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Baby names

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

Original poster

Marlowe - boy or girl or either?

80 replies

mamablondie33 · 21/05/2021 15:02

I really like Marlowe for a boy (like the playwright) but I’m seeing it used more and more for girls? Is it considered a ‘girls’ name?

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TuesdayRuby · 25/05/2021 20:13

Ditto @AdaColeman. I’d take the E off for a boy.

VenusClapTrap · 25/05/2021 20:09

I love Conrad too. It was on my list.

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mamablondie33 · 25/05/2021 18:22

@HuntingoftheSnark I love Conrad!

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HuntingoftheSnark · 25/05/2021 18:11

I would think boy, and I like it. My boys' names (I had a girl) were Byron and Conrad.

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mamablondie33 · 25/05/2021 17:45

@Sakari some common sense at last! I agree with everything you say. Also I have a very dated name, I don’t particularly care. It’s the name of someone my age and we all get older.

I think I’m going off it simply because the final -e is a must for me but I do think it makes it seem more feminine than I would like. Back to square one lol

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Sakari · 25/05/2021 17:24

Argh, apologies for all the missing words above...

Sakari · 25/05/2021 17:23

OP I think it's fine for either sex. With newish names people tend to accept them either way although you can get unlucky and it suddenly becomes established in the opposite way to the one you've used. I guess that's what you're trying to flush out here. I would say make a judgement on how unhappy you would be if the name did end up being predominantly used for the opposite sex, if it wouldn't actually bother you much (or if you just it unlikely to happen) then go for it.

Sakari · 25/05/2021 17:11

I think the comments about Marlowe dating badly are weird. Do people really think all the Avas, Evies, Masies, Sadies, Freddies, Wilfreds, etc aren't going to date? They may be "classic" in 30 years very few people will use them. Just think how many older millennials are called Louisa, Jennifer, James, etc. which are all pretty rare for babies now.

Lalliella · 25/05/2021 00:09

Surname. DC would always have to be spelling it. Bad. Don’t do it.

peaceinourtime · 24/05/2021 22:47

I had a work colleague who had a son Marlo spelt without the w. The name is ok I think but definitely put the w on the end to make it Marlow

MimiDaisy11 · 22/05/2021 23:59

I hadn't heard of it as a name but I'd think of it as a boy's name. Maybe because my first association is the character, Philip Marlowe.

Babydust13 · 22/05/2021 23:15

I know 2 girls called it under 2 no boys though

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 22/05/2021 23:13

[quote mamablondie33]@Snog the names that are a hit on MN are never my cup of tea. I love Ray for short for what it’s worth :)[/quote]
Probably not worth posting here to gauge a response if your taste in names is so at odds with what you perceive the MN collective’s to be.

If I heard it, I would assume boy as it is similar to Marlon but if I saw it written down, I’d think girl. However, I’d first think of the town.

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mamablondie33 · 22/05/2021 20:16

@ZoyaTheDestroyer I’m not a fan of Christopher but your Kit suggestion is a good one. He was known as Kit too.

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Thisisjaaam · 22/05/2021 20:11

Neither

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 22/05/2021 19:41

If you’re a fan of the playwright then Christopher nn Kit seems the clear winner.

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mamablondie33 · 22/05/2021 18:24

@Snog the names that are a hit on MN are never my cup of tea. I love Ray for short for what it’s worth :)

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Snog · 22/05/2021 17:43

I like Raymonde but got bucket loads of hate for it from mumsnet 😝

shallIswim · 22/05/2021 17:18

I guess it can be either.
But who knew it was growing in popularity? I live and learn with Mn.

And yes I think, with my wordsmith hat on, that other surname-first names actually began life as first names and then evolved into surnames rather than t'other way around. But it does seem
That anything goes these days, so
If you like it, use it!

VoyageInTheDark · 22/05/2021 17:08

I had it on my list for DD2 so I think of it as a girls name

TatianaBis · 22/05/2021 10:24

Well she is the reason Marlowe is around as a name.

cassrose · 22/05/2021 09:09

I LOVE the name Marlow but only for a boy. I personally see it as masculine.

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mamablondie33 · 22/05/2021 09:01

@TatianaBis this is genuinely the first time I’ve been told Sienna Miller has a daughter called Marlowe. I’m a lit geek - other contenders are Byron and Oscar (though Oscar is a bit too popular for my liking)

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VenusClapTrap · 22/05/2021 08:14

I know a little boy called Marlow. He was named after a male relative who also had this as a Christian name.

HeronLanyon · 22/05/2021 07:06

I hear it as a surname only so it confuses me as to which sex. Also makes me think the child may be American.
I think I would expect a Marlowe to be a girl but the Arlo similarity would make me pause.
Not fond of it generally.
Congrats op.