't felt ready to commit.
Last night, DH brings up the name Linus. He declared it to be superior to Luke because it's less common (true), but I'm not 100% sold. I can't decide if it's cute and unique without being weird, or just weird.
What do y'all think?
51 votes
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
I LOVE Linus- its adorable. I think it's unique enough not to be common, but it's not one of those names that is impossible to pronounce, either.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
For me, Linus is a character in Charlie Brown. It may be different for Europeans though...I asked my husband once if he ever watched Charlie Brown's Christmas and he was like "What?"
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
I have to agree with Looch - the first thing I thought of was Charlie Brown. But it's still a cute name!! He just might have that association at any given point 
persimmon / 1135 posts
I just asked my husband about the strength of the association of Linus with Peanuts here in the UK and he said people of his generation (he's 41) would probably know it, but our niece and nephew (20 & 15) probably wouldn't....
Hmmm...
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
@MegWag: interesting! maybe it's an area thing? I'm only 23, and I grew up watching Peanuts 
kiwi / 525 posts
There's an Irish actor with the first name Linus too. I'm 34 and only vaguely familiar with Charlie Brown so I wouldn't worry hugely about that aspect.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
I love Linus! My hubs has trouble getting past the Charlie Brown association, but I think it's geeky chic like Henry, has a saintly background, and has some pop culture cache too! (Matt Damon's character in Ocean's 11 is a Linus, and Audrey Hepburn's love interest in "Sabrina" is Linus Larrabee.) Clearly, I'm hoping to live vicariously through you
persimmon / 1135 posts
@rattles: LOL! It also has a mythological link, which I never realized... Linus was the musician son of Apollo. Also, for a Biblical link- Linus was a companion of Paul in Rome.
My husband is more and more sold, but I'm still not 100%
honeydew / 7968 posts
i'm 34 and i never grew up on charlie brown. but i did know there was a linus there. not the biggest fan. i do prefer luke or lucas over linus.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Can you use it as a middle name, or does it have to be the first name that starts with an L? Is that the Jewish naming tradition, not sure how the rules are.
persimmon / 1135 posts
@looch: It is a Jewish thing, but there's no hard and fast rule about it- just that you pick a name that starts with the same letter. Actually his dad and sister are also dead, so we've got A & B names in the running too, but he seems most keen to have an L name. I wouldn't consider putting a name as a middle name just for the sake of it though. If I don't like Linus enough for it to be his first name, it won't be his middle
I do like Luke, but not Lucas.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I'd just put it on the list, and see what your son looks like when he's born, you know? He could totally look like a Linus or Luke. You'll know when you see him!
I like Luke a lot. I am also partial to Liam, which is my son's middle name.
persimmon / 1202 posts
I'd go for Lucas, if Luke and Linus are preferred options. Linus is just a little too out there for me.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
I love the name Linus! Especially as a big Charlie Brown fan. I did know a Linus who was a jerk though, which kind of ruins it for me. But you don't know him. Go for it!
persimmon / 1465 posts
Yep. First thing I thought of was Peanuts. Not necessarily a bad thing though
apricot / 256 posts
It makes me think of Benjamin Linus from LOST so unfortunately, it's weird to me. But if you like it who cares?
nectarine / 2797 posts
I love Linus! I acutally know of a baby Linus, and I think it's absolutely adorable on him.
pear / 1723 posts
I like it. It's recognizable but not common. While yes, I think of Peanuts, I also think of Linus Pauling - one of the greatest scientists in history, and a multiple nobel prize winner. That's kind of a cool namesake to me
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
I love the name Linus - it's unique but I do still think of Charlie Brown.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
I think it's super cute. The reference to Charlie Brown makes it a positive to me.
persimmon / 1135 posts
I just talked to my mom and told her we were considering Linus. It was hilarious because her immediate reaction was exactly what I knew it would be. It was a disbelieving and disapproving noise... she quickly checked herself and by the end of our conversation she said "You know, it's actually growing on me... and it would be totally fine." She's so funny!
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Linus seems like a normal name to me! So definitely not weird/unique. But very cute!!
pomegranate / 3314 posts
I really like it! My husband is English, too, and I have to agree that the Peanuts association would not be as strong as it is in the US.
By the way, this is a site that we use when researching baby names and I'm obsessed. You can see her how uncommon the name is (well, these are US stats), which I personally think is a great thing.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=linus&a=*C.linus-_*GivenName-
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I like it, I think it's cute and unique and on trend with the traditional names coming back!!!
pomegranate / 3706 posts
I love it! Even in the U.S. Peanuts are not as well known among younger generations anymore and it's not a bad association, anyway!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Well, my friend's dog was called Linus. Totally ruins it for me!
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