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You really can't have a Mary and a Joseph, can you?

23 replies

SantanaLopez · 13/10/2013 12:39

They are DH's favourite two names of all time.

His argument is that they won't always be introduced as Mary and Joseph, and that it's a perfectly normal set of names (Irish Catholic).

I'm not convinced!

OP posts:
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Hassled · 13/10/2013 12:42

They will always be introduced as Mary and Joseph though, won't they? "These are my children, Mary and Joseph". Even if you say "These are my children, Joe and Mary" people are still going to think "bible". But if you're Catholic, does that actually matter?

Bowlersarm · 13/10/2013 12:44

I think it's more marked if you only have the two children. If you have more than two the Joseph and Mary combination will be diluted, especially if Joseph becomes Joe.

SirChenjin · 13/10/2013 12:46

No, you really can't Grin

How about Mari and Joe?

dyslexicdespot · 13/10/2013 12:47

They will have to endure all sorts of incest jokes- I doubt that they will thank you for it!

SantanaLopez · 13/10/2013 12:50

I think Joey is lovely. I like that.

We already have a DD not called Mary, this is just premature hypothetical naming!

I don't like the thought of incest jokes Shock

OP posts:
flaquark · 13/10/2013 13:10

I would do it. Especially if you already have another DD not called Mary. Plus DC3 might not be a girl.

I like Joe/Joey as a name

DP has cousins called Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Most people dont even relis straight away. It is funny though.

Minty82 · 13/10/2013 13:12

Hahaha, no! You just can't...

wigglesrock · 13/10/2013 13:26

My mum and her brother are a Mary & Joe. But there's another 5 of them to dilute it. I had never thought about it until you said it Smile . I do know a Joe who married a Mary Smile

Layl77 · 13/10/2013 13:46

Haha no ypu can't!

BikeRunSki · 13/10/2013 13:58

No you can't. In the same way I couldn't have Adam (dh) and Eve ( was a possibility for dd).

Alexandrite · 13/10/2013 14:39

Reminds me of the Royle Family. "I'm Mary and this is Joseph, but we've got Cheryl not Jesus."

IHaveA · 13/10/2013 14:48

I knew a couple called Mary and Joseph and the biblical connection was commented on a lot.

Would your DH consider a similar name such as Jordan, Jacob or Joshua?

MoominsYonisAreScary · 13/10/2013 14:49

Dps grandparents had a mary and a joseph

TidyDancer · 13/10/2013 15:04

Alexandrite - that's exactly what I was thinking!

OP, you really really can't do this!

boardingschoolbaby · 13/10/2013 15:06

My friend is joe (Joseph) with a big sister Mary. What we actually joke about is how on earth his parents then decided on Bob for number 3!

cartoad · 13/10/2013 15:16

Just because they're your dh's favourite names... What do you think of them? What are your favourite names - how do they work with joey or Mary? Could you let him have one of them but come up with something different for the other name?

Must admit I would be adamantly against having a Mary and Joseph in the same way I'd be about having any well known or common pairing of names (ronnie and reggie, Ben and Holly, Kate and poppa, William and Harry etc) regardless of how much I liked the names individually. It would just feel like I was doing it because of them even if I wasn't.

I think joseph's quite nice although very common around here. And although mary's not common around here, it still sounds very dated; I don't think it's quite time for it's revival yet - so if you used it now you'd be well ahead of the curve!

(and speaking of pairs of names, I do know a Noah and nelly that are bother and sister which always makes me Grin)

Alexandrite · 13/10/2013 18:36

I love the name Mary. There are a couple at our local high school. (Not catholic) But not with Joseph.

Tea1Sugar · 13/10/2013 19:41

Marie and Joseph Grin

Mim78 · 14/10/2013 14:53

Can't do it.

How about Miriam which is the Hebrew version, so the "real" name of Mary?

Or Mariam, the Arab version?

SantanaLopez · 14/10/2013 15:27

We used my favourite for DD so it's only fair he would get a bigger say if there was a next time!

I can't believe I didn't remember the Royle Family!

OP posts:
NewBlueShoesToo · 14/10/2013 16:02

No you can't.
But you could name the fish, rabbits or any other pair of pets Mary and Joseph.

ThePigOfHappiness · 14/10/2013 16:04

I know twins called Mary and Joseph. As kids we ripped the piss constantly. I wouldn't if I were you

RoadToTuapeka · 15/10/2013 03:05

No, don't do it, for all the reasons others have posted.

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