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Baby names

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

Original poster

Marion/Marian?

36 replies

BlueGreyApple · 02/03/2022 20:22

Can't decide if too old fashioned?

Would be in honour of a family member if used.

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Snoopsnoggysnog · 06/03/2022 09:04

I am not keen on Marion. I love

Marianne
Marie
Manon

etulosba · 06/03/2022 08:57

For a girl, I would use Marion. I like it.

mondler · 06/03/2022 08:50

I know an 80 year old who is female with the Marion spelling. It is pretty and Marie is a pretty nickname.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 05/03/2022 12:57

Marianne is much nicer (and is also associated with a great song)

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 05/03/2022 12:56

Too religious for me.

MerlinsBeard87 · 05/03/2022 09:12

I love it and used Marion as a middle name, also to honour family

sadpapercourtesan · 04/03/2022 19:25

I prefer Marie-Anne pronounced Marianne.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 04/03/2022 19:24

I'd love to meet a little Marie!

RonCarlos · 04/03/2022 19:24

It's sweet but I personally prefer Marianne or Marie/Mary.

Justcashnosweets · 04/03/2022 19:23

Marion is my Mums name, and I love it. She however has always hated it 🤣

TheYearOfSmallThings · 04/03/2022 19:23

I quite like them - of the two I prefer Marian. I prefer Miriam actually, although that's probably too different.

ThisBloodyNoiseInMyHead · 04/03/2022 19:20

Very old-fashioned. A lot of old-fashioned names sound good and are popular again, but this isn't one of them. You might as well consider Gladys or Ethel

NameChangeCity123 · 04/03/2022 19:19

@Philandbill

I love it. Though it was my Granny's name so I am biased ...
It's my granny's name too and she gets Myra as a nickname which I love
Philandbill · 04/03/2022 19:08

I love it. Though it was my Granny's name so I am biased ...

ozzyfroggy · 04/03/2022 19:06

Love love love!!! Personally love the Marianne prononciation, got more peps. It was almost my daughter's name but she didn't look like one. Grin

NiLunNiLautre · 04/03/2022 17:37

@YisforWanky

It's a v good Sisters of Mercy song (Marian spelling) so gets my approval for that alone.
Ha, I remember that... I was an 80's goth! Makes me a fan of Marian, too.

Although I probably prefer Marianne (an even better Leonard Cohen song)

LittleGwyneth · 03/03/2022 20:41

Strongly Marianne.

Original poster
BlueGreyApple · 03/03/2022 16:38

Thanks everyone. I'm still dithering- sometimes I really like it - other times I think no.

I think Marianne might work with a nice short surname like Brown or something but ours is quite long so keen for a fairly short first name.

My DH is from Central/Eastern Europe- I don't think it's a male name in his language but wondering if might cause confusion as it is a male name in neighbouring countries to his.

Maybe it will be better as a middle name.

Luckily got a while before baby arrives as I am really struggling to find anything that I like...my shortlist for girls has two names and for boys my DH made a face at my suggestion (which I think means no)

OP posts:
greenteafiend · 03/03/2022 01:00

I like both (not helpful). Maybe Marion has the edge.

Firebird83 · 02/03/2022 23:42

I really like Marian

jackstini · 02/03/2022 23:10

Marian - as in maid from Robin Hood
Love it. Strong name, still feels modern, I know one with nn Mari

Not as keen on Marianne at all - prefer the above with emphasis on first syllable rather than last

MatildaJayne · 02/03/2022 22:58

I prefer the pronunciation of Marianne with the emphasis on the Anne rather than Marion or Marian with the emphasis on Ma.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/03/2022 22:53

It is old fashioned and dreary, makes me think of small town life in the 5Os, but it’s not awful

Much prefer Marianne or Maryam

scottishnames · 02/03/2022 22:42

As PPs said, Marion is popular for girls in Scotland and in France; the '-on' ending is a diminutive: ' little Mary.' The French name 'Manon' has a similar ending (and meaning); 'Nanon' is another French diminutive name, meaning 'little Anne'.

John Wayne was Marion. Said to have been named after an ancestor who fought in the American Civil War. As well as being a female name, Marion is also a surname; originally from France, also found in USA and Canada.

Marian is a male name in several Euorpean countries; it's a version of an ancient Roman name, Marianus (or just Marius).
Mariana is the female form of Marian.

DramaAlpaca · 02/03/2022 21:43

I like it, it's a strong unfussy name. I slightly prefer Marian to Marion. Marianne is even better, it's long but I don't find it frilly.