DH and I love the name [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] because of the songs “[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Tuesday[/name_f]” and “[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]” by the [name_m]Kaiser[/name_m] Chiefs. We realize it’s a bit more popular than we’d like but we love it regardless. [name_f]Linda[/name_f] is my [name_f]MIL[/name_f] and [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] also happens to be her birthstone and so I love how the full name is completely after her. My concern is that the two names don’t quite go together. I don’t like the idea of using another form of [name_f]Linda[/name_f] either. So my question is, do you think [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f] sounds nice or should we totally rethink [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]? Thanks any help!
I am not a big fan of the name Linda on its own, even though it’s part of my name.
I don’t think Ruby Linda flows very well either.
Here’s a huge list of names that are variants for the name Linda. 
(From behindthename.com)
CELINDA f English (Rare)
DIETLINDE f German
ERMELINDA f Italian
ERMINLINDA f Ancient Germanic
GERLIND f Ancient Germanic
GERLINDE f German
KIMBERLYN f English (Rare)
LINDY f English
LINETTE f English
LINNET f English (Rare)
LINNETTE f English (Rare)
LINNIE f English
LINZA f Ancient Germanic
LYN f English
LYNDA f English
LYNDI f English (Rare)
LYNETTE f English
LYNN f English
LYNNA f English (Rare)
LYNNE f English
LYNNETTE f English
ROSALIN f English (Rare)
ROSALIND f English
ROSALINDA f Italian, Spanish
ROSALYN f English
ROSELYN f English
ROSLINDIS f Ancient Germanic
ROSLYN f English
SHAELYN f English (Rare)
SHAYLYN f English (Rare)
SIEGLINDE f German, Germanic Mythology
THEUDELINDA f Ancient Germanic
Plus:
Melinda
Belinda
Carlinda
Calinda
Glinda
Galinda
Florinda
Dorina
Jolinda
Names with the same meanings of Linda (“soft, tender” and "beautiful):
HELLÄ f Finnish
LAMIS f Arabic
LINA (1) f Arabic
MRIDULA f Indian
NADIYYA f Arabic
NERMİN f Turkish
ANWEN f Welsh
AOIBHEANN f Irish
BELLA f English
BELLE f English
BELPHOEBE f Literature
BRANWEN f Welsh, Welsh Mythology
CALANTHE f English (Rare)
CAOIMHE f Irish, Scottish
DULCIBELLA f English (Archaic)
EIRIAN f & m Welsh
FR”A f Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic
HAUNANI f Hawaiian
INGRID f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
KALLIOPE f Greek Mythology
KALLISTO f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
KALLISTRATE f Ancient Greek
MABELLE f English
Variant of MABEL… [more]
NAVA f Hebrew
PUANANI f Hawaiian
ROSABELLA f Italian
SHAYNA f Yiddish
SHIPHRAH f Biblical
SIGRID f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish
The main issues I see with [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f] are the popularity of [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] and the fact that when I say [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] and [name_f]Linda[/name_f] together, they kind of run together for some reason. [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f], Rubylinda… So, I don’t think they are the best pairing but I think the fact that both names have meaning is more important than anything. I think incorporating your favorite name, you [name_f]MIL[/name_f]'s name, and your [name_f]MIL[/name_f]'s birthstone trumps “flow.”
Can you find a better pairing? Probably…and you should explore some. But if you don’t find anything makes you as happy as [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f], then I say use it and have no regrets.
I actually like the combo. I’m also not a big [name_f]Linda[/name_f] fan, but it’s cute in the middle.
I think you should keep [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] and rethink [name_f]Linda[/name_f]. Does your mother-in-law have a middle name you could use?
I think the flow is off. This being said I think the names have meaning for you and if you love it you should go for it. Purely namewise I love [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] but am not a fan of [name_f]Linda[/name_f]. I know you have said you dont want to use a variant of [name_f]Linda[/name_f] but I think even [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Lin[/name_f] (or [name_u]Lyn[/name_u]) would sound better.
I love [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]. I wouldn’t get hung up on what names sound nice together when I think it is far more important to choose a name that you love, and being able to honour her grandma is special. I think you should use [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f]!
I actually [name_f]ADORE[/name_f] this combo. [name_f]Linda[/name_f] does usually sound a bit dated to me, but paired with [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] I think it’s so quirky and fun. The flow is a little odd, not names id usually pair, but I think it sounds kind of musical and works. Its just a really fresh, unexpected combo.
I actually like [name_f]Linda[/name_f] but don’t think it works amazingly here. I personally think that just [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] would honour your [name_f]MIL[/name_f] as it’s her birthstone, so [name_f]Linda[/name_f] isn’t necessary, if Thant makes sense. Something like [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] would still honour without being too overt.
I’m not a huge [name_f]Linda[/name_f] fan, but it is meaningful to you and your family and to me, that trumps everything. It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into both names. I say go for it!!
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f] is cute. It might be a little lacking with just those two names, but once you put the surname on, I bet it will be great. I’m just imagining something like [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f] [name_m]Jones[/name_m] or [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Linda[/name_f] [name_m]Matthews[/name_m] and it sounds awesome.
If you love that the combo uses both your [name_f]MIL[/name_f]'s actual name and her birthstone, then I say go for it. You could definitely look into other options like [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f], which is a bit more fashionable at the moment, but if you’re ready to pull out retro [name_f]Linda[/name_f], do it!
I second [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f]. But I don’t mind [name_f]Linda[/name_f], it makes me think, ay que linda!