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Baby names

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

Original poster

May McManus

111 replies

Evmamai · 13/02/2025 18:28

Hi all, I posted before but looking to know thoughts on this.

We have a toddler named Eve and are expecting baby girl 2. We love the name May it’s our favourite name but our surname is McManus and we are worried it doesn’t flow.

Thoughts on May McManus?

OP posts:
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peaceinourtime · 24/02/2025 08:41

It’s a beautiful name. Also, May spelt that way is better then Mae 🙁

Tabbsi · 17/02/2025 22:10

I love it!!

MarshmallowClouds · 17/02/2025 20:38

Another Scot here - not hard to say, but a tiny bit old lady ish.

what about Eilidh?

Jeschara · 16/02/2025 20:09

May is OK, but mainly used as s middle name. Maria is lovely shortened Ria sounds good Eve and Ria.
If you like May use it. Some people would hate my choice it's sp personal.

Nicolathecat · 16/02/2025 14:51

I think it flows well. Middle name?

Sheeparelooseagain · 15/02/2025 11:27

May is clearly the name you want so go with it. Elizabeth is a nice choice as the middle name.

leftorrightnow · 14/02/2025 14:53

I think names with alliteration sound like cartoon characters/screen names.

HotCrossBunplease · 14/02/2025 12:41

I know it’s quite a Marmite name and maybe a bit OTT in terms of Scottishness, but I absolutely love Morag McManus!

RuthW · 14/02/2025 12:18

No. It's very difficult to say

Firsttimebabymummy · 14/02/2025 07:17

Great name!

user1492757084 · 14/02/2025 03:34

Eve and May McManus sound good as sisters.

Other ideas ..
Meg
Maud
Maidy
Morna
Morag
Malina
Melissa
Amanda
Margaret

HotCrossBunplease · 14/02/2025 01:08

Getuptherenow · 13/02/2025 20:01

In Ireland we pronounce mc as mac because that's where it comes from. Mac means 'son of' in Gaelic. The name is son of Manus. Also, how else would you pronounce May other than it rhyming with day? Some of the pronunciation stuff on mumsnet is bizarre.

I never said that May doesn’t rhyme with day. It does.

But the sound of the vowel in both May and day varies depending on a person’s accent.

Click on the mic here for the RP English pronunciation of “May”
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/may

Compare that to Scottish actress Laura Main saying here
“I want everything to be OK with May”

https://youtube.com/shorts/ga1QONH0EuM?si=LfcFt-aoNt2sF7aM

If you can’t recognise that these sounds are different @IHateWasps perhaps you just don’t have an ear for accents.

may

1. used to express possibility: 2. used to ask or give permission: 3. used to…

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/may

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 13/02/2025 23:20

Beautiful, I really like alliterative names. And May is stunning.

Normallynumb · 13/02/2025 23:20

May McManus is lovely
Eve Alexandra and May Elizabeth

desperatedaysareover · 13/02/2025 23:12

Evmamai · 13/02/2025 18:28

Hi all, I posted before but looking to know thoughts on this.

We have a toddler named Eve and are expecting baby girl 2. We love the name May it’s our favourite name but our surname is McManus and we are worried it doesn’t flow.

Thoughts on May McManus?

Absolute winner

Whoarethoseguys · 13/02/2025 23:11

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 19:58

Well, yes, I rhyme it with all the same words you rhyme it with. But my vowel is different to yours!

Listen to the Nicola Sturgeon in the video I posted. Imagine her saying “the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain”. (Which is the same “a” sound as May). Now say it yourself.

Edited
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I have listened to her and I don't think she says May any differently from me

HotCrossBunplease · 13/02/2025 23:08

IHateWasps · 13/02/2025 20:02

I have just listened to about a dozen English people pronouncing May and it sounds no different to the way that I pronounce it.

Where are you from?

loropianalover · 13/02/2025 23:03

Pity your DH doesn’t like Mollie! It’s lovely. As is Maia or Maisie.

You’ve made multiple threads now though so obviously your heart is set on May 🙈

Original poster
Evmamai · 13/02/2025 22:56

Hopeallwillbefine · 13/02/2025 22:25

That’s interesting. Where are you Evmamai? Like pp, I’m in Ireland and say Mac and Mc names exactly the same too. There is no difference in the pronunciation of Mac vs Mc for me.

Edited to say I just saw you’re in Scotland, sorry!

Edited
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Yeah we are in Stirlingshire but not too far north of Glasgow.

OP posts:
Hopeallwillbefine · 13/02/2025 22:25

Evmamai · 13/02/2025 20:07

That’s interesting. I have a friend who is MacManus and we would say her surname with “Mack” but McManus with “Mick”, obviously the origins are the same just said slightly different. Running through all the Macs and Mcs I know I think it’s consistent. Other than off the top of of my head McGovern/MacKellar/McGhie which we say MihGovern and MihKellar, MihGee and so on.
Fascinating how language and pronunciation works.

Show quote history

That’s interesting. Where are you Evmamai? Like pp, I’m in Ireland and say Mac and Mc names exactly the same too. There is no difference in the pronunciation of Mac vs Mc for me.

Edited to say I just saw you’re in Scotland, sorry!

Catlover1705 · 13/02/2025 21:44

May is lovely or Maisie McManus

Moreteaandchocolate · 13/02/2025 21:38

May is such a gorgeous name and so perfect with Eve. I think you’ve got your heart set on it and should go for it 😊 It seems from this thread that in a Scottish accent it works well with your surname, and that’s the most important thing as that’s where you live!

Needmorelego · 13/02/2025 21:27

HugoYorway · 13/02/2025 20:19

@Needmorelego , Of course they are.

"Of course they are" what? I'm not sure what you are tagging me about.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 13/02/2025 20:34

YourWinter · 13/02/2025 19:52

No… M M M is too much, reminds me of the wrestler Mick McManus!

That's the boy. I didn't want to come out and say 'it sounds like a wrestler' but that's why I'm thinking that.

I think you need a longer first name op to balance the three syllables in the surname.

Maeve McManus
Mairi McManus (pronounced Mah-ri, not like Mary)
Margot McManus (but I adore Margot as a name)
Megan McManus

SheridansPortSalut · 13/02/2025 20:34

Evmamai · 13/02/2025 20:33

Because Maeve ends in Eve when written they feel too similar on paper.

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Fair point.

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