Linus


The Greek god Apollo had two sons. One was killed in a contest while the other invented rhythm and melody. He even taught music to the god Herakles. These sons had the same name: Linus. 

Not only does Linus come from Greek mythology, but it also originates from the Greek Linos, meaning "flax." The name has associated itself with a saint during antiquity as well. St. Linus succeeded St. Peter as a pope. 

Not much is known about the name's usage between antiquity and the Victorian Era. In the United States, Linus first ranked in 1882. It ranked 15 more times until 1940 while never making the top 600. American chemist Linus Pauling (1901-1994) was born during that time. After the name stopped ranking, Charles Schulz (1922-2000) created his famous Peanuts character with the blanket, Linus Van Pelt. 

The name has recently been popular in Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. Linus also currently ranks in the German top 50. 

The name has been tied to the Peanuts character with the blue blanket for decades. Yet, Linus has a style of its own; it is mythological, exotic, and saintly. 

VARIANTS:

Lino, Linos

STYLES:

Exotic, Mythological, Saintly

SISTERS:

Astrid, Beatrix, Freya, Imogen, Lilith, Maris, Ophelia, Thea

BROTHERS:

Bruno, Casper, Hugo, Jules, Maxim, Orion, Phineas, Soren 

ALTERNATIVES:

Angus, Cyrus, Hiram, Lionel, Lyle, Lysander, Magnus, Wiley

FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Linus." Names, Behind the Name, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.behindthename.com/name/linus. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023. 

"Linus." Baby Boy Names, Nameberry, 2023, https://nameberry.com/babyname/linus. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023. 

What do you think about Linus?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Names Inspired by Ivy

Image
Ivy was one of the nature names that emerged during the Victorian Era. It ranked in the 200s in America and was a top 100 pick in England before its decline. Over the past decade, Ivy became a "j-shaped" revival, meaning it came back more popular than ever before; it entered the top 100 in 2018. Parents could be seeking Ivy as an alternative to Ava, another name that is both vintage and modern. However, Ivy has several differences. Even though the nature name is completely feminine, it feels more tailored than girly. Despite ending in the "ee" sound, Ivy sounds more confident than cute (the poison ivy and Ivy League associations could be factors). For those who find Ivy too popular, are looking for sister names, or just love the name, here are some similar names below the top 100: Aster A flower name that also possibly means "star," Aster is rising as a tailored girls' choice even though it is also rising, to a lesser extent, for boys.  Avis This short...
Read more

Disney Boys' Names

Image
What do Pinocchio, Mickey, and Peter have in common? They belong to characters in Disney animated shorts and movies.  However, as with girls' names, Disney boys' names aren't necessarily those from the movies. Instead, they reflect the values of Walt Disney; vintage names with built-in dreams that are neither childish nor heavy. These names sound child-friendly but appropriate for adults. Here are some boys' names infused with Disney values that will especially appeal to Disney fans: Arthur Arthur "Wart" is the protagonist who draws out the sword and becomes king in  The Sword in the Stone . Disney Legend Art Babbitt injects the name with more dreams. Nickname "Art" and the aardvark of children's literature and television fame add on a friendly vibe.   Calvin Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes comics might bring up childhood memories. On the accomplished side, there's Protestant reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) and former President Calvin...
Read more