What do you think of Marley?

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Myself and DH have fallen in love with the name Marley, it's actually the only boys name we agree on!! Obviously there has been a film out (Marley and me) where the name is used for a very memorable Labrador. Do you think the name is now a dogs name? The full name will be Marley Christopher Allen (+surname)... I really love it but don't want people to think we have given our child a dogs name. Opinions please!!

[Poppetspinkpants]

First thought: ghost.
Second thought: make of flooring.

[DialsMavis]

I have only heard it as a boys name! I like it

[Suzieismyname]

Dickens. Dreadlocks. Dog.
Not a first name...

[MissTweed]

I initially thought 'lovely girls name' when I read the post title but maybe because I never knew it was a unisex name

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Jacob Marley. Literary references are all good as long as the character isn't a rotten old dead miser. And it's hideous, sorry. Especially spelled Marlee.

[elsabel]

My best friend who is trying to decide on a name could have written your thread. Except she is having a girl. Ill give you the same advice i have been giving her, and thats that i think its a lovely name and wouldnt worry about the dog thing. Sorry hope i havent put you off cause shes considering it for her girl, i do think of it more as a girls name but only because im used to talking to her about it. I like it for either!

[SneezySnatcher]

I know a lovely boy called Marley. He's 10. When I first heard the name I didn't like it, but he's so great that now I think it's pretty cool!

[mewkins]

I know two under 5s called Marley- suits them both. Also met a teenager a few years ago called Marlee and it suited her too.

[ShowOfHands]

I don't like surname type names, much like Zola describes BUT dd has a little boy called Marley in her class and he is such a lovely little boy that I now like the name which just goes to show that children transcend their names somewhat. You say Marley to me now and I just think of a very lovely, smiley little boy.

[ZolaBuddleia]

I wouldn't think of the dog, but for me it's in the Mason, Logan, Maddison, Bailey vein, which I'm not keen on.

[sooperdooper]

I think the dog association will pass in a few years, the films already been out a while

It does also make me think of Christmas Carol, but a literary reference isn't a bad thing, isn't Marley the ghost of Christmas past?

[ZenNudist]

I would think you were bob Marley fans too!

[Wanders off singing redemption song]

[raisah]

How about Marlow if you are not 100% on Marley because of the dog associations.

[leobear]

Ghost!

[usualsuspect]

I think Marley is mainstream name.

[usualsuspect]

I love it.

I know a couple of Marleys.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Thanks again for your comments! Opinion seems pretty split down the middle on this one :) If I still love at as much when baby arrives I'm gna use it!! :D

[LottieJenkins]

I know a seventeen year old Marley named after Bob Marley. My cousin and his partner were going to call their son Marley up until a month ago. Two weeks ago they changed their mind and called him Archie!

[Viviennemary]

I've heard worse but I think it's pretty dire.

[daisydoodoo]

If you love it use it. I really wanted to call ds2 whos now 11, Hunter or Jasper but h wouldn't let me. He's got a very normal 'classic' name but tells me he wishes if called him Hunter. I still regret not using the name. Also got talked into naming dd1 (7) a mainstream name when I wanted India or Florence.

[ABirdInTheBush]

It's cute while he's little, but I can't comfortably envisage a grown man with the name Marley!

But that's me, and it's not my choice. If you love it, then go for it.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

I like it. Not usually a fan of surname as first names but that works. Better on a boy than a girl I think.

[PearlyWhites]

And me