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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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BinocularVision · 22/05/2021 06:44

Honestly, it’s more golden retriever than either for me.

TatianaBis · 22/05/2021 06:39

I’m not sure why people copy celebrities. Sienna Miller called her dd Marlowe.

You can say you like Christopher Marlowe and so do I, but I don’t believe for a minute you’d have thought of it as a first name without Sienna.

BettyOBarley · 21/05/2021 22:11

There's a boy Marlow in my DS's class. It suits him. I didn't actually know it was usually a girl's name tbf

Chilldonaldchill · 21/05/2021 22:00

I know one Marlowe (age 2) and she's a girl. I'm fairly confident she is not named after Christopher Marlowe judging by her siblings' names.
If I met a Marlowe I'd assume it was a girl but I'd assume a Marlow was a boy.
I really don't like it at all though.

Cotswoldmama · 21/05/2021 21:12

I'd assume girl if I saw it written down or it was being referred to but If I heard a boy being called it I wouldn't think it was that strange.

toolazytothinkofausername · 21/05/2021 21:09

Marlowe- Girl

Milo- Boy

LostInTheLingerieSection · 21/05/2021 21:05

Probably a boy but not sure. I know a girl Harlowe and that influences me towards girl slightly.

Unlike most of MN, I like surnames as first names and it's been 'trendy' for hundreds of years here in Scotland. Also, many many boys names old and new are also surnames - James, Thomas, Jack etc etc.

Anyway that aside it's not a name I love although I can't put my finger on why. Marlo I find nicer.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/05/2021 21:03

Much prefer Christopher (Kit), sorry. Marlowe has a nice sound but will be likely misspelt, as well as leaning to the girls side of unisex now (thanks to the popularity of similar sounding Margot).

drpet49 · 21/05/2021 20:59

It is a town. Not a baby name

SamMil · 21/05/2021 20:28

It initially made me think of the town Marlow.

As a name, I think it sounds more like a girl's name to me (maybe because of Margeaux?). But I could imagine it for a boy too, although have never used it heard for either.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 21/05/2021 20:24

Dog

AdaColeman · 21/05/2021 20:22

Have you considered Marlon for a boy @mamablondie33, a very character rich name.

321zyx · 21/05/2021 20:16

Neither! - but if I came across a Marlowe I'd assume a boy.

MitheringSunday · 21/05/2021 20:13

@flaminjo

Please think carefully about this.

Surnames as first names are very trendy right now

This will date. Think about how fashion dates and ages and quickly becomes naff

Very much this.

If I met a child called this I would think boy and tbh feel rather sorry for a girl with that name.

kowari · 21/05/2021 20:09

@HumunaHey
The OP was asking for opinions. I see it as a surname, for either sex. My opinion is no more me having a 'stick up my bum' than someone else saying they see it as a name for a boy but not a girl or vice versa. If things change and evolve then any name can be for any sex child surely?

flaminjo · 21/05/2021 20:07

Please think carefully about this.

Surnames as first names are very trendy right now

This will date. Think about how fashion dates and ages and quickly becomes naff

Stichintime · 21/05/2021 20:06

Think of it as a boys name. I believe it means medow? ( actually know a girl called that)

HumunaHey · 21/05/2021 20:02

@kowari

Surname. Hardly the same as James or Oliver that have been first names for centuries Hmm (were they surnames first then?).
Well either way. They would have started as surnames and became used as first names too or vice versa. Things evolve and change.

It's quite laughable how some people have such a stick up their bums about what qualifies as a name in their rigid world.

Cindie943811A · 21/05/2021 20:02

I haven’t come across it as a first name before and I love it. It has class. Go for it OP.

secretburper · 21/05/2021 19:57

Golden Labrador

riotlady · 21/05/2021 19:56

I think it’s pretty unisex to be honest

Sloth169 · 21/05/2021 19:56

I absolutely love Marlowe for a little girl (was on my shortlist but I had a boy) but I do quite like ‘boyish’ names for girls, not as keen on it for a boy but not sure why

kowari · 21/05/2021 19:49

Surname. Hardly the same as James or Oliver that have been first names for centuries Hmm (were they surnames first then?).

AuntieStella · 21/05/2021 19:48

Boy

I don't like surname names much, but they generally work way better on boys. This one makes me think of the playwright

PassMeTheWotsits · 21/05/2021 19:46

Makes me think of Marlo from the wire