Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on the name Marlowe?

56 replies

21redroses · 09/01/2024 14:44

I absolutely love the name Marlowe for a girl and just wondered what people’s thoughts were! My only concern is that people may spell it wrong, what do you think?

Also, are there any cute nicknames?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
JanglingJack · 09/01/2024 18:35

As long as you're not from Harlow.

olympicsrock · 09/01/2024 18:34

It’s a town or Surname and would always be spelt wrong. Sorry

FrostieBoabby · 09/01/2024 18:33

Not keen I'm afraid, knew a dog called Marlo years ago but don't think it suits a human and the spelling would casue a lifetime of 'it's Marlow with an E'.

Riapia · 09/01/2024 18:30

Marlboro
Malawi
Malodorous

Swearwolf · 09/01/2024 18:26

I really like it! It sounds elegant. You won't get a great response on MN, there are always a lot who don't like anything surname-y or American-sounding. I think it's a nice choice!

EmmaGrundyForPM · 09/01/2024 18:26

@Frederica145 I've got the full set and occasionally reread them! I'd have loved to use the name Rowan but it's too close to DH's name

Onelife2024 · 09/01/2024 18:15

How about Mali or Margot?

pinkdelight · 09/01/2024 18:15

I know a Marlo but that's a boy. Think there was also a male Marlo in The Wire. Don't like Marlowe for a girl sorry. Too much like calling her Ipswich or Nuneaton.

gerispringer · 09/01/2024 18:13

Marshmallow springs to mind,

Onelife2024 · 09/01/2024 18:13

It’s got quite a nice sound but I would be put off by the town / surname associations

Kwasi · 09/01/2024 17:59

It really doesn't sound good to me. Sorry. There's a girl in DS's class and she's absolutely lovely and very pretty but, for me, her name casts a shadow.

Surnames as girls names just don't work for me.

Dmsandfloatydress · 09/01/2024 17:47

Marley is a dog or Jacob. Back to the drawing board

Dmsandfloatydress · 09/01/2024 17:46

Lovely town in Buckinghamshire, not a name for a child. I mean, why not Basildon? Milton Keynes? Maidenhead?

AlbertaWildRose · 09/01/2024 17:40

I went to school with a female Marlowe in the '80s, and Marlo Thomas is the actress who played Rachel's mom on Friends. It's not totally unknown as a girl's name.

CrushingOnRubies · 09/01/2024 17:35

It's a great name for a floppy red setter ... not keen for a little girl

DavinaTheDonkey · 09/01/2024 17:20

Oh I'm not mad on it.

I just think of the town, but I live quite near it!

If I was in another country or in Sunderland or somewhere nowhere near Marlow, I probably wouldn't think of it. Marlow is a bland, middle class town fwiw. Nothing offensive or particularly glamorous about it, so it isn't off-putting necessarily, just seems a bit "why?" to me. Like naming her Lancaster or Bangor.

Marley would be the nickname I imagine she'd get, or maybe Lo?

PamelaParis · 09/01/2024 17:18

I would expect a Marlowe to be either a) American or b) a dog. How about Martha?

Dacadactyl · 09/01/2024 17:11

Ita a place and I don't like the name

LenaLamont · 09/01/2024 17:10

Marlow is a private eye, Marlowe is a playwright.

FestiveAuntFanny · 09/01/2024 17:08

Arlo is a brand of surveillance cameras! Marlow is a male detective.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 09/01/2024 17:07

Aww it’s lovely OP
we have a DC whose name ends in an O sound and we call him O!
marly is cute as a nickname, or Lowe

Frederica145 · 09/01/2024 17:04

EmmaGrundyForPM · 09/01/2024 15:03

I really like it.

When I was younger I used to read books set in a boarding school about a family called Marlow, so I've got very fond association with the name.

I still read them. Antonia Forest. She was a fabulous author who ought to be better known.
Marlowe sounds too much like a surname to me though

GoodVibesHere · 09/01/2024 17:02

I think people will hear it as the boy's name 'Marlon'.

KirstenBlest · 09/01/2024 16:53

Marlo is horrendous

riotlady · 09/01/2024 15:08

I like it but I think I prefer the spelling Marlo

Swipe left for the next trending thread