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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Mary too old?

80 replies

appleraspberry · 15/06/2025 21:08

Mary is our top choice at the minute, most likely with the middle Josephine, Elizabeth or Christina. We live in Ireland where near enough every older woman we know is some form of Mary, and we’ve only ever heard of one younger Mary who is 19. I don’t think Mary will make much of a comeback in the future, my concern would be Mary potentially becoming the next Agnes or Mildred. All opinions would be lovely

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WaltzingWaters · 15/06/2025 22:57

Everyone here seems to love it so go for it. I’ve personally never liked it and think it seems very old and bland. But I’m obviously very much in the minority!

Original poster
appleraspberry · 15/06/2025 22:56

I understand that the middle names come across old fashioned, all of them come from past relatives, two of them actually from women named Mary! The middle name would only really be used to differentiate by some of our family. I have 4 aunt Mary’s alone, not including DH’s family, otherwise she’s likely to just be little Mary to the rest of them 😂

OP posts:
SortthisoutpleaseJesus · 15/06/2025 22:54

Love it!

AmelieSummer25 · 15/06/2025 22:54

Your baby will make the name perfect!

I would choose Elizabeth as her middle name out of your options.

Mumofgirls2017 · 15/06/2025 22:49

Did nt think it will ever be a Mildred. Mary is lovely and we have a lovely one in my 6yo’s year group. Go for it.

Flannelfeet · 15/06/2025 22:26

My name is mhairi, pronounced marry which is apparently the gaelic Irish for mary. So my mum told me 😆 🤣

PomeloOud · 15/06/2025 22:19

I think it has a lovely feel to it. I’m biased because one of my best friends is a Mary and she is fabulous

PickledMuffin · 15/06/2025 22:18

Mary is a beautiful name x

girljulian · 15/06/2025 22:10

Can’t get more timeless than Mary!

TheDenimMember · 15/06/2025 22:09

I think it is a timeless name. I know one of about 11 but I will admit she is of Irish ancestors and her granny was definitely a Mary too.

OpenWindow60 · 15/06/2025 22:07

I LOVE it. If we'd had another girl it would have been my top choice.

TheaBrandt1 · 15/06/2025 22:05

Gorgeous. Refreshing well known but far from top ten tedium

LilacPony · 15/06/2025 22:02

I’ve come across three Mary’s over the years who were under 5 years of age. (England).

Moreteaandchocolate · 15/06/2025 22:00

Mary is lovely - I disagree that it won’t make a comeback, I think it’s a lovely classic that sounds so sweet and fresh for this generation.

Nicebrightday · 15/06/2025 21:59

Moveoverdarlin · 15/06/2025 21:20

I think it became the next Mildred or Anges 30 years ago. Everyone so far seems to love it, so go for it, but I think of really old ladies. Not women in their 80s now - they are Janet, Pam, Maureen, Lyn, Brenda, Sally. But women over a hundred years old.

It was still number one in girls’ name rankings in Ireland in 1982. Dropped fairly swiftly then though.

Nicebrightday · 15/06/2025 21:56

Middle names aren’t really used though. Most people won’t know someone’s middle name.

ohmondew · 15/06/2025 21:48

Mary Josephine/Mary Christina sounds like a character from the Magdalene Sisters tbh. I don't think either combo is ready to come back yet.

Nicebrightday · 15/06/2025 21:46

Moveoverdarlin · 15/06/2025 21:20

I think it became the next Mildred or Anges 30 years ago. Everyone so far seems to love it, so go for it, but I think of really old ladies. Not women in their 80s now - they are Janet, Pam, Maureen, Lyn, Brenda, Sally. But women over a hundred years old.

That’s not the case in Ireland. It is a name mostly older women have, but not that old. Every second woman in her 80s seems to be a Mary and I know several in their 50s too.

Marlena1 · 15/06/2025 21:22

I'm in Ireland too and my first thought was "she's not in Ireland". I just think there are so my older ones.

deeahgwitch · 15/06/2025 21:21

I think Mary is lovely but Mary Josephine is very old fashioned. I too am in Ireland.
Mary Elisabeth or Mary Christina are lovely.
Would you consider Marie Christine ?

Moveoverdarlin · 15/06/2025 21:20

I think it became the next Mildred or Anges 30 years ago. Everyone so far seems to love it, so go for it, but I think of really old ladies. Not women in their 80s now - they are Janet, Pam, Maureen, Lyn, Brenda, Sally. But women over a hundred years old.

Overtheatlantic · 15/06/2025 21:17

I love Mary and Maria.

redgingerbread · 15/06/2025 21:14

Gorgeous name - simple but beautiful. It was on my list for if DS had been a girl.

tsmainsqueeze · 15/06/2025 21:12

Lovely !

ItalianChineseIndianMexican · 15/06/2025 21:12

I know 3 Mary's who are 10, 50 and 90!
Lovely name.