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Baby names

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

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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Justhereforaibu1 · 31/08/2023 16:35

Hmm both nice names but I'm not sure they go together.

Olika · 31/08/2023 16:31

Love them

daisypond · 31/08/2023 16:21

Yes, they are very similar, too similar.

FayCarew · 31/08/2023 12:23

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 wouldn't recommend that, because most people will assume that Isla Marlowe Bird is Isla not Marlowe. They might even try to double-barrel Marlowe Bird.

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!

Pickingnamesishard · 31/08/2023 11:13

If you prefer -low ending more, you can also consider Willow as a compromise name x

Pickingnamesishard · 31/08/2023 11:05

You should consider Margot as it sounds very similar to Marlowe and doesn’t have as much repeating sounds as Marlowe does with Molly. I don’t know if you would want wanna live in a house where your children constantly aren’t sure whether you’re calling them or their sibling from the kitchen just because of how similar the names can sound from afar.

WhatK8DidNext · 31/08/2023 10:12

I personally think they are too similar and that you won’t be able to contol what the names get shorted to at school - so could could end up with, Molly & Marlie or Mol & Mal or Mol and Lol or whatever.

I also personally don’t think it’s a great idea to have two people of the same gender living in the same house - it can be difficult with banks, or any other officialdom stuff, to have two lots of forms or letters addressed to Miss M Birdiboo.

However, what I personally think doesn’t have to impact you at all and you need to be happy with your choice without worrying about strangers on the internet.

Northernladdette · 31/08/2023 09:52

Never heard of Marlowe?
Someone I know has a Mylie and Myla, now that’s similar 😂

thatsnotmywean · 31/08/2023 09:25

I know two dogs called Marlowe. I dont know any children with those names. They are both boy dogs. Just being honest.

Mummyof32023 · 31/08/2023 09:25

No its not but what about Marley? I know a little girl called that and it's unusual

cansu · 30/08/2023 21:04

Yes they do sound similar but also odd. Molly is a very standard name whereas Marlowe sounds like a last name. Sorry but it really does not sound like a girl's name.

PollyPeep · 30/08/2023 20:45

Marlowe is lovely! I like the literary connection and the town is pretty. Molly and Marlowe are darling together.

CoffeeBean5 · 30/08/2023 20:40

I think Marlow, Marlie and Lola are too similar to Molly (pronunciation and spelling). Other M names like Martha and Melissa don't sound 'samey.' These aren't my favourite names but they're examples.

continentallentil · 30/08/2023 20:17

Molly is lovely, but I think the combination is a bit twee - and you can’t stop her mates from calling her Marley.

If you like Lola as a nn maybe just go for that? Molly and Lola works much better I think.

FayCarew · 30/08/2023 19:33

@CurlewKate , what does have ambiguous pro citations mean?

pastaandpesto · 30/08/2023 17:23

I agree with PPs that Harlowe (although a nice name) is a very different kind of name to Molly. They don't really go together. But that's just my opinion.

I love Molly and Martha.

Also

Anna
Lucy
Kitty
Freya
Alice
Emily

CurlewKate · 30/08/2023 17:13

Marlo and Harlo have ambiguous pro citations, though.

Fiddlesticks24 · 30/08/2023 17:12

I think they are fine together (and Marlowe is much nicer than Harlow!)

felisha54 · 30/08/2023 17:08

Yes I think they're too similar.

Popetthetreehugger · 30/08/2023 17:07

Every good wish for your upcoming daughter , Marlowe is pretty , as is molly . But please don’t associate your child with Harlow . They will in all likelihood look up where their name is … don’t let them find Harlow !

Vexxa · 30/08/2023 16:57

I agree with PP that Molly and Martha would be nice. I also like Molly and Margot. Personally I think Molly and Marlowe have too many repeated sounds, sorry OP.

Mirabai · 30/08/2023 15:38

I would do Molly and Martha personally - avoid the repetition of the L sound and also just a nicer name. I don’t like the fad of copying celeb’s kids names.

Harlow is awful - both the name and the town.

Theoldwoman · 30/08/2023 15:33

Too similar.

FayCarew · 30/08/2023 14:56

If you are not in the UK don't worry about it then. Marlowe is associated with Christopher Marlowe. Sienna Miller has a DD called Marlowe etc.

If I heard Marlow(e) I'd think town between Maidenhead and Henley.
A french friend finds the name Lorraine funny, but in the UK (older) people would probably say "Luton Airport?". You might not even make any connection with either.

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