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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Too quaint/old fashioned??

91 replies

YummyMummybee · 04/01/2012 21:35

My husband and I want to name our first girl after my mother Mary, I love both Molly & Maisy which are pet forms of Mary but feel they are too popular at the moment.
I did a bit of research on the web and came accross Marybella or alternativly spelt Maribella and I have to say I love it. To me its very girly, uncommon and quite prim & proper which I love.
Please give me your honest opinion on Marybella! The second name would be Catherine after my nana.
Molly Catherine
Marybella Catherine
Thanks in advance!

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marblerye · 06/01/2012 19:49

I absolutely wouldn't do Marybelle because of Mary Bell. Too many people will think of the murders instantly when they hear the name.

What about Mariella, as in Frostrop.

I like Mary Catherine. I don't like Molly at all but plenty of people do.

mathanxiety · 06/01/2012 19:25

There's Máire, which can be pronounced Moya (as in the woman from Clannad). Or just Moya.

Mariela and Mariel are gorgeous. And May is really sweet, with a sort of retro charm.

suburbandream · 06/01/2012 09:35

What is wrong with just using Mary? I think it's a lovely name, no need for any add-ons!! My DNiece has a friend called Mary Smile

3boysgirlontheway · 06/01/2012 09:35

Marybella sounds like Marbella in Spain. When is your DD due?

SoupDragon · 06/01/2012 09:31

I went to school with a Meriel which I'd ever heard of before - very exotic in those dark and distant days.

WoodyAllenJesus · 06/01/2012 09:23

I knew a Mariel at school (could've been Marielle). Lovely and v unusual Smile

thistlemuncher · 06/01/2012 08:53

I'm not a fan of marybella and think Mary would be better. DS has a friend Mariela which is very similar, but much nicer (in my opinion!).

DieDeutschLehrerin · 06/01/2012 07:18

My Great-Grandmother was a Mary Jane but called herself May, as did Queen Mary. You could always spell it Mae or Mai.
Also, Mary is Mair in Welsh -pronounced My-r, although I did have a lecturer at uni who was called Maire and that was pronounced Maura.

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 06/01/2012 00:41

This thread seemed to disappear off the boards-why?

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Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 21:31

Thanks girls-
Slinkingoutinsocks- I only came accross Maribel from researching varients of Mary and it means either beautiful Mary of is a variation of Maria Isabella in Spanish. Being completely honest I had never heard the name before. Is it used much in the U.K? I think too you are right it would date well.

Hulababy-fab choice in names:) I think you made a good call India is too much of a statement name to be used on its own. Mollie Olivia is beautiful.

Mathanxiety from my research today its seems Maribel is very common in the Philippines and in South America. Thanks for giving me a picture for the name:) x

Only other thing I can think of is that when I finished college I worked in a French ski resort for a season and the resort was called Meribel!! Very happy time in that beautiful place x

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mathanxiety · 05/01/2012 21:20

The Maribel I knew was Puerto Rican and was really stylish, hip, great cook and generous with her PR recipes, loved latin dancing clubs.

Hulababy · 05/01/2012 21:08

My DD was going to be called Mollie India :)
As it is her middle name was changed to Olivia, although I am still not quite sure why. I still like India a lot.

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 05/01/2012 21:03

I think Maribel is lovely - although am personally biased towards 'bel' endings on names as opposed to 'bell/belle'. '...bel' is so much more simple, elegant and feminine without being overly frilly. :)

As such it will stand in good stead into adulthood and will date less too (so still sounds fresh in spite of the passing of the years/fashions).

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 20:14

Haha gpants sorry-I misread your post lol - Alice is lovely xx
Math anxiety Maribel Catherine really is lovely & is on the shortlist-must research Maribel a bit more have never encountered one. Lyra is fab another mn suggested this. We have a double barrelled name so will need to avoid the hyphenated.
Posted another thread re India as I am intrigued to find out more about it. It really is between Maribel, India & possibly Molly.
What type of girl do you picture a Maribel being xxx

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Gapants · 05/01/2012 20:04

sorry-- Alice was another suggested name, not my name Blush

mathanxiety · 05/01/2012 20:02

Maribel Catherine is really gorgeous imo.

You are right about your assessment of India and how it ends up -- 'not quite in the middle' is spot on.

Don't use Polly Mary -- it sounds like polyamory.

I love Lyra too, and Mary in its own right (as well as Marie either hyphenated or unhyphenated with another French name, such as Marie Louise, Marie Claire, Marie Therese, although you couldn't tack on another name afterwards so Catherine would be out), and I think Astrid is fabulous.

(Also love Alice, Matilda, Hilda, Edith, Frida, Agnes, Agatha, Bridget, Cosima...)

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 19:24

Thanks a million-that doesn't sound very class based at all Alice. Just telling it as it is!!! I can kind of seeing India being one of those names that ends up being popular with the top & bottom of the socio-economic ladder but not quite in the middle if that makes sense??
Polkadotfanatic - Polly is fab & suprisingly underused considering the popularity of Molly & Holly x

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Gapants · 05/01/2012 19:19

No not common as such, more like those who used it were trying a bit too hard to come up with an arty, perhaps aristocratic type name. Sorry that sounds very class-based, that is sort of how it is around here, people can be snippy.

I also really like
Alice.

Polkadotfanatic · 05/01/2012 19:18

Would respectfully disagree that Polly is not a name for a grown up.... I think its gorgeous and carries well into adulthood. Good luck OP :)

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 19:13

Ga Pants I absolutely LOVE Astrid hubby not so much but I think Astrid Mary sounds fab, Love Lyra also very unusual.
In saying India is passe was it very common at one time in the uk?

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Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 19:11

Thats the thing PercyFilth I do know how its to be percieved as neither hubby & I have ever heard of an India over here:( I know exactly what you mean re the chavvy names 10 years ago in the UK I'm sure Daisy, Molly & Henry's reigned supreme amongst the upper class but as society shows names are not something that only the elite can afford lol....
We do really like India but really am grateful for the constructive comments-anymore please xx

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Gapants · 05/01/2012 19:06

Sorry, just realised you were in Ireland. Let me suggest some new names then...

Would also say India although not common, is a bit passé, and Georgia is very pretty, quite popular here.

Astrid
Aurelia (Lia for short)
Aphra (Aphie for short)
Elizabeth (Bliss for short)
Clara
Lyra
Mathilde- said Mat-teelled (mattie for short)

PercyFilth · 05/01/2012 18:56

I don't care for India ... I think this name came to prominence when India Hicks was bridesmaid to Charles & Diana, and caught on a bit subsequently. But it's gone the way of a lot of names perceived as 'upper class' (like Arabella and Jasper!) and been embraced by the lower orders :o

I think places as names are seen as a bit, well, chavvy Blush now, what with Paris, Brittany etc. Sorry! bound to have offended somebody :o

pranma · 05/01/2012 18:52

I love Mary it is much underused at present.I think Mirabel is very pleasant too and Mariana and Mariam[Turkish version of Mary]

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 18:50

lol whats the scenario just noticed your post there:) We were discussing names again & are now veering towards India Mary?

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