Martha or Emma?

[insanelycheerful]

Which of these do you prefer and why? I love both and am being (typically!) indecisive!

Martha.

It has more character and style.

Emma is classic and safe (and imo a bit boring)

Emma. Traditional and classy.
Martha is another of these dreadful try-too-hard granny chic names.

I've always loved Martha, I've never known an elderly one but I met a twenty-something one a few years ago and she was fab.

Emma is a classic, but very over-used a few years ago.

Emma

Martha

Martha.

Emma is a bit 1980's. It's nice but it's just safe old Emma.

Emma.

Martha always reminds me of hens, clucking, feathers, etc.

Martha always sounds like a servants name to me. A bit dowdy. Love Emma.

Emma is my all time favourite girl's name but I couldn't use it as I only had boys.

Martha is too granny chic for me.

Martha

Emma. Martha makes me think of The Handmaid's Tale

Martha just makes me think of the saying "Arthur or Martha" or however it goes. I prefer emma.

I say Martha but I am biased as I have one.
I also like Emma too.
I've had a few faces at it but it's a change from the plethora of Millie's/Molly's/Ellie's around here.

Martha, I'm tired of Emma.

Seems quite a split on here then!

I did wonder if people felt Emma too safe or plain....as have wondered myself. But I love the classic simplicity of it, and feel it's pretty without being frilly, and strong. There are many Emmas of my generation (mid thirties) but I don't know any babies or children with the name. I do know a baby and a child called Martha though. It seems Emma was overdone in the 70s/early 80s and then faded a little as Emily, Amelia etc came to the fore?

I do appreciate others may have negative associations with Martha (biblical/literary), but I don't have them myself so not sure that would put me off. As with Emma I do like that it's fairly simple but (to me anyway!) quite a strong name. And as someone commented above (sorry typing on my phone so can't scroll), there are so many Ellies, Millys and Tillys where we are, I quite like the idea of something different.

Will have to mull it over some more, but I do appreciate all comments in the meantime

I also still love Annabel/Annabelle, and think DH likes it but not sure he LOVES it, whereas it was DH who suggested Martha last night.....

Love Martha & Emma! I think Martha wins though!
Not keen on Annabel but love Anna.

Martha. It was my nan's name and is just lovely.

Martha was my grandmother's name too. Love it.

Emma - meh - humdrum.

Love both

I have thought of Martha myself but heading towards Ellen

I would prefer Emma slightly

Ooooo!

I'd have the same dilemma as you-I like them both equally.

I would go with what works best with your surname, and partners preference if I had to make the decision!

He also really likes both. Not sure of his preference yet. He likes to do his own thinking and then get back to me!

Martha would go better with our favoured middle name (Florence) as Emma would give the initials EFC which is a no-no as we (and much of family) are Liverpool fans! Not sure what middle name we'd go with if we couldn't use Florence (it has family significance as well as being a name we both really like).

He also really likes both. Not sure of his preference yet. He likes to do his own thinking and then get back to me!

Martha would go better with our favoured middle name (Florence) as Emma would give the initials EFC which is a no-no as we (and much of family) are Liverpool fans! Not sure what middle name we'd go with if we couldn't use Florence (it has family significance as well as being a name we both really like).

Emma.

Martha is marmite & frumpy sounding.

Martha. My name is Emma & I don't like it.

Argh! Think my reply just deleted!!

DH also really likes both. Not sure of his preference yet....He likes to do his thinking independently and then get back to me!

Martha would work better with our favoured middle name (Florence) as Emma would give the initials EFC, which is a no-no as we are both Liverpool fans (as are much of the family) Not sure what middle name we'd go with if we chose Emma as we both really like Florence and it has family significance.

Martha and Emma both work well with our surname, which is an unusual name itself and might offset the simplicity (or, for some, blandness!) of Emma, ie she wouldn't be Emma Smith.