Maria Theresa

[chickenfactory]

Too holy sounding?
Can't decide on a middle name for our 2day old, any other suggestions?

[RaRaZ]

Congratulations on your choice :-) I think it's good that you didn't have the name totally planned out when she was born - to me, it's more likely that it'll suit her now you've known for a few days before choosing. I'm sure she's beautiful.

[chickenfactory]

Thanks for all the replies and congratulations.

[ZZZenagain]

Immaculata Concepta indeed. Or Pia Maria as a friend of mine has called her daughter would also have been a bit much for me. Although both sets of names actually sound nice.

[bugsybill]

Well done chickenfactory! Congratulations

[rundontwalk]

Beautiful,congrats!

[Solaia]

Ah very nice choice!

I must live in a bubble because my three names which have all been suggested as very Catholic names have never seemed all that nun-like to me! And I've certainly never been bullied because of them.

I would draw the line at Immaculata Concepta though

[PoppyAmex]

Congratulations.

FWIW it's a smart/posh name in Southern Europe and I imagine she'll be spending a lot of time there :)

[TheBirdsFellDownToDingADong]

Congratulations!

[chickenfactory]

It's done. It's Maria Theresa.

[mathanxiety]

Maria Elisa
Maria Delphine
Maria Estelle (mentioned above)
Maria Georgina (mentioned above)
Maria Alexandra
Maria Anastasia
Maria Isabella or Isobel
Maria Annabel
Maria Constance
Maria Eleanor
Maria Leonore
Maria Genevieve
Maria Vivienne
Maria Rosalie
Maria Willow
Maria Felicity
Maria Hope

[SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter]

Going to out myself here, but what the heck - my middle names are Maria Theresa. It does sound very Catholic, but I don't think that's a bad thing. And thinking about it, no one has ever said it sounded too holy when I've told them my full name, but I have had a few people ask if I'm Italian, and a couple who mentioned the empress.

Saying that, I don't use my full name, not because of any religious connotations but because I have three, multisyllabic names and it sounds a bit of a mouthful. Also, it doesn't fit on forms. And also, I prefer the abbreviated version of my first name which I feel suits me far better.

[soontobeslendergirl]

oh, and bear in mund that if you go for theresa her initials will be MT (empty) fine as long as your surname isn't Box or Tank etc :o

[soontobeslendergirl]

chicken, any of those options would be nice. Can I also add in Rosa?

Maria Rosa for me takes it into the "continental" sounding bracket rather than pinning it on Religion as such.

I'm in Scotland too, and yes, I would if I heard the full name of Maria Theresa make a presumption that the bearer was catholic - I couldn't care less btw - I have no religion at all, but I would still make that assumption. That doesn't make it not a nice name and as was said, you really very rarely hear someones middle name after the birth has been "announced" fgs I can't even remember how to spell my 2nd son's middle name as there are a variety of possible spellings and I can't always remember which one we used .

Everyone in my family and my OHs family have middle names so it would hae been odd not to give our children one and we also used them to honour family members, if none of those factors make you want to definitely have one then go without. But there are lots of lovely names that go perfectly well so if you truly want one, just pick one that you love/like.

[Erebus]

Someone I know well, living in Scotland, got herself a Protestant NI partner. If she could be said to be of a religion, it'd be CofE (she's English but been in Scotland for decades). She planned on going to live in NI with said partner, but found his adult DC in NI reluctant- Why? It transpired that they thought she was tricking their dad and that with her name, Teresa, she had to be Catholic...!

I'd'v'e never have thought of Teresa as being specifically 'Catholic' but then, in the MC secular part of England I live in, the issue doesn't come up but I honestly thought Madonna, the popstar, was a stage name. I was amazed when I went to live in Queensland how many Madonna's and Maria's there were, all, of course, Catholic. Like apparently South America is full of Jesus'!

[chickenfactory]

Little bit scared to come back to this thread.... Not offended but the 'very catholic' opinions. That's why I asked. She may go to a catholic school but not necessarily. The city we are in just now can be very divided religiously in parts but as its a middle name hopefully it wouldn't be an issue. And we probably won't be here when she starts school.
As it is we still haven't decided!!
Theresa, Catherine and Louise are the front runners. Emily's out in case we have another girl next time
Dh is thinking no middle name at all if we can't choose.

[RoooneyMara]

I think its the idea of naming a child purely on the grounds of your religion, rather than it being the Catholic religion. Or any other religion.

I think that's what people kind of feel is the issue, why 'Catholic sounding' isn't something that some people feel positive about.

It's an opinion.

[Babel1111]

Ooh you bunch of moaners!! I am a catholic, from an Irish family, and I hope a speak in behalf of my fellow Catholics when I say this thread isn't offensive at all. Urghh I hate the PC brigade; grow up! By your logic then, saying a name is too 'girly' is offensive to women? Or saying a name is too old fashioned is ageist is it? Saying a unisex name is maybe for a certain sex is sexist? You see where I am going with this! How annoying.

[rundontwalk]

Congratulations on your new daughter! This is probably too late,but how about Therese if you're unsure of Theresa?

[bugsybill]

I had a quick look back and some people said it sounded "very catholic", not "too catholic".

The OP originally asked if it was "too holy" so maybe that is where the confusion is coming from.

OP have you made a decision? Did you go with Maria Catherine?

[RaRaZ]

Shame this thread has ended up a debate about the acceptability of saying a name is 'too Catholic' rather than actually answering the OP's Q... I think mebbies everyone should get back to the issue of the middle name rather than debating what's acceptable to say - no-one has been remotely offensive the OP and has merely answered her Q with their opinion, so discussion as to whether people's opinions are acceptable seems beside the point.

[Elquota]

Would you say "oooh no, maybe it sounds a bit Jewish?"

This happens all the time on these boards, as people often say a name is "too Biblical", i.e. its too Judaeo-Christian for their tastes.

No-one ever complains about that though. Will you do so next time?

[SeaWave]

At school and now I hardly no any of my friends middle names. so dont worry about being bullied etc, just use it if its a family name and you like it. Don't understand thefuss about middle names, you never say your full name. Even getting married in church just used first names

[Babel1111]

Oooh I enjoy lotties suggestion of Maria Cecilia! Less holy sounding, but still rolls off the tongue in the same way.

[sashh]

What's the problem having a name that's Catholic or Holy sounding?

It can be a problem if you don't want to be labelled and unfortunately in some parts of the UK it can help or hinder you in later life.

[Elquota]

As the OP has actually stated that she is catholic and was asking if the names sounded 'too holy', not too catholic, does that change your opinion?

Is it incorrect to assume that holiness to a Catholic might be mainly based on Catholicism?

I don't know who you were addressing, but if you read the thread, I wasn't among those saying the name was "too Catholic", I said it was "very Catholic".

If someone wants a name associated with Catholicism/holiness in a Catholic context then Maria Theresa is a wonderfully Catholic/holy combination. If they don't, then the level of religious connotation is going to be too high for their criteria. These are neutral observations with no judgement on the religion per se at all.

I have no particular views on Catholicism either way. I just come on these threads to try to help people find names they like!