It's complicated...

[sweetmelody]

So, the time has finally come for me to post in Baby Names (I'm 26 weeks pregnant with DD). Nervous, as conscious some of this info will out me, but none of my friends are expecting so should be nowhere near Baby Names!

This morning DH and I have finally landed on a name that we both like (maybe even love?!). DH is ultra laid back and doesn't understand any of my naming anxieties I am overthinking things apparently

DS is Hayden OIiver. I know, I know... I really loved Hayden, thought it was an old English name that wasn't often used (I wasn't around many children before he was born) and was gutted that in some quarters it was perceived as chavtastic and that it had been bastardised into Jayden, Caden, Brayden and the like. DH's first choice was Oliver and we compromised as he thought it perfect for him when he arrived. However, he is now more insistent that we both love DD's name and is keen on something more traditional.

The name is Martha. My dad lost his sister Pearl this year, and my maternal grandmother was also Pearl so, seems a good choice for a middle name that is a family name. I think Hayden and Martha go well together (apparently this being a consideration is overthinking things!). The problem is our surname. I've seen that it's not the done thing to reveal surnames on threads. Martha would share her name with a businesswoman in the US (good) who heads up a design empire (also good) but was famously done for insider trading and went to prison 10 years ago (not so good). DH insists that hardly anyone will make the connection?!!! He has lived with a famous name for half his life and is reminded of it daily but claims it's only a minor irritation (yeah right). Think Shakespearean actor who become famous after playing the captain of the Starship Enterprise. If I'm not outed now I'll never be

So, in those circumstances, what do we think of Martha (she will also have the same initials as me but I was laughed out of the room when I raised that as an issue!!)

I wouldn't be worried about it. Unless you're in the us then it might be more of an issue?

But otherwisw, I'm 40 and she barely registers on my radar. I've heard of her but I don't come across her everyday or even every year. Yiur dd's generation will be oblivious and who cares if her teachers commetn on it in passing?

Seriously, I'm with your dh, it's a total non issue and if you love the name, go for it!

and fwiw I think patrick stewart has much wider popular cultural penetration than MS!

The popular US felon isn't that well-known in the UK - I really think you'd be fine. It's a really nice name. And if your DH has survived Shakespearean Star Trek bloke unscathed, your DD will be fine.

Lovely name (also think of Hayden as classic) but Martha is v popular. The MS connection won't be an issue for her I think

possible alternatives
Phaedra
Mabel
Helen

I wouldn't. I'm in Australia and she's very well known here, so I think it's safe to say she's pretty well recognised internationally. Her name has pretty much become a noun in itself i.e "I'm not a Martha Stewart, but I don't think I'm a total slob either".

How about Oprah? Nigella? ;-)

Never heard of PAtrick Stewart btw, but recognised him when I googled.

Martha Stewart is not particularly well known in the UK is she? I'd not see that as a particularly big deal, especially as she is in her 70s so unlikely to be around when your dd is grown up.

I'd be more likely to think of the Dr Who companion. Personally I'd go for Nina from your shortlist, but Martha is fine (except that I'd not choose a name with the same first initial as someone else in the family, let alone all the initials the same).

Her buttermilk pancakes are fantastic. I wouldn't call my child her name but I may be in the minority as I live in Canada and she is BIG here too.

Would you name your child Jamie Oliver? Kate Middleton? Stephen Hawking? Peppa Pig?

I'd only heard about the tax evasion before I moved to North America, and only because I read political/economic papers and was interested. I had no idea she was so big, but then I'm sure that there are big names from the UK that are unheard of over here.

Love Martha, love Pearl, also a fan of Hayden Oliver. I like many of the names in your secondary list. However, I wouldn't use Martha with your last name. Here's why:

1. While Martha is in the top 100 in the uk, it far rarer in the US. The closest comparison I can think of is if my last name were Churchill and I was l looking for a boy's name that rolled off the tongue well with Churchill so I chose Winston. A lot of the world (USA, Canada, Australia) may only have heard the name Martha in reference to the famous one you speak of.

2. What surfsup says about her name about to be added to a dictionary with the definition of"perfectionist housekeeper" as in "I was feeling very Martha S. today so I spent 3 hours creating a centre piece for my three course dinner party and then another 2 hours decorating a cake to match the flower arrangement."

I wouldn't use Martha, as the felon is so well known. Pearl is gorgeous.
How about
Harriet Pearl
Gretel Pearl
Mabel Pearl

My sister's cat was Martha for 2 days before she changed her mind and renamed her Pearl!

If you like the name use it. Her generation are not going to be that aware of the other MS anyway. It's not like she was a mass murderer or something.

I think she's very well known. I would use her name in a sentence for example. "This cake is amazing! You could be the next &£%#> ¥$#%}~"

And there is merchandise. Cooking stuff and card making stuff and what have you.

Your daughter's name will be hers for life. Do you think people will still be thinking about Martha Stewart in ten years time?
My name was the same as someone famous and as a small child (I'm talking infants school here) I would get comments from my grandparents peers. They'd dropped off the radar by the time I'd reached junior school and it's only because of this thread that I've even remembered it.

I think she is too famous and what if dd wanted to work or study in the US.

I love that Nina is on your last, fantastic name and so underused, that would be my pick. Madeleine also lovely.

I agree Hayden and Jayden are completely different names.

Pearl's a singer, I believe. She stands up when she plays the piano. In a nightclub. Earl, on the other hand, is a winger.

I wouldn't but I'm American. :)

Do you think people will still be thinking about Martha Stewart in ten years time?
Well she was already very famous 10 years ago, so she may well still be very famous in 10 years time - I think she's just too famous regardless of the criminal thing. Just as I wouldn't call a child Delia if my surname was Smith, and I would say that MS is WAAAAY more famous than dear old Delia.

I had to google this famous Martha! what about Marta?

Martha is lovely. That Martha... I wouldn't, myself.

Go with Nina. Or Madeleine.