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Baby names

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

Original poster

Mamie for a girl?

54 replies

Castlelough · 23/02/2015 16:33

What do people think of Mamie for a girl? Is it too old fashioned?

My aunt was a Mary , but called Mamie by her grandchildren. It sort of grew on me.

I'm not pregnant (have just had a Lily Smile) but have too much time on my hands and just thinking of names that might go with Lily in the future!

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pineapple95 · 09/12/2015 21:00

Hi,
There'd be pronunciation problems when people read the name - ma-mie, mar-mie, mammie, may-mie and so on. Might make it harder for the child as she is growing up, and grown-up, as people won't know how to say it.

chrome100 · 10/11/2015 10:26

It's French for Granny. No.

Nigel333 · 10/11/2015 09:50

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MrsCaecilius · 09/11/2015 13:17

Cute as a nn, but definitely an old lady name. I knew one in the 80s and she was born in the 1800s!!

manicinsomniac · 08/11/2015 17:25

I'm not keen. It sounds like maim me!

Pinklily1 · 08/11/2015 17:00

I think it sounds made up, not keen.

redgoldandgreen · 08/11/2015 16:43

I know a Mamie. She is Mamie G race and I think it's lovely.

florascotianew · 06/11/2015 14:04

Agree that Mary is very nice indeed.

Nan or Nana (someone asked up-thread) are pet-name versions of Anne.

FunkyPeacock · 06/11/2015 08:58

I don't like it at all - just don't like the sound of it regardless of whether it's a nickname or proper name

Bertolda1 · 06/11/2015 08:56

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anothernumberone · 24/02/2015 17:45

Rat there actually is a spelling Maime, I had to look it up because I could not pronounce it. I think i would plum for that. I have never heard it before, obviously, and think you would spend your life correcting pronounciations. I like it though.

goldvelvet · 24/02/2015 07:23

Ah I see so it is May-mee thanks RatMort the ops last post confused me. sounds so much better. I think it's a sweet nickname but not a first name personally.

Sophronia · 23/02/2015 23:43

My grandad had a sister Mamie, I think it's quite sweet, but I prefer it as a nickname for Mary.

RatMort · 23/02/2015 23:39

No, Mamie isn't 'mammy', it's 'May-mee'. I knew two at school (70s, Ireland). Both short for Mary Ann and considered terribly old-fashioned and hick back then. Which suggests it's due a revival...?

WhenMarnieWasThere · 23/02/2015 23:20

I also thought it was a typo for Marnie. But then I would. Smile
I really wanted Marnie as a name for my dd but went with different names in the end for both of mine.

goldvelvet · 23/02/2015 23:17

ma-me and mam-mee still both sound like an irish person saying mummy in my head Confused just ones more drawn out and slightly more pronounced but the sound structures are the same.

is it a 'me' sound and not a 'meh' sound at the end (like french)?

ScaryChicken · 23/02/2015 23:16

On a similar note, I really like Nana but have never been certain what it's short for. Any ideas?

anothernumberone · 23/02/2015 23:13

Sorry just checking Mamie is pronounced Mai me. I do like Mai it is very pretty but the likelihood of Mamie being pronounced Mammy would put me off.

Original poster
Castlelough · 23/02/2015 23:09

Thanks for all the replies!
Interesting to hear the different opinions! Most people seem to dislike it, and I'm sure my DH would be among you too so it probably won't even make the short list next time around. I do like it though, but perhaps as a nn for Mary, as some of you have suggested.
As an aside the Irish mammy is pronounced differently to Mamie. It is Ma-me as opposed to May-me.

OP posts:
goldvelvet · 23/02/2015 23:07

BuildYourOwnSnowman I didn't mean it meant mum in Irish but I read it like mam-mee (mammy). So sounded like an Irsish person saying mummy. So questioned is it meant to be pronounced like that or is it may-mee.

TheOneWithTheTerribleName · 23/02/2015 23:06

I love it, but I had a lovely Auntie Mamie too.

CrispyFern · 23/02/2015 22:59

Dislike. But Mary is lovely.

Hulbbabubbs · 23/02/2015 22:59

Not keen, tbh.

Beginning reminds me of marmite.

Sorry

poocatcherchampion · 23/02/2015 22:53

Reminds me of aldi nappies - mamia! I can't believe I'm the first to say that

BlueStarsAtNight · 23/02/2015 22:46

I know a Mami who is from Japan, so it doesn't seem that strange to me, but it does sound strange for a small English girl.