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Original poster

Thoughts on Linda

181 replies

17caterpillars1mouse · 26/12/2025 14:04

Yes its a bit dated, but i find it refreshing and at least she'd almost certainly be the only one in her class. Maybe Lindy as an affectionate shortening. Thoughts?

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notnorman · 26/12/2025 18:00

Thesofathatwas · 26/12/2025 14:06

My mil is called Linda. So for that reason alone…. no.

Same hahaha

SwedishEdith · 26/12/2025 17:57

I love Linda. Know lots of lovely ones. Lin is a cool shortening for a teen and Lindy cute for a child. Not Lynda though as Linda means pretty or cute in Spanish.

OctopusFriend · 26/12/2025 17:54

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:50

The Florence, Matilda etc I have less surprise with because they date back much further and the goes around, comes back idea seems more natural. Some of these groups of names seem to me a bit of a "blip." Pamela is definitely an old name.

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I would say Esme is a blip - it is such an ugly name (imo). Also Enid!
I think parents just want to choose different names now apart from Olivia, Isobel, Lily, Eva, Poppy and Willow
Comes around, goes around.

ChristmasJumper25 · 26/12/2025 17:52

Sorry but it's a really bland name and smacks of not much thought put in.

I wouldn't give it to my child.

CatsForLife · 26/12/2025 17:51

I LOVE it. I also love Gloria.

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:50

OctopusFriend · 26/12/2025 17:46

You will. When I started teaching it was all Michelle, Gina, Natalie, Melanie, Belinda etc and I would never imagine a class with Esme, Elsie, Florence, Mabel and Ivy.
Fashions change!

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The Florence, Matilda etc I have less surprise with because they date back much further and the goes around, comes back idea seems more natural. Some of these groups of names seem to me a bit of a "blip." Pamela is definitely an old name.

HScully · 26/12/2025 17:49

I like it, old fashioned but it will come back.

My mum called me an old fashioned name and everyone said gosh that's old, but guess what? it came back. I love it as it doesnt feel too try hard but there are not loads amongst my peers. I was the only one in my school.

Fair few of them in people 10yr younger than me

Octopus45 · 26/12/2025 17:49

My Auntie is called Lynda. Nice name, much prefer the spelling with a y

scalt · 26/12/2025 17:48

It's my mum's name (born early 1950s), and she really hates it, to the extent that she's refused to use it in her adult life.

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:48

RosesAndHellebores · 26/12/2025 17:23

I think Shirley is pretty in a way that Linda isn't. Barbara is more classic.

I think Linda sits with: Kim, Elaine, Brenda, Bev, Denise, etc

Barbara with Silvia, Patricia, Joan

Shirley with Tracey, both of which are pretty names.

Linda is to Belinda what Julie is to Julia imo. Belinda and Julia are classic whereas Linda and Julie are not.

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Maybe Shirley could be pretty. I've only ever known older ladies with that name who were not pretty and tended to be quite loud. 😬

I guess if someone knew a 16 year old Shirley it would come across differently. We are all quite influenced by associations I think.

plinkyplonk123 · 26/12/2025 17:47

If you like it then don’t let other people change your mind

Fullfatandfortyplus · 26/12/2025 17:47

I think it’s cute. There is a girl
in year 5 at my DS school called Linda and she’s very sweet and cute so I’m associating it with her rather than older generations.

OctopusFriend · 26/12/2025 17:46

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:43

I just struggle with that whole group of names tbh. I tend to think "what happened?" and struggle to see them making a comeback. But perhaps I'll be wrong.

You will. When I started teaching it was all Michelle, Gina, Natalie, Melanie, Belinda etc and I would never imagine a class with Esme, Elsie, Florence, Mabel and Ivy.
Fashions change!

Poodlelove · 26/12/2025 17:46

I love it.

Lucinda is better though

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:43

I just struggle with that whole group of names tbh. I tend to think "what happened?" and struggle to see them making a comeback. But perhaps I'll be wrong.

ChristmasMantleStatue · 26/12/2025 17:40

For offbeat reasons I was thinking about Linda the other day. A character I loved as a child was Rosalinda, known as Linda.

Linda- boring, lumpen, unattractive. Rosalinda, exotic and beautiful. Melinda- also lovely. Belinda- less so.

Strange really.

teeenia · 26/12/2025 17:39

OMG - one the worst possible names.

Don't do it.

MerryAndBrightLaLaLa · 26/12/2025 17:37

SpinningaCompass · 26/12/2025 17:19

Prefer Melinda ... softens it a bit?

Bit stripperish

Advocodo · 26/12/2025 17:37

Linda means beautiful in Spanish. If you like it go for it!

Mistyglade · 26/12/2025 17:32

No.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/12/2025 17:23

Calliopespa · 26/12/2025 17:14

It kind of is op. And she has a mate called Shirley.

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I think Shirley is pretty in a way that Linda isn't. Barbara is more classic.

I think Linda sits with: Kim, Elaine, Brenda, Bev, Denise, etc

Barbara with Silvia, Patricia, Joan

Shirley with Tracey, both of which are pretty names.

Linda is to Belinda what Julie is to Julia imo. Belinda and Julia are classic whereas Linda and Julie are not.

Clarehandaust · 26/12/2025 17:22

No

SpinningaCompass · 26/12/2025 17:19

Prefer Melinda ... softens it a bit?

MerryAndBrightLaLaLa · 26/12/2025 17:18

Lucinda, Lara, Lyla, Leila or Lucia are much nicer

MerryAndBrightLaLaLa · 26/12/2025 17:17

Middle aged woman in the 80’s with big hair and Deirdre Barlow glasses - that’s what I think of.