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Original poster

Thoughts on Martha Lily

33 replies

SmeleanorSmellstrop · 02/02/2021 04:24

My latest favourite!

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WonkyCactus · 04/02/2021 23:44

Love it, great choice! Martha is my all time favourite girl's name, and it goes nicely with Lily.

Sheleg · 04/02/2021 23:35

Martha puts me in mind of a servile Victorian cook who shuffles around the kitchen.

Lily is pretty but overused.

ArosAdraDrosDolig · 04/02/2021 10:24

I really love it!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/02/2021 10:05

How many scullery maids do we have these days? This is 2021. Reclaim Martha! grin

I wouldn't ever use the name as I once knew somebody of that name who was responsible for cleaning out Henry VIII's midden Grin

Martha Stewart and Martha Lane Fox don't especially seem to have been held back in life by having a 'servant's name' (any subsequent falls from grace notwithstanding).

Aerielview · 04/02/2021 08:17

Lovely combination op

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/02/2021 08:06

Not a fan of either name I’m afraid.

RMRM · 04/02/2021 08:05

How many scullery maids do we have these days? This is 2021. Reclaim Martha! Grin

alexdgr8 · 04/02/2021 03:02

don't like Martha at all. sounds like a scullery maid, very below-stairs. sorry.
Lily is ok, but prefer Lilian sounds more serious.
what about Matilda, Millicent, Monique, Martine, if you like M.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 04/02/2021 02:55

I am not at keen on Martha - she is such a dreary drudge in the Bible

But in MN-land, doesn't that conversely mean that Mary would be considered a Disney Mum? Grin

I love the name Martha, but IMHO, Lily has become a bit too ubiquitous of late. I know it's a middle name and not a double-barrelled first name, but I still think that, on the occasions when all the names are said, the two names next to each other sound a bit too frivolous and sing-songy. I'd personally go for a one or three-syllable (with emphasis on the middle syllable e.g. Rebecca) name to contrast nicely with and define Martha in a pleasant-sounding way. And I'd say not one starting with a vowel - it's one of my pet hates when two names together invite a horrible fake 'R' in between, e.g. Selena RAlice or Lisa RAnderson.

RMRM · 04/02/2021 01:00

Ah well, I've never paid any mind to the Bible, so that's why I didn't know!

And it's been such a long time since I read the Handmaid's Tale, I'd forgotten that too.

Still think it's a gorgeous name. Grin

lalafafa · 03/02/2021 23:58

@Brighterthansunflowers

It’s nice as long as you don’t live somewhere it’ll be pronounced mar-fa
Same Grin
Honeyroar · 03/02/2021 23:32

My friend called her daughter Martha twenty years ago. I’ve never liked it. It’s always seemed a frumpy, old fashioned name (obviously I’ve never told them!)

partyatthepalace · 03/02/2021 23:29

@RMRM

Martha is a beautiful name. I would have used it if I'd had the chance.

I don't see it as dreary or dowdy at all. Especially when it is being used for lots of bright young things. How odd.

It’s not an odd association, the biblical Martha is a kitchen drudge, which is why it’s used for the domestic skivvies in the Handmaid’s Tale.
Lass67 · 03/02/2021 23:24

Unfortunately it is literally used in the Handmaids tale to refer to a social class of barren women doing domestic jobs so it conjures up really awful conditions for me. It has dowdy connotations because of the biblical Martha.

I much prefer Miriam?

Brighterthansunflowers · 03/02/2021 20:45

It’s nice as long as you don’t live somewhere it’ll be pronounced mar-fa

Arrierttyclock · 03/02/2021 19:49

Love it

RMRM · 03/02/2021 01:19

Martha is a beautiful name. I would have used it if I'd had the chance.

I don't see it as dreary or dowdy at all. Especially when it is being used for lots of bright young things. How odd.

DramaAlpaca · 03/02/2021 01:12

Lily is gorgeous. I can't be doing with Martha, I find it very dreary (sorry)

Inmyownlittlecorner · 03/02/2021 00:24

I love the name Martha, it’s DC2’s name so I’m biased! She is the happiest most content of all my children so far!

SionnachRua · 03/02/2021 00:21

Another one who thinks Martha is very dowdy here. I know a few young Marthas - lovely children, all of them - and I always think it's such a shame that they've been lumbered with a scullery maid-esque name.

Fontella · 03/02/2021 00:18

My great grandmother was a Martha and her eldest daughter (my nan's sister) was called Lily!

So it's a thumbs up from me!

partyatthepalace · 03/02/2021 00:16

I am not at keen on Martha - she is such a dreary drudge in the Bible

And I don’t like Lily either, think it’s wet, and also unfortunate if she turns out a solid build...

Maybe Iris Mary....?!

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 02/02/2021 23:07

Love Martha .

HenriettaHeffalump · 02/02/2021 23:05

Lovely! I love Martha and Lily makes a lovely middle name to go with it.

July2021babygirl · 02/02/2021 12:04

Love that combination. Martha isn’t my personal style but still a gorgeous name and lily goes well as a middle name 💞

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