Do I tell them what their baby name means?

[imnotacelebrityleavemehere]

Name changed as very outing.

A friend has just named her newborn Mari-Jane. Do I tell her that it's a very well-known slang name for marijuana especially with the spelling Mari? I realise the pronunciation is slightly different but there will be people who pronounce it as "Mary" and she will just be known as Mary-Jane. Am I the only one who thinks she needs a heads up before registering the baby's name? I realise that most names can have quite creative nicknames and there will be plenty of people who don't know that it means marijuana but I feel like this is just asking for mockery.

Thoughts?

Rick James wrote a great song called, "Mary Jane" so add that along to Cypress Hill and Alanis Morrisette.

These artists must be 30-40 years ago though. I doubt it's common slang in most places.

Mari is a Welsh variant of Mary.

It's also a Scandinavian variant of Marie.

And a Japanese name meaning truth, long distance, jasmine or ball

It also means drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved

I've never heard it in connection with drugs but then I don't move in those kinds of circles.

I am (barely) 30, not a native English speaker and I was still aware of the association.

You should tell her, OP!
I for one would definitely want to be told before registering my daughter.

My father called them that in the 1960s. Well, girls, not just girlfriends.

@MissBuffyAnneSummers

I've never heard it in connection with drugs but then I don't move in those kinds of circles.

Oh dear! You don't have to, just be aware of popular culture, music, etc.

YABU

Very few are going to care about the drug reference.

I've never heard it in connection with drugs but then I don't move in those kinds of circles.

I’ve heard it in movies and tv shows, nothing to do with what circles you move in.

There are a LOT of songs about Mary Jane meaning the drug: songs about mary jane . I'd be tempted to say 'Cool name. Do you like Spiderman, shoes or drugs?'

I feel it's quite old-fashioned slang. Might be like telling someone that Johnny means condom.

First thing I thought when I found out my sousing (now 18) was being called Johnny.

Not a name I’d pick 😬

I’m aware of the Mary-Jane reference too. Probably not ideal is it. Also sounds a bit twee and unoriginal. But that’s just a “me” thing I guess!

Oh don't. She'll think you're being childish and trying to seem 'in the know'. It's one of those things we all know but never comes up in real life. Apart from maybe in the 70s

I’m so confused that anyone hasn’t heard of this! I guess it’s done a good job as a euphemism and when people hear it (in songs, films, jokes) then they have just heard it as a name and not a reference. I do think if she has a little boy with a drug related name too then it’s worth telling her as putting the two together will draw attention.

I wouldn’t tell her they would possibly be offended with you. Think of all the Charlie’s out there people most know the slang equivalent?! I wouldn’t have known about Mary-Jane.

I had no idea it meant that so I don't think it matters. I don't think people will pronounce it Mary either if it is spelled Mari and she is introduced as Mari surely people will call her Mari. I wouldn't even think about pronouncing it Mary

Well I knew someone called John Thomas, and he was quite oblivious. Also taught a child called Billy-James, B-J for short. I don't think it had dawned on his parents. So what I'm saying is, they may never need to know.

Only people aged about 80 know that slang.

I'm 47, have used it for 25 years and never heard this so no I wouldn't say anything, it's a common although old fashioned name.

My young adult DC use this term all the time. They live in London.

I had no idea of its meaning. Just leave it it’s nothing to do with you. You sound nasty actually and that’s how you will come across

Yes I've heard of it, and it would make me wonder if the parents chose it deliberately on the assumption that only hep cats like me would get the reference haha. Plus slang has a habit of coming in and out of fashion so you never know, it might be back again.
On the other hand, the spelling and pronunciation distance it slightly from Mary Jane, so I reckon you can keep schtum with a clear conscience OP!

Yeah, I think her brother Skag has more to worry about.

I’ve never heard of it.

Mari is a Welsh variant of Mary. It's not pronounced like Mary, it's pronounced 'Marry'.

I expect the child will mostly go by Mari anyway.

If they're Welsh, they could change it to Mari Sian and avoid the Mary Jane association with non-Welsh speakers altogether! (Sian is Welsh for Jane).

Fanny has also fallen out of favour

I know someone who named their children "Charlie" and "Aveline". To this day I fail to believe they did not realise any connotation to drug taking (have a line of charlie).

My DD7 is Mary-Jayne and we had all the comments like this....no I wouldn't tell her she will already most likely know.

@spiderlight - in Welsh it's pronounced like the English word Marry.