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Baby names

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

Original poster

Marina or Sophie?

108 replies

Leopardspot · 22/05/2022 22:48

Would love your thoughts on Marina or Sophie as a sibling for Alice and Henry. Thank you!

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pinklavenders · 24/05/2022 10:24

I live in the UK, where kids get teased for having 'strange' names.

Certainly not in the parts of the UK where I've lived. People tend to be open minded and respectful.

MsTSwift · 24/05/2022 07:51

Marian is very frumpy I picture hyacinth bucket type with that name

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 24/05/2022 07:39

Marian as an alternative to Marina?

MsTSwift · 24/05/2022 06:47

My name is a bog standard middle class popular name not Sophie but of similar ilk and the boys at primary managed to rhyme that with a slightly sexual silly word - not sure finding the most boring name for your kid will necessarily solve that…

SplendidUtterly · 24/05/2022 03:04

Sophie is bland, common and over used. Marina is a beautiful name.

Inthetropics · 24/05/2022 02:45

My name is Marina, and I love it. Sophie is also adorable.

user1477391263 · 24/05/2022 01:07

Marina

Sophie is OK, but so dull and generic. You may as well name her "girl," or "daughter."

Cloud16 · 24/05/2022 00:44

Marina is so sparkly. Love it.

pixie5121 · 23/05/2022 23:35

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

pixie5121 · 23/05/2022 23:28

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Luredbyapomegranate · 23/05/2022 23:27

Marina. elegant and strong and Marnie is a nice nn if she wants it.

Sophie is nice but overused, and Sophia done to death

Yoloohno · 23/05/2022 23:23

Marina is a place for boats or the brassy blond from last of the summer wine.

Sophie is the name of a favourable royal, it’s soft and classic. But every one I have met is unique and far from dull..

pinklavenders · 23/05/2022 18:00

Marina is beautiful and memorable!

Sophie is overused/dull but fits more with Henry and Alice.

HuntingoftheSnark · 23/05/2022 17:40

I love Marina. I have a Miranda, but Alice was also high on my list (but my surname begins with S so it didn't flow well).

Mumofgirls2017 · 23/05/2022 17:22

Definitely Sophie with your others

SorryPardonWhat · 23/05/2022 17:22

Marina without a doubt. Beautiful.

RollOnWinter · 23/05/2022 17:20

I know a Sophie and a Marina. Sophie is a lovely woman, kind, friendly, and decent. She's a bit of a loner and is introverted. Marina is outgoing, loud, and very opinionated, but also quite good-hearted.

I don't particularly like either name much, but Marina is less common (by that I mean popular) so I'd choose that.

Snowiscold · 23/05/2022 17:16

But, as with everything else to do with names, this is a subjective perception rather than an objective truth.

Objective truth indicates there have been, and are, multiple royals called Henry and Alice and Marina and Sophie/Sophia.There are none called Marnie.

FoggySpecs · 23/05/2022 15:53

Marina is wonderful, Sophie is a bit over used, we know at least eight girls called Sophie.

erikbloodaxe · 23/05/2022 15:51

A Marina held up the local post office with a sawn off shotgun. No criminals called Sophie locally I can think of.

KirstenBlest · 23/05/2022 15:48

I don't think they are victorian servant names and didn't watch Last of the Summer Wine. I'd say they were classic names.

Marianna is too fussy, and will be Mariana/Marijuana/Marianne

MadameDragon · 23/05/2022 14:52

Because names have multiple associations and it’s subjective which are more prominent to an individual? For me, they are all Victorian servant names so go quite well together and fit current naming trends. Marina is the OW from the last of the summer wine, which won’t matter now, but likely puts a certain age range of people off the name. Sophie is fine, but so common that it seems to fit less well. But, as with everything else to do with names, this is a subjective perception rather than an objective truth.

MangoMaddie · 23/05/2022 14:35

Another one here who can't understand at all anyone suggesting Marnie as a match for Alice and Henry. Either Sophie or Marina fits perfectly- like a child who has wandered out of a Patek Philippe ad.

I don't think the fact that a marina is a place for boats detracts from the name. A jack is used to lift up cars, a tom is a male cat, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet etc etc.

SickAndTiredAgain · 23/05/2022 14:06

Leopardspot · 22/05/2022 23:54

Thanks all! This is exactly our conundrum.. Sophie is classic and pretty, and does go well with the other names, but it is overused and popular and worried it is a bit dull / less 'exciting'. Marina has more zing for us and has that beautiful / glamourous feel. But it also doesn't roll off the tongue as easily. Hard to decide!

Does it have to be one of the two? It doesn't sound like you're that sold on either really.

Of the two, I'd pick Sophie. I know it is a name, but to me, Marina is a place for boats.

Snowiscold · 23/05/2022 13:57

MadameDragon · 23/05/2022 13:41

I also find Marnie a great match for the sibling names, whereas Marina doesn’t fit. Marina seems quite dated to me, the ones I know are aged 45–65.

I genuinely can’t work that out. How do centuries-old classic names, given to royalty, etc, have any link with Marnie -best known as a thief in an American film?