From the Greek name
Λινος (Linos) meaning "flax". In Greek legend he was the son of the god
Apollo, who accidentally killed him in a contest. Another son of Apollo by this name was the music teacher of
Herakles. The name was also borne by the second pope, serving after Saint
Peter in the 1st century. In modern times it was the name of a character in Charles Schulz's comic strip 'Peanuts'.