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Baby names

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

Original poster

Mary-Kate

38 replies

SpringBee · 25/05/2014 12:20

I'm asking for my sister :)

We grew up in the Olsen twin era and both loved the name Mary-Kate. Now all these years later she still really likes it. The Olsens seem to have faded away from the limelight a bit. do you still to think people would immediately associate with them? What are your general thoughts of the name?

Her DH thinks Mary is too old fashioned but he likes Kate. Any idea of other double barrel names ending with Kate?

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Vintagejazz · 27/05/2014 16:21

It sounds like a name from The Waltons/Little House on the Prairie type programmes. Very American and wholesome.

MrsSheldonCooper1 · 27/05/2014 13:31

I think it's lovely.

KoalaDownUnder · 27/05/2014 12:54

I know a Jane-Mary, who would be about 40 now.

That's the only double-barrelled name I've ever really loved.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 27/05/2014 09:16

It's as naff as the vast majority of double barreled names. Kate is a name in it's own right, not the ending to another name.

PairOfTerrors · 27/05/2014 02:17

I think Mary-Kate is lovely. Yes I do think of the Olsens but there's no way any of DD's peers will.

I agree with others that many double-barrel names are a bit tacky. I'm not at all keen on the Ellie-May's or the *-Leighs. or the American Sally-Anne, Mary-Jane etc, but Mary-Kate is different IMO. Can't tell you why! Just is.

mathanxiety · 27/05/2014 00:34

I like Mary Kate, with or without the hyphen. I agree with those who say the Olsen twins are ancient history.

emotionsecho · 27/05/2014 00:31

Oops I must be really old as it makes me think of a dreadful American programme called "The Waltons", at the end they would say good-night and it was all "g'night John-Boy", "g'night Mary-Kate", "g'night Mary-Lou", etc., etc., ad nauseum aargh!

Disclaimer - not old but resided in far flung places with limited TV options!!!

manicinsomniac · 27/05/2014 00:21

I think Olsen and think all adults would. But I doubt that children know who she is so it's probably fine.

Other double barrelled names from that era (ie not the Lexi-May, Gracie-Mai and Amelia-Rose generation!)

Amy-Leigh
Amy-Jane
Amy-Kate
Amy-Lou
Anne-Marie
Amelia-Jayne
Billie-Jo
Chloe-Louise
Claire-Marie
Carrie-Anne
Emma-Louise
Emma-Jane
Jamie-Leigh
Katie-Marie
Katie-Jane
Kerry-Anne
Kelly-Louise
Lucy-Anne
Lisa-Marie
Laura-Jane
Mary-Ann
Mary-Jane
Mary-Louise
Rebecca-Jane
Rose-Marie
Sarah-Jane
Sarah-Marie
Samantha-Ann

threepiecesuite · 26/05/2014 22:43

Actually yes, all the double barrellers I know get called by only one of the names. Or, the initials, JP for John Paul etc. I dislike this even more.

RAFWife12 · 26/05/2014 19:24

I like it and did immediately think Olsen Twins. However, I grew up with them too. By the time babies now are older they wont know much about them.

BackforGood · 26/05/2014 14:16

I too thought "...and Ashley" - that's from the books and films my dd has, so I think they are very much current, yes.

Might be biased though as I don't really like any double barrelled names.

Notso · 26/05/2014 14:01

I cannot help but hear it 'Mary-Kate 'n' Ashley' in an American, head tilty cheerleader type way.

I really dislike doubled barrelled names. I don't know anyone who ends up actually using both names.

Benchmark · 26/05/2014 14:00

This is my middle name! I absolutely love it! much prefer it to my first name.
She should definitely use it, it's pretty and under-used. She'll get the odd Olsen twin comment, but does that really matter? people will say it once and forget about it, and the Olsen twins will gradually fade further and further from the lime light anyway.

Weegiemum · 26/05/2014 13:47

My dh has a double-barrelled first name and hates it. Always uses the second part of it. His only stipulation on naming our dc was that we'd NEVER have a double first name!

Swoosg · 26/05/2014 13:42

I LOVE Mary Kate - would drop the hyphen to give the child more flexibility though.

ThingsThatShine · 26/05/2014 11:57

I think Olsen and I think they are still well known. You see them mentioned in fashion mags etc and I often see teens pinning pics of the Olsen girls on Pinterest! I don't think its necessarily a problem though and I do think the name is nice.

Mutteroo · 26/05/2014 11:25

Probably not helpful but I'm another who really doesn't like double barrelled names. It's a bad old fashioned thing to do imho

ratqueen · 26/05/2014 11:19

What justhayley wrote!

justhayley · 25/05/2014 21:45

I think .....and Ashley, but growing up with that name your daughter will have no idea who the Olsen twins are - only her friends parents I guess. If your sister likes the name she should go for it

Orangeisthenewbanana · 25/05/2014 20:41

Sorry, Olsen was my first thought too.

threepiecesuite · 25/05/2014 20:39

I like Emma Jane and Katy Jane. Simple and sweet.

SideOfFoot · 25/05/2014 20:32

I had to google to find out who the Olsen twins are. Ok, I'm not into that kind of thing so that's why i didn't know who they were , although there is a vague thought at the back of my head that I had heard of them somewhere iyswim.

Mary-Kate is nice as are Mary and Kate on their own.

Ludways · 25/05/2014 19:35

Don't like the double-barrel thing, very 60/70's America and very twee.

BatWings · 25/05/2014 18:48

I know a Lily-Kate. I think its a pretty name. Mary-Kate is lovely too, but it will forever be associated with the Olsen Twins.

MrsBungle · 25/05/2014 18:40

Firstly I think ... And Ashley

Secondly, I don't like double-barrelled names.

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