Editor’s note: This post was originally published September 8, 2008, and was substantially revised and re-posted on April 2, 2012.
He’s a blanket-toting philosopher, a beloved cartoon character from the enduring Peanuts comic strip, and a member of The Nevilles list.
Today’s Baby Name of the Day is Linus.
Matt Damon is Hollywood royalty, and so it is fitting he’s among the group who remade the Rat Pack classic Ocean’s Eleven. Damon played the less-than-confident son of legendary con man Bobby Caldwell in the three films.
Before Linus Caldwell appeared on the silver screen in 2001, the name already had plenty of Hollywood character cred. In 1954, Humphrey Bogart played unlikely love interest Linus Larrabee opposite Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. Julia Ormond reprised Hepburn’s role in 1995 opposite Harrison Ford as Linus II.
For many parents, the first Linus who springs to mind is the Great-Pumpkin-believing, Christmas-pageant-narrating Linus Van Pelt, Charlie Brown’s best friend. Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz named the character after a dear friend of his own.
Some might fret that the comic strip character rendered the name unwearable. But actually, Linus has always been obscure. He charted in the US Top 1000 at the upper limits a handful of times between 1881 and 1940. The name Linus was gone long before Linus van Pelt appeared in the funny pages.
Linus isn’t waiting for a revival – he’s yet to be discovered.
Some sites suggest that Linus is derived from the Greek linos, or flax, and thus means fair-haired. But another intriguing possibility exists. In most tellings, Linus is the son of the god Apollo. Father kills son, and so the Greek ailinos – a lament or dirge – might’ve inspired the ill-fated character’s name.
Linus was used steadily in Ancient Rome, and one Linus became the second Pope. Other than his dates in office, little is known of his life. Nonetheless, he’s considered Pope Saint Linus, and is probably a big part of the reason the name endured into modern times. He’s believed to be the same Linus mentioned by Paul in the New Testament, too.
Three other bearers of the name deserve mention:
- Linus Torvalds is best known as the maverick software engineer responsible for developing the open source Linux operating system;
- Linus Pauling won the Nobel Prize prize for his work in two fields – chemistry and peace. He was also the inspiration for Torvalds’ name.
- British actor Linus Roache joined the cast of Law and Order in 2008 as Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, and then transitioned to Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Some might remember him from his role opposite Helena Bonham Carter in 1997’s Wings of the Dove, or on UK soap opera Coronation Street back in the 70s.
Head to Europe, and you’ll find pint-sized Linuses aplenty. It’s the #70 pick in Norway, #34 in Germany and #26 in Sweden – though he’s falling slightly in all three countries.
With names like Henry and Oliver all the rage, Linus offers parents a name that is truly offbeat without being at all unfamiliar. He’s a gentle, gentlemanly name with some great namesakes.
We named my son Linus, and I like it quite a bit. The Torvalds and Peanuts connections were positive to us, but not really the sole reason we liked the name. It just seemed to be sweet but a little serious as well, and I love that it can’t sound dated or common, but is familiar, usually easy to pronounce and spell. We lucked out that my son has very light blond hair, just like the meaning of the name. He’s not yet 2 years old, so I don’t know yet whether it’s a name he’ll be teased for. I considered that, but sometimes you have to use names you love and know that kids with unteaseable names will just be given new nicknames for teasing.
Linus is my favorite Peanuts character, so I love that pedigree.
Linus, to me, doesn’t have any specific hair color. Unlike Alice, who’s always blond, and James, who’s always dark.
But the thing that keeps it from my top ten (and kids) is because it rhymes with sinus. And, argh, someone I know always seems to have sinus problems… so that’s how the blanket morphs into a tissue in my imagination ;).
I am absolutely in love with Linus. I would my husband would go for it, but he also fears the Peanuts connection. I love the subtle punk-rock/geek sound. I think Linus would fit right in with all of the Seths, James, and Daniels running around, and stand out nicely from the greatly-feared Aiden. I will keep working on my husband…it’s definitely on my short list.
PS: I adore this website. Stumbled onto it about a week ago and I can’t get enough! I didn’t realize my obsession with baby names was completely normal. (Although, considering I don’t yet have any kids, it may not be) Thanks for your hard work in bringing us so many appealing options!
I LOVE Linus! If I didn’t already have a Lucas I would use it in a second.
Aww, thanks! Both of you. I was wondering really. Sometimes the meaning of a name strikes me and I get waffly. 🙂 Never fear, I’ll be working on combos for Linus over the next few days. Maybe I’ll pop back here for a review!
I don’t love Linus. I think it’s great in theory – fictional characters carry it really well – but I wouldn’t test that theory and name my son Linus. It’s a little too geeky, a bit too nasal sounding. Something is off there, somehow.
That said, I’ll address Lola: Why does it matter if Linus is dark haired? Would that ruin the name? I think you could pull it off. A lot of mommies like to name their children after they see the baby for the first time, but I think people grow into their names – once you think of your child as Linus, Linus he will be, whether his hair is dark or light. Go for it!
Oscar really is an appealing choice, isn’t it? I kept short-listing it should our #2 have been a boy, but Arthur was not so keen.
Lola, I doubt that anyone would find a dark Linus unusual. It doesn’t read blonde to me at all. Plus, that’s the advantage of using a little known name – no one will know unless you mention it!
Ah, Linus is a love for a whole host reasons, Pauling (and Torvalds) at the forefront. But the huge Geek I am loves the philosophising, gee whiz, blanket toting dude. yeah. He’s my favorite comic strip character, nevermind Peanuts character. I’ve told this story before but it fits here, mostly. My mother used to call my brother & I Lucy & Linus for nicknames because of the Peanuts characters we most closely resembled. Both names are on my lists for that memory.
I adore the fact that he’s familiar but never popular, it’ll never date if it never races up the charts! And I love the Pope thing. It’s a subtle link all my boys would have and I really dig that. I also like his crisp, lean, no nickname “I don’t end in ‘N’ style. Very awesome. He is racing up my lists these days. I find Linus completely lovable! My only hesitation is that my kids, while mainly blonde (Simon & Josie), have a dark haired gene that has already popped out once (Leo) and it’s more or less a dice roll as to whether another one would be blonde or dark. Anyone think a dark haired Linus would be odd? I really like him despite that, but it’s a strange thought I’d love to get opinions on. If anyone’s willing! Please? 🙂
Linus is my orange tabby. My husband and I love this name and we named the cat about a year before we got pregnant. We were a bit miffed that we gave such a great name to the cat, as we both think it’s totally usable for a kid.
So I must be content with Oscar, my current geek-chic love.
I love the name, but fear using it because of the Peanuts reference! If my Linus ever decided to use a blue blanket for security, I could never deal. The poor boy would be mocked forever! I like the idea of Linus and Otto or Linus and Oscar, but only if we decided to move across the pond. Frankly, I’m not surprised about it’s popularity in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, I believe my great aunt Olga had a brother named Linus…