Mercia?

[BaffledMummy]

Just watching BBC breakfast and saw the story about the elderly sisters...the youngest at 98 was called Mercia and it just struck me as a beautiful name that I haven't heard before. A bit of googling shows is English origin and very rare. It's now on the shortlist I think! Any views?

[FriendshipBraclet]

Just heard this on the news too, I love it. It feels like a strong female name.

[BaffledMummy]

I wasn't expecting to get some name inspiration while munching my cornflakes this morning!

[redheadbarmaid]

Just watched this too and first thought was what a lovely unusual name!

[Oysterbabe]

You know its a region of the uk? Just makes me think of West Mercia Police

[senua]

It would be like naming your baby Wessex or Northumbria.

[BaffledMummy]

Oooh is that right? That does sound familiar now you mention it...I'm in a completely different part of the country so not something I would have ever thought of. Glad I asked! I still really love it though!

[floraeasy]

Please have Mercia and don't use this name

[Bogburglar75]

Having grown up in an uninspiring West Midlands town whose single claim to fame was being the 'capital of Mercia', Im afraid that would get me every time. Mercia is an ancient Anglo Saxon kingdom though so you could argue it has interesting historical associations. And if you can call a child Skye or Brooklyn?

What about Marcia or Mercy - both good strong names?

[MrsExpo]

I live near a place called Repton, which claims to be the capital of ancient Mercia ....

As a name .... not so sure. Unless OP hails from there or has some historical or family connection, it wouldn't be my choice. But each to their own.

[Ginorchoc]

I know a Meredith who is called Mercia for short, lovely name.

[Hellofromme]

I think of Murcia in Spain.

[BertrandRussell]

Her full name will be "Mercia- no not Marcia, Mercia with an e"

[Mistoffelees]

It was the name of the local radio station in the west midlands up until fairly recently too

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

Marcia is a lovely name.

[SorrelSoup]

It was the name of the local radio station in the west midlands up until fairly recently too

Hee hee!! Definitely crappy connotations!!

[Janek]

It's still called Mercia Sound in my mind. Forever stuck in the 80s.

[INeedNewShoes]

If I met a baby called Mercia it would make me wonder if the baby was conceived on holiday in Murcia in Spain and then had been misspelt.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

My great aunty was called this and was known as Merc. Haven't heard it for years but guess would fit with the trend for names from that period.
And yes she was from Mercia too! It was an ancient Kingdom in middle England

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

janek me too, I work near to the old Mercia Sound building. My friend used to babysit for Stuart Linnell.

I quite like Mercia as a name though, if you're not local to here it won't have the same connotations.

[SuperBeagle]

I like Marcia more, personally.

[SleepingTiger]

The Spanish Murcia is pronounced mur-fia though.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

Absolutely love it! ❤️

[SleepingTiger]

A historic girl's name is Mercedes. Now associated with cars which comes to the top of the list on search engines. Less so such a commercial association with Mercia.

Over time a persons name tends to wrap around their character so you should go with any name that delights you.

[MrsEricBana]

I have a close relative called Marcia (pron marcy-a) who is driven mad by people calling her mar-sea-a (like Garcia), Marsha, Marcy, Maria, Martha etc, which is unfortunate as it's a lovely name. Yes to "West Mercia Police", sorry!

[Joeybee]

That is a really beautiful, strong name. I like that it sounds old-fashioned. Although i think straight away of Murcia in Spain!