Mary with a 1-syllable plain surname?

[delilah88]

Do you think that's be cute or not enough name to work with?

[BlueChampagne]

Absolutely fine. Would you go for a middle name?

[delilah88]

Yes they will have rather a long family one, prob not much used unless in formal situations!

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Nice. I love Mary. I don't think it is 'cute' as such, but it's a great name that works well in many settings. I'm not actually a fan of 'cute' names.

[delilah88]

Yes cute was the wrong word - I meant is it a good choice...!

[Gwennan]

I am sure it sounds fine.

That said, my grandmother told me about a relative named Mary Lizzie (presumably Mary Elizabeth) and, despite not liking hyphenated names as a rule, I think it's adorable.

[delilah88]

Yes I was just going to add the question --

do you prefer Mary to Elizabeth?

[HiHowAreYou]

I like it.

I do slightly prefer Maria myself.

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

I prefer Elizabeth to Mary, but massively prefer Mary to Liz, so I would always go with Mary IYSWIM.

[delilah88]

Me too! I hate Liz but like Elizabeth!

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

If you hate Liz, don't use Elizabeth. You can have some degree of control over childhood nicknames, but not adult ones. Liz is so ubiquitous for Elizabeth that she will likely be a Liz at some point.

[delilah88]

Yes ok - it's such a tricky business isn't it!

[delilah88]

But since I'm due v soon I won't have much longer to procrastinate over names, at least!

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Totally. Glad my two are named and sorted!

[Gwennan]

For what it's worth, I had a friend in primary school called Katie. When we started secondary school, I learnt that she was actually a Catherine! Even now, I think she seldom uses her birth name. I think if you come up with a suitable nickname for Elizabeth (e.g. Bessie, Betsy, Libby), you're unlikely to get 'Liz' as a shortening of it - more likely Bess, Bet, Lib.

[delilah88]

Did you go in with a shortlist and wait til you saw them, or completely decide in advance?

[Ithinkitsjustme]

We got so desperate that DS3 was named after the goal keeper in a football match! I hated coming up with names that we both liked, that my DF wouldn't turn into a stupid nickname, and that wasn't too ridiculous, boring or difficult to spell (for teachers that is! - I can't believe how many teachers have spelled our DC's names wrong over the years)

[YouMayLogOut]

It will be fine - simple and classic :)

Personally I prefer Mary to Elizabeth.

[Ithinkitsjustme]

Mine were all 6 weeks before we decided definitely on their names, and never had anything seriously in mind until after they were born. I found the girls easier than the boys, and would still change 2 of the boys names if I had the chance.

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

We had a shortlist. DD2 got the name that was top of the shortlist, but DD1 got a name which hadn't even made the shortlist. None of the others suited her.

[OrangeFireandGoldashes]

I prefer Elizabeth to Mary. I know four Elizabeths and only one of them is known as Liz. The others get Betty, Beth and Elizabeth (never shortened) respectively.

[thegreylady]

I know a Mary Matilda (v short common surname) it sounds lovely IMHO. One of my dad's best friends was Mary Hope xxxx.

[thegreylady]

Dd not dad!