Thoughts on Linda

[17caterpillars1mouse]

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?

This. Visual image of women called Linda....likes leopard print, hen dos, long acrylic nails, rum and coke, bit chunky. Not a name to saddle a child with.

It is probably true that some of these Lindas, Belindas, Barbaras, Elaines, Shirleys etc will come back just like the Ethels and Mabels.

That said, I really find it hard to envisage, because to me they are just not attractive names.

Linda is not the worst of them, but as a couple of pps suggested, what about Lydia, Lucinda or Lisa, which is also due a comeback but is a softer name with links to Elizabeth. To me those three have a similar sound but avoid the associations of that era of names.

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

I like it for its meaning - beautiful (in Spanish) - and thought of that way I like it better than I otherwise would. Having said that, I can’t help hearing Spanish speaking men in my head saying “que linda”. Nothing wrong with a revival though. All the Lindas I know are aged between 50 and 75, and I have a (totally anecdotal) theory that names come back around after a gap of about four generations, e.g. Betty, Dotty and Audrey were names of my gran’s generation and are coming back now for children of people around my age and a bit younger.

Galinda or perhaps Glinda are in at the moment.

Ah come on.
That's like saying don't call your child Daisy, Rose or Ruby because they're housemaids with red hands and bad knees.

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

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

Prefer Melinda ... softens it a bit?

No

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.

No.

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

Bit stripperish

OMG - one the worst possible names.

Don't do it.

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.

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.

I love it.

Lucinda is better though

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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