Maria Theresa

[chickenfactory]

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

[nooka]

I went to a catholic school which mainly drew from an Irish area, and i agree with many others that that is a very Catholic combination.

I actually really like Maria but I'd opt for something less traditional as a middle name

[AlanMoore]

I love Maria (was my first choice for dd) and you can't go wrong with it IMO. Maria Elizabeth is nice...I do like Theresa though!

[HahaHarrie]

So an overtly Catholic name is something to which to be wary?

Good luck with your baby naming OP. Both names are lovely.

[burberryqueen]

I knew a girl called this and everyone called her 'Maytree' if that is interesting?

[Scarletbanner]

Hapsburg Empress for me too. It also reminds me of M-T Street which is the main shopping street in Innsbruck (and probably lots of Central European cities).

I really like Maria Louisa (which can also become Marisa) and Maria Catherine.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I did wonder that Harrie. There is a touch of "ooh no too Catholic" on here.

[HesterShaw]

I agree partly - we have no idea if the OP is a Catholic or not, so therefore assuming she wouldn't want to name her child because it's a Catholic name is a little bit off.

However, if she ISN'T Catholic and ISN'T aware that's a very Catholic name then she MIGHT want to avoid it.

[HesterShaw]

However like I and a couple of others have said the name sounds to our ears mainly like the name of an eighteenth century Empress, and therefore may be a little "weighty" for a little baby :)

[mikkii]

My husband has a cousin called Maria, then for middle name Del Mar meaning of the sea in Spanish

[AntoinetteCosway]

I taught a Catholic Austrian girl called Marie Therese. It got shortened to Marie quite a lot. Lovely name :)

[AntoinetteCosway]

I also knew a German family who had several daughters and they were all called Marie Something, but went by the Something.

[RubyOnRails]

Why is everybody so worried about sounding catholic?? Would you say "oooh no, maybe it sounds a bit Jewish?"

Last bastion of prejudice in this country.

[OryxCrake]

Maria Theresa is pretty - and shortens straight away in my mind as Mattie. Personally prefer Teresa to Theresa...

[OryxCrake]

to Mattie

[AnnoyedAtWork]

Love it

My grandma's best friend was called this she was a very warm and elegant lady

[kelda]

Maria Theresa is lovely.

Maïté is the Spanish nickname.

[agendabender]

I really like it, but I am an Irish Catholic. I have an aunt called "Marie Louise" and she uses the whole thing, but it's pronounced "Marry-Louise." I always think it's quite pretty.

[Floralnomad]

Maria Grace

[HesterShaw]

To qualify my statement above, there was nothing remotely anti Catholic about it. Apologies if it looked it was.

[fanjodisfunction]

Maria Emily, that was my first thought.

Are there no family names or meanings that you would like to find a name to give as a middle name.

I do think Maria Theresa sounds like a nuns name, I guess it doesn't really matter in the whole scheme of things.
Is there a reason why you chose Theresa?

[chickenfactory]

I like emily actually, forgot it was one if my options for a first name.
Theresa is a name of both sides of the family but neither person is bothered if we use it, they don't really like it themselves. Hence the question if we lumber her with the same!
We are catholic if that makes a difference.

[ZZZenagain]

Theresa is just the middle name. She'd be Maria to everyone. I like it.

[Eastpoint]

What about Maria Scarlett? Is there a non-traditional name you like? Do either of you have any different cultural reference points you can pull in? Eg if any Spanish Ines, Gwenyth & Wales, Danish Astrid

What about Maria Maude?

[sashh]

Makes me think of a nun, sorry.

[kelda]

Nothing wrong with being reminded of a nun.

Maria is typically a Catholic name, with a strong traditional in Spanish speaking countries, the Low countries and Ireland etc.

My dd1 has Maria as a second name.
I know loads of people with Maria in their name -
Maria-Sophia
Marie-Louisa
Anna-Marie
Maria-Elena
Rose-Maria (Rosemie as a nickname)

Mia /Mieke are traditional nicknames.