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Baby names

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Original poster

Are these names too similar for sisters?

83 replies

Birdiboo · 30/08/2023 12:39

I have a little girl called Molly and am pregnant with my 2nd daughter.

My partner and I find it hard to agree on baby names but one that we both really love is Marlowe.

Is this too similar to Molly?

please try not to be too harsh in your responses as it has taken us a long time to agree on anything lol.

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JayCee14 · 06/09/2023 20:56

I LOVED Laguna Beach and Lo was a great character! Molly and Marlowe sound super cute together in my opinion. If you love it, do it! Best of luck x

Original poster
Birdiboo · 04/09/2023 22:40

@JayCee14 congratulations! I remember watching Laguna Beach back in the day and one of the girls went by Lo and I always thought it was a lovely nickname.
So nice to hear of a little Marlowe - I know it’s a unisex name but I think it’s so soft, gentle and beautiful sounding and my daughter, Molly, seems to like it too xx

OP posts:
JayCee14 · 03/09/2023 17:37

I just had a baby girl called Marlowe in June so while I’m biased, I love it! It’s very divisive - Marmite!- and people often mistake it for a boy’s name but if that doesn’t bother you (it doesn’t me) then I say go for it! I love Lo as a wee nickname. I hadn’t thought of that!

Trez1510 · 02/09/2023 12:23

Like others have said, I don't think the two names are from the same stable so to speak.

The combinations below, for example, speak more of sisters to me:

Molly & Jessie
Molly & Daisy
Molly & Clara
Molly & Tansy

BungleandGeorge · 02/09/2023 12:01

I think they are quite similar and also wouldn’t go for same sex siblings with same initial as they will both get mail etc as Miss M xxxx

Manthide · 02/09/2023 12:00

Tillow4ever · 31/08/2023 11:45

I’ve not read the full thread, but just wanted to offer caution over using the same initial. My sister had the same initial as our dad - he used to accidentally open all of her post and it annoyed the hell out of her. Imagine sisters getting post and opening each others - they’d be WWIII!

Would you consider Marlowe as a middle name, but call her that from birth, so official correspondence comes to her legal first name and no issues come up from having very similar names?

I know it might sound one tiny thing, but at 41 years old, my sister still mentions how much she hated it on occasion!

good luck!

One of my friends came from a family of 5 siblings (2 boys, 3 girls) whose parents had the bright idea of giving them all names which started with the letter c. Her 2 sisters had major issues with their bank accounts getting mixed up! That was one of the reasons I wanted my girls to have different initials. Now dd1 is married and she is a doctor as is her husband (whose name begins with the same letter as hers) so letters are addressed to Dr A Manthide!

LA9610 · 02/09/2023 11:43

I know someone with daughters Molly and Holly lol, I think yours are fine tbh!

Katiebaby3009 · 01/09/2023 19:00

I actually think they go really well together! I don’t think they are too similar. I also like Margot

JLM1981 · 01/09/2023 18:24

They sound nice together actually 😀

ScatteredShattered · 01/09/2023 15:44

I’m afraid they seem very similar to me.

If I heard the two names mentioned I’d be likely to assume they’re the same person (Molly a shortening of Marlowe).

Manthide · 01/09/2023 13:51

The names are fine, the only problem I foresee is letters arriving to Miss M Doe and the wrong Miss M Doe opening them. Probably less of a problem nowadays with email etc but can still cause issues. I have 3 dd and dd1's name begins with A, when dd2 was born I would have given her mu mil's name (greek tradition) but I didn't want names beginning with A.

Crikeyalmighty · 01/09/2023 09:17

I think something like Mia is more me- if you want use the same initial- but if you like it then it's your choice-

I'm not keen on surnames as Christian names - it's an American thing but maybe you are in US??

Bubop · 01/09/2023 08:51

I think Molly and Marlowe are lovely together, not too similar at all.

Congratulations!

Original poster
Birdiboo · 01/09/2023 08:42

I think I may just let my partner choose between Marlowe and another name we like and then I can stop overthinking it lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Birdiboo · 01/09/2023 08:42

@Mirabai I am in one of those places and Molly doesn’t sound like Marly in our accent. It is very much Molly

OP posts:
Mirabai · 01/09/2023 08:33

If OP is in the US or Ireland Molly and Marlow will sound the same - Marly and Marlow

Palindrone · 01/09/2023 01:00

I don't think Marlowe and Molly are too similar for sisters - yes, they begin with the same letter, but they don't have the same feel/sound.

That said, I wouldn't call my DD Marlowe, because it's my DS's name.

I love Margeaux for a girl but Marlow & Margeaux together would be too much.

Guess I just like M names...

Salmakia · 31/08/2023 23:22

I'm not sure they match, also sorry but Marlowe definitely sound like a boy's name. It made me think of Christopher Marlowe the playwright, and just yeah masculine vibes.

fancyfrogs · 31/08/2023 20:16

I think it's a pretty name, however I'd avoid as I think they sound too similar with my accent

Original poster
Birdiboo · 31/08/2023 20:08

A lot of people are commenting about Harlowe but I actually don’t like it anyway lol

OP posts:
MorningOclock · 31/08/2023 19:59

Molls and Marls - way way way too similar and teens will always shorten

MorningOclock · 31/08/2023 19:59

Too similar, it’s a no from me. Harlow a definite no also!!!!

Original poster
Birdiboo · 31/08/2023 19:56

hey everyone, I think with a few exceptions it seems the general consensus is that they are too similar- I guess I was asking because there was a niggling feeling in the back of my mind that this was the case.

@KayEmAy thanks for your suggestions but my daughter is already called Molly. I was contemplating Marlowe for the little one still in my tummy!

OP posts:
KayEmAy · 31/08/2023 19:45

I think they are too similar, given the natural nickname for Marlowe being Marley.

Other similar ideas-

Marlowe & Holland nn Olly, Andie, Holly

Marlowe & Rory (Aurora/Lorelei)

Marlowe & Olive nn Olly, Liv

Marlowe & Maxine

Marlowe & Bellamy nn Bell

Marlowe & Simone nn Mona

Marlowe & Odette

villamariavintrapp · 31/08/2023 17:40

Too similar for me, but some people like matching names for siblings anyway, so it doesn't matter.

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