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Baby names

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

Original poster

Mary

83 replies

brightwave · 18/09/2021 13:36

Opinions?

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DocAutumn · 20/09/2021 11:52

I would never say May Ray.
I say Mare ree
I love it!

WaitinginVain · 20/09/2021 11:39

I'd like to like it but don't - it doesn't sound strong or classic to me, just a bit ugly sounding.

Strangely, like a PP, I do quite like it if used together with another name, especially Mary Ann. Also agree Maria is a prettier alternative.

MrsBungle · 20/09/2021 11:23

Lovely

PoolNooodle · 20/09/2021 11:22

I’m not too keen on it, there was a little girl in the park called mary the other day and I do remember being surprised to hear it on a young girl (maybe 5 or 6)

SingingGoldfinch · 20/09/2021 11:20

@mummatomason oh yes - I remember the ' Mary had a little lamb' jokes at school now you mention them! I used to get asked where my lamb was quite a bit. It clearly didn't scar me though! Every name comes with potential playground jokes I think? I don't remember ever hearing any 'virgin Mary' jokes - and I never even got to play Mary in the school nativity!

bloominglovelyorange · 19/09/2021 18:39

It's nice but I'd worry about "Virgin Mary" jokes at school particularly if a religious school

Pieceofpurplesky · 19/09/2021 18:28

Gorgeous. Have a couple where I teach (high school)

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 19/09/2021 18:24

My grandma and mum were/are Mary, and it's DD's middle name.

I like it. Strong if unglamorous name.

HelenaJustina · 19/09/2021 18:21

Classic, feminine but strong.

Scarby9 · 19/09/2021 18:13

I love it.

ILoveShula · 19/09/2021 18:12

Where are you that you hear it as May Ray, @whatausername?

whatausername · 19/09/2021 16:43

I hate the sounds in it. May Ray - two bland sounds combined into something harsh, plain and dull. Really dislike it. I'm clearly in the minority though!

GoodnightGrandma · 19/09/2021 15:36

For me it has a very religious association.
But I knew a very lovely Mary.

IAmWomxxnHearMeRoar · 19/09/2021 15:33

I really like it, although prefer Martha and Miriam, but sadly none of them go with my surname. Agree that these days it's original but also agree with the comment that I'd avoid if DD due around Christmas.

user1477391263 · 19/09/2021 15:29

My daughter is called Mary. Most people were very positive, although I did have a couple of people complaining that is was "too 50s," "too Catholic," or "too Irish." (!!! It's a historical English name as well. And what's wrong with being Irish?)

I like it because it's classy and unusual. She tends to go by "May" day to day though (someone started saying "Mary-May" just as a kind of funny/cute pet name, and somehow the "May" bit stuck!)

ufucoffee · 19/09/2021 14:07

It's a lovely name. Very classy.

manquedutemps · 19/09/2021 14:06

Not that keen. How about Maria?
Or Mary-something else, e.g. Mary-Ann, Marianne

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/09/2021 13:53

Lovely - so classic yet really underused now (like Jane) with some really amazing historical namesakes (my personal faves are feminist icon Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter the author Mary Shelley but there's also Mary Seacole, Mary Somerville, Mary- Queen of Scots....). Another benefit of Mary is she has all those nn options if for any reason she doesn't like it when older (May, Mamie ("May-mee"), Mimi, Molly, Polly).

MumChats · 18/09/2021 18:38

Love it

dontblamemee · 18/09/2021 18:33

Was going to use it for my DC born last Christmas but he came out a boy. Love it.

mummatomason · 18/09/2021 18:27

Im a mary! Only ever come across 2 others during school.
Only thing i would say is i got alot of teasing in primary school with mary had a little lamb... people asking how my garden grows. To be honest i still get the odd person saying it to me now and im in my 30s.
But saying that theres alot of names that people will find some sort of way of bullying/teasing.
I used to hate my name when i was younger because of the teasing but i love it now, think it made me more resilient to annoying people lol

TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet · 18/09/2021 18:20

I love it. It’s on my list.

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 18/09/2021 18:18

Lovely name

Anothermothernamegame · 18/09/2021 17:43

Very old fashioned and Catholic

RuthW · 18/09/2021 17:41

Lovely