Margaret (nn maggie) - can we?

[Kittykatmacbill]

Can we call our dd Margaret, without people thinking we are crazy thatcherites? This is a the genuine concern of my dh! It is has been my favourite name for absolutely years, it is vaguely a family name (grandfather's wee sister) and after loads of great woman...

Dh had agreed before death of mrs t, but now feels that other people might think we are honouring her, which would not forgiven by either of our parents.

Not sure what our plan b names are, but these are what we have discussed:
Anne (mil middle name)
Judith (dh says is too prim)
Daphne (ditto)
Eve / Evelyn (far to popular and I know my mother hates)
Uma (bit left field?)
Vivienne (bit over pretty)
Ailsa (family name both like it but a close friend called her dd this in feb)

Any thoughts? Have been stuck on this for months and now baby is due in a fortnight!

[emmyloo2]

Oooh you must use it, simply because I adore it and my DH will not agree to it. I am Australian though so I don't see any connection with Margaret Thatcher.

My thoughts on your other name:

Anne (mil middle name) - love this.
Judith (dh says is too prim) - bit too mummsy for me
Daphne (ditto) - as above. Not my favourite.
Eve / Evelyn (far to popular and I know my mother hates) - Eve way too popular. I really love Evelyn but it's really popular here
Uma (bit left field?) - Nup. Immediately think Thurman.
Vivienne (bit over pretty) - like it. DH wants this for our DD due in 3 weeks but am not convinced it's right for me.
Ailsa (family name both like it but a close friend called her dd this in feb)

• this is ok but quite different in style from Margaret, if you know what I mean.
  
  Good luck!

[MortifiedAdams]

I have a Meg, which is a nod to DMs name of Margaret. I like Maggie on its own too (not putting Margaret onto the BC), but you do get a broader range of NNs with Margaret.

The Thatcher connection wouldnt put me off - by the time LO is old enough to care, MT will be old news.

I like your other names but would only use Evelyn. Can I also suggest Sylvia / Sylvie?

[barnet]

Margaret is sweet. Vivienne is lovely, i find it a strong name rather than too pretty.

[Fairyloo]

Margot??

[emmyloo2]

Mortified - I love Meg. I am so jealous!

Good suggestion of Margot as well. I like that.

[Cravingdairy]

Yes!

[soontobeslendergirl]

from your options, I like Judith and Vivienne.

I would also throw into the pot

Vanessa
Irma
Eleanor

I like Margaret but I'm with your OH - i would hate to think anyone even considered that it was after Thatcher.

[bassingtonffrench]

yes do it!

Thatcher will be hardly be in the news from now on.

middle names are irrelevant IMO

[SwishSwoshSwoosh]

A marvellous tribute to the iron lady

[thermalsinapril]

Anne, Daphne, Eve and Ailsa are all lovely.

Ailsa is the most unusual I think. If it's a family name then it's not as if you are copying your friend (not that I think it matters!)

[ABirdInTheBush]

Margaret is lovely - go for it.

I was not a fan of Mrs T (understatement of the century) but I would never associate the name with her!

I also like Daphne - DH says no because of Daphne from Neighbours - if anyone remembers that far back?!

[FreedomOfTheTess]

Kitty - DH and I are having the same dilemma at the moment. We're expecting a girl in July, and although Mary is our front-runner at the moment, we also adore Margaret.

We definitely are not Thatcherites, and coming so soon after her passing, we wouldn't want anyone to think that if we used Margaret it would be after her.

However, as my mum pointed out, if anyone commented as such, all we would need to do is put them straight. (In our case it's a family name).

So that would be advice, if you really love it, go for it and put people straight if they ask if it was after Thatcher.

[MummyBurrows]

Given the timing I think quite a few people would make the assumption that you named dd after Thatcher but if its a family name then at least you have a retort to anyone that mentions it...doesn't mean they will believe you of course but as long as you know she is named after family that's all that matters.

Plus give it a few months/years and it probably won't ever get mentioned! :)

[OkayHazel]

Vivian as a less frilly take on Vivienne?

[BabsAndTheRu]

Love Margaret, its my mums name, she gets called Meg, also love Maggie, always think of Maggie Mae not thatcher and have a friend called Mags.

[louisianablue2000]

Go for it, DS would have had it as a middle name if he'd been a girl. If anyone comment on the Thatcher connection give them a hard stare and tell them it's after DH's beloved Great Aunt and that will shut them up.

[portraitoftheartist]

I think Margaret very hard and harsh-sounding, Maggie even more so.

[TallulahBetty]

I know a baby Maggie. Never considered the Thatcher link (although recent events may change this for others)

[Megsdaughter]

As my name suggests, my Mother was Margaret, my niece has it as her middle name (she was born six weeks after Mum died.

Her cousin my youngest niece, has just called her new born Margaret, nn Meggie :)

[cathpip]

I was worried about naming my dd Pippa (Phillipa) just before that wedding but no one comments they just say what a lovely name. I do have a friend called Margaret, nn Miggie.

[DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper]

Names like Margaret are going to be coming back big time.

Get in now, ahead of the curve. So much nicer than all the over-used popular names around at the moment. :)

[Clawdy]

Maggie or Margaret will always mean Thatcher to me,I'm afraid. But Meg is lovely.

[Frikadellen]

Go for it I doubt it will be a issue.

[LittleMissLucy]

I really like the Irish name Mary Margaret or in reverse, Margaret Mary.

[ravenAK]

Actually, - & I would previously have avoided it - I think Margaret may have even been de-toxed a bit now Mrs T's pushed off.

It's a lovely name, anyway. Probably time to reclaim it. .