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Help[Opinions] Linden
I've only come across this spelling recently (and it doesn't even seem etymologically related to Lyndon, anyway). Due to its similarity to the once uber-popular Linda, and to Lindsay / Lindsey (which used to be considered masculine, but is now far more feminine and a name I also really like for girls), and the fact that it's the name of a tree (I consider most Anglophone nature names to be unisex), I kind of like Linden as a feminine name. However, most of the comments on the name itself are slagging off the idea that it could be considered remotely feminine.
Anyway, what do you think of Linden? Feminine? Masculine? Doesn't belong on people? Let me know!
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Anyway, what do you think of Linden? Feminine? Masculine? Doesn't belong on people? Let me know!
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835
http://greens-end.myminicity.com/
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Replies
I think it's gender neutral, despite the existence of Lyndon. I much prefer this spelling, and in fact almost used it on a novel character. I think it would be lovely and strong on a woman and soft and elegant on a man. And after all, anyone can be named after a tree.
That said, I also live near a small town called Linden.
That said, I also live near a small town called Linden.
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I would consider it a female name, though I do think it could work as a unisex name as well.
Linden is also a surname used in Scandinavia, not too unlike the Swedish surname Lindén. Where I'm from it sounds too much like exactly that, a surname. I do think it would work well as a first name in the English speaking world though.
I have a cousin named Linde (lin-DEH), which could be an alternative to Linden. I know it's not the same, but I'd say it suits her well.
Linden is also a surname used in Scandinavia, not too unlike the Swedish surname Lindén. Where I'm from it sounds too much like exactly that, a surname. I do think it would work well as a first name in the English speaking world though.
I have a cousin named Linde (lin-DEH), which could be an alternative to Linden. I know it's not the same, but I'd say it suits her well.
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It's not a name I've ever encountered beyond being aware it's a name, and my instinct was that it would be feminine when I was scrolling through the posts.
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Linden isn't something I'd use myself, but I quite like it, and most tree-names. I wouldn't think of it in connection with Lyndon, as that's not really used here.
I'd have guessed it was unisex skewing female, but looking through UK births, the middle names are nearly all male; although there's Linden Victoria and Linden Catherine, which are nice.
I'd have guessed it was unisex skewing female, but looking through UK births, the middle names are nearly all male; although there's Linden Victoria and Linden Catherine, which are nice.
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I like it and it is masculine to me.
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I like it but consider it masculine.
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I like it for any use. I would associate the name with the sweet tree--and please see the below quotation; and as I am not absolute on spelling conventions, due to diversity of language and alphabetic confluences throughout the world. Even if it were feminine, I find it perfectly appropriate for either gender, even if we did not have a president with a first name with a slight spelling discrepancy, considering the various sonorities which the schwa symbol would encompass. For me, Lynden or Lyndon would be similar variations of the same: as would Lynn / Linn (Lyn / Lin) or Linda / Lynda, and these may also serve as a softer pet or nick names to relax from the rigor of formality.
"...And how "the brave old Linden," stretching like a parasol of twenty ells in radius, overtopping all other rows and clumps, towered up from the central Agora and Campus Martius of the Village, like its Sacred Tree; and how the old men sat talking under its shadow (Gneschen often greedily listening), and the wearied laborers reclined, and the unwearied children sported, and the young men and maidens often danced to flute-music. "Glorious summer twilights," cries Teufelsdrockh, "when the Sun, like a proud Conqueror and Imperial Taskmaster, turned his back, with his gold-purple emblazonry, and all his fireclad bodyguard (of Prismatic Colors); and the tired brickmakers of this clay Earth might steal a little frolic, and those few meek Stars would not tell of them! (Thomas Carlyle)".
"...And how "the brave old Linden," stretching like a parasol of twenty ells in radius, overtopping all other rows and clumps, towered up from the central Agora and Campus Martius of the Village, like its Sacred Tree; and how the old men sat talking under its shadow (Gneschen often greedily listening), and the wearied laborers reclined, and the unwearied children sported, and the young men and maidens often danced to flute-music. "Glorious summer twilights," cries Teufelsdrockh, "when the Sun, like a proud Conqueror and Imperial Taskmaster, turned his back, with his gold-purple emblazonry, and all his fireclad bodyguard (of Prismatic Colors); and the tired brickmakers of this clay Earth might steal a little frolic, and those few meek Stars would not tell of them! (Thomas Carlyle)".
This message was edited 10/23/2017, 5:03 PM
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I totally agree with you. Can't see it as a male name, not with this spelling. It's as fem as Helen in my mind, and just about as pretty.
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Definitely masculine. I like it a lot, and this has always been my preferred spelling.
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Unisex. But can't be well-separated from the name Lyndon, at least not anyplace where it sounds the same spoken aloud. So I can't really like it because I don't like Lyndon. If there were no such name as Lyndon, I might like Linden. I would think it is much more feminine than masculine - except for sounding just like Lyndon.
This message was edited 10/22/2017, 7:07 PM
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