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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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SleepingWithGhosts · 05/01/2012 02:09

Just googled and yes I thought she was.

Mary Bell was a 10 year old girl who murdered other children. :(

SleepingWithGhosts · 05/01/2012 02:07

Isn't Mary Belle / Bella the name of a child murderer?

Could never use anything similar sounding for that reason alone!

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 00:56

Marina is actually lovely too.
Being honest I love Mary just as it is too but(PLEASE!!!) don't get the wrong impression of me & hubby but we both move in fairly trendy circles-I work in fashion & h2b works in a fairly upmarket job himself... All our circle have fairly different/trendy names like arabella, jasper etc I am not sure I have the confidence to call our LO Mary? Plus I will add that any Mary I knew from school has gone on to become very successful!
I think we would shock alot of people so would like to give it an edge as mentioned above India & Georgia for future dds but really want to call my first born after my mom & nana. BTW our future DS will be Oscar-love that name so much:)

OP posts:
PercyFilth · 05/01/2012 00:49

Mary is lovely as it is. I must confess I find Molly, Polly, Maisy too twee. They are not names for grown-ups!

I like Mariana and Marina, both found in Shakespeare.

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 05/01/2012 00:10

Thanks girlies- I love Polly too polkadotfanatic think its very cute & maybe could have a double Mary usage with Polly May or even Polly Mary. So thanks thats another option and it doesn't seem to be as commonly used as Molly??

Lottiegb my husband does like Mariyah but I keep associating it with Mariah Carey...

Beamur Mairella is cute but just loved the bella part. I agree with all the OP who said its better 2 seperate names..
So ok the public has spoken and its a no-no to Marybella but Polly, Molly & Maisy(i think this is a form of Mary) still in the running.

BTW if we were lucky enough to have another DD it will be India or Georgia x

OP posts:
lljkk · 04/01/2012 23:49

I like Mary. I don't like hardly any of the other suggestions.
Marilyn or Marianne if you must. Maricella is beautiful too, but not really a version of Mary.

Beamur · 04/01/2012 23:35

Mary and Marnie are both sweet names.
I've also come across a Marista and what about Mariella (as in Frostrup?) which is classy IMO. And a Mirella - but a bit like the coil though?
Marybella better as Mary Bella I think.

SLVC · 04/01/2012 23:29

Marybella could be a lovely family nn for a little Mary?

NoHunIntended · 04/01/2012 23:28

Marianna?

I do like Maribelle though!

TheOldestCat · 04/01/2012 23:03

Mary Bella or Mary Isabella as full names, woth Mary as the first name?

Mary is such a beautiful name.

lottiegb · 04/01/2012 22:59

Mariah any good to you? Marianne is lovely, Marybella does sound a bit made up.

Gapants · 04/01/2012 22:55

Mary on it's own is just a classic, simple, beautiful name.

Marybella sounds a bit made up and a name a child might like for her dolly.

Liking Marnie though.

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 04/01/2012 22:55

Mary on its own is lovely.

oikopolis · 04/01/2012 22:52

Don't like Marybella.

Marie and Mary are two of my all-time faves though.

What about Mary Catherine, nn Molly?

Polkadotfanatic · 04/01/2012 22:41

Polly is also a nickname for Mary, which is cute and fun

Not keen on Marybella - for some reason makes me think of Babybell cheese? :)

midlandsnightnannybabysitter · 04/01/2012 22:32

I just keep seeing it as Marbella, prob as I lived there for a while! I like molly-may/mae

hester · 04/01/2012 22:27

Marybella will not be popular. If that doesn't bother you, go ahead!

I think Marnie is a lovely alternative.

missmiss · 04/01/2012 22:25

With a short Mar.

missmiss · 04/01/2012 22:24

Maribel?

paulapantsdown · 04/01/2012 22:24

Marybella is awful.

i think just Mary is lovely. Actually really unusual now as not in use very often. Its really pretty.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 04/01/2012 22:23

Hmm - I really don't like Marybella, it just sounds like two names badly stuck together. I think you should just go with Mary. I like Molly too though. My pick would be Maisie, but honestly if you are naming her after a Mary, I think you should just call her Mary or choose something completely different. I don't get this 'you were called Molly after your Nan Mary' Confused

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 04/01/2012 22:23

Hubby also suggested Mariyah but I'm unconvinced!
I like Marnie too-its quite grown up but then again LO can grow into it as opposed to out grow it
As I said Molly is front runner still, Maribella/Marybella will still get brought up. Annabella works so well so why not Marybella? x

OP posts:
hohohoshedittant · 04/01/2012 22:18

Don't like Marybella at all.

Molly is nice.
Quite like Mary.
Marianne is nice as well.
I've always liked Marnie (bit of an acquired taste though!)

If you want Mary but with a bit extra I'd go for hyphenated and use;
Mary-Louise/Mary-Lou
Mary-Elouise
Mary-Jo
Mary-(anything else, but not Bella)

Original poster
YummyMummybee · 04/01/2012 22:17

Thanks for the honest opinions! I googled varients of Mary and got my list 90 different forms apparently! However Marybella/Maribella stuck out as it had the Mary and I always adored belle/bella names not to gone on the mariannes, marykates, mary theresas etc.
Christabelle is lovely but want a form of Mary after my mom. Would spell Catherine with a C as my nan spelt it that way!! All opinions taken on board-we still have Molly as front runner but I just thought Marybella was very unusual & quite a romantic type of name!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 04/01/2012 22:16

Marybella sounds like two names stuck together.