Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How common are these ‘M’ names?

61 replies

Whiteandblue · 21/09/2019 16:02

I’m drawn to the ‘old lady’ name theme but don’t want a name that’s going to be the latest fad. What do people think of:

Marion
Mary
Margot
Marianne
Marianna
Martha

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
marshallzumarubble · 29/09/2019 18:34

I would say that Margot is on trend to be big soon; in 2018 it placed at 99 which isn't so bad but, given that in 2008 it was at 1176, it has really leapt up the chart and I know of four born this year in the (small Yorkshire) village that I live in.

Mary is lovely and classic but I can never work out what you would shorten it to and I don't like its meaning 'bitter' but both of those may not matter to you.

Martha is pretty popular as well but steadily so so a bit less likely to be seen as faddy.

Personally I prefer Marion to Marianne and Marianna. I know they are all established names but Marianne and Marianna seem similar to the 70's '-anne' trend, Lucy-Anne, Katie-Anne, but that's just my feeling!

happychange · 27/09/2019 14:13

Love Margot!

GnomeoNameo · 27/09/2019 14:10

Marion was my lovely mum - it's beautiful and unusual these days, as is Mary

Martha and Margot also good options but Martha is fairly popular at the moment.

Jellycat00 · 27/09/2019 10:50

Maryanne is also lovely actually (pronounced Mary Anne), but Marianne (Mari Anne) is my favourite!

Jellycat00 · 27/09/2019 10:48

I really love Marianne! I've loved it ever since seeing Emma Thompson's character in Sense and Sensibility!

PetraRabbit · 25/09/2019 21:38

Marianne is lovely! It's not a trendy kind of name and very unlikely to get popular.
The trendier type of M name is- Mila, Mia, Martha, Margot (maybe more online than in real life but I bet amongst certsin middle class groups it will be huge soon) and Marnie. Anything that easily shortens to an 'ie' name could hit popularity at the moment. People like cutesy nicknames and it's very hard to shorten Marianne to anything cutesy. I think that will keep it classy and rare. It's also more of the 70s/80s type of name and those are not coming back yet. I love it!

Marchitectmummy · 25/09/2019 19:33

@Chillisauceboss ha no 5 girls are named Margot out of 20 girls, but I can see how that also reads as 20 in year 5 🤣

Kokeshi123 · 25/09/2019 10:48

I like Marianne, Marian and Marion, but I think Marianne has the edge. Marianna sounds a bit too much like marijuana, which would put me off.

FizzyGreenWater · 25/09/2019 09:55

Melissa is one I've always liked a lot.

Astronica · 23/09/2019 23:48

My favourites are Mary and Marion. I find Mary fresh rather than boring. I like Marianne too. I prefer Marianne over Marianna which just seems a bit over the top to me. I find you have to spell every name these days, even quite simple ones like mine, so Marianne wouldn't worry me from that point of view. And Marianne is the traditional spelling.

123Dancewithme · 23/09/2019 23:36

Marigold
Morwenna
Margaret
Miriam
Merryn

milliefiori · 23/09/2019 15:54

Matilda/Mathilda
Meredith
Marnie
Miranda
Marina

starkid · 23/09/2019 15:49

Margot seems to have gotten a bit more popular from Margot Robbie, but I think you'll be safe from any of them becoming the next Lily/Olivia for a while yet!

if you like Marianne go for it, and as you said, many popular names still have lots of variants so need spelling out (I'm also someone who needs to spell hers out every time as no one has heard of it!)

hexagon01 · 23/09/2019 14:48

Meredith is unlikely to shoot too far up the stats I think - it actually went down last year, seems to be hovering around the 500 mark (I love it).

Bouncingbelle · 22/09/2019 15:47

Marianne & Martha are my favourites from your list. They seem timeless as opposed the current trend for old lady names iyswim.

I also like Maeve, Monica & Marsaili

Chillisauceboss · 22/09/2019 15:07

@Marchitectmummy 20 girls on one year group with the same name?!

Original poster
Whiteandblue · 22/09/2019 11:32

Thanks everyone, I was hesitant to post on here as some people seem to get a real slating but this has been really positive & helpful!

I agree about the spelling out thing with Marianne, I was unsure at first because of that. However, I’ve spent most of my life having to spell out my name and it’s not actually been such a big deal. Also, so many girls names, even common ones, have the same problem as there’s so many spelling variations- May/Maya/Mia Catherine/Katherine Leila/Leila etc....!

OP posts:
BadTigerKitty · 22/09/2019 00:22

Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant! And you didn't even ask for that kind of input!

I don't think they're very popular - I've personally only heard of a couple of Mary's in the last few years and none of the others.

BadTigerKitty · 22/09/2019 00:19

Speaking from experience, many people can't tell the difference between Marian, Marion, Marianne, Marie Anne, Mary Anne. There is much confusion over spelling, and sometimes totally made up spellings (like Marrian, Marien). Not a big deal, but you will have to spell your name pretty much every time you meet someone new or fill out an application! And you get called Anne Marie a lot.

Also, people tend to pronounce it their preferred way and don't use your actual name. And Americans seem unable to say any version but 'Mary Anne'.

Marianna is lovely, but lots of similar issues to above. Plus many people won't notice the ending and you get called Marianne/Marion a lot.

Not to put you off, at all, but just to let you know Smile

MrsBertBibby · 22/09/2019 00:02

How about Marjolaine? I think that it's beautiful.

Marion is best on your list but still a bit drab.

Ariela · 21/09/2019 23:57

Marina
Miranda
Matilda
Marnie
Mercedes
Morwenna
Margaret
Melody
Michaela
Mallory
Mabel
Mae

meuh · 21/09/2019 23:45

I think Martha's lovely.

Otherwise Maude, Molly, Mabel?

DramaAlpaca · 21/09/2019 23:40

I adore Marianne. Marianna is a little too frilly.

Mary & Marian (that spelling) are nice.

I don't like Martha or Margot.

Essexgirlupnorth · 21/09/2019 23:39

There were two Martha's in our NCT of 8 and know a Marianne but none of them are massively common

Tillygetsit · 21/09/2019 23:36

Marianne is gorgeous. I love Mariella too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread