Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Mary-Kate

25 replies

bkay19 · 02/12/2015 15:39

Can I get some opinions on the name? I did grow up in the Olsen twin era but I feel like they really aren't in the limelight anymore, especially not for the new generation, so the "and Ashley" thing doesn't really bother me but DH said for anyone older, they will always hear "and Ashley"..thoughts?? I adore the name Kate and would use it by itself but I think Mary-Kate just makes it a little different (and I usually really dislike double barrel names

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Louise0701 · 02/12/2015 15:43

I do think of Mary-Kate and Ashley but, like you say, they are rarely heard of nowadays so chances are your daughter will never know them. I say go for it.
If you check my thread, I'm having a similar problem- We want to call our twins boys Billy & Teddy but are reminded of the film Bill & Ted haha

DPotter · 02/12/2015 15:46

It is a pleasant name - if that's not damning it with faint praise.

However I'm older than the Olsen era and I thought 'and Ashley' and one or other of them was in the paper yesterday for something or nothing, so they are still around.
Even if you don't get the Olsen link, it is a very American thing. I'm of the 'Walton's' era so with double barrelled names I always think Jim-Bob, Mary Ellen etc

Havalina1 · 02/12/2015 15:55

It's lovely.

My daughter is Mary Sara, I'm biased Grin

NadiaWadia · 02/12/2015 16:06

It's nice and rather than the Olsens, the first thing I think of is this children's book:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0571206603?keywords=meet%20mary%20kate&qid=1449072158&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2

which is definitely not American. You notice that this version doesn't have the hyphen, but you still say the names together, so you don't have to hyphenate it to get that result. (Not a fan of hyphens).

Original poster
bkay19 · 02/12/2015 18:01

Louise0701 Billy and Teddy are great names! I've actually never even heard of that movie. Go for it as William and Edward are fab names for when they're a bit older also :)

DPotter I know what you are saying about it being an "American" thing which is what puts DH off a bit. We both really dislike the -Mae -Rose trend that is going on but for whatever reasons Mary-Kate just feels a bit different.

Havalina1 so is it not hyphenated? Does she always go by the full name or just Mary?

NadiaWadia my friend mentioned that book also and I agree perhaps we don't need to use the hyphen :)

OP posts:
Donge13 · 02/12/2015 18:44

It is lovely

Louise0701 · 02/12/2015 22:10

Thank you :) Billy, Teddy and Mary-Kate it is ;) :D ️xxx

stopitcaroline · 03/12/2015 02:17

I've always liked Mary Kate, without the hyphen. It sounds very Catholic to me, and I'm not Catholic so I wouldn't use it, but it's very pretty. I think, though, that I'd prefer Mary Katherine nn Mary Kate.

I don't think of Mary Kate and Ashley exclusively. I know other Mary Kate/Cates. But then again, I am American. I know the -Rose -Mae trend is considered tacky in the UK, but Mary Kate feels very traditional to me and thus not tacky at all.

NotMoreFootball · 03/12/2015 02:56

I thinks it's lovely, I live in the Southern United States so have met several Mary-Kate's and Mary-Katherine's and always think it's so pretty.
I also know a Mary-Alice which I love too!

squoosh · 03/12/2015 12:49

Sounds very Catholic to me too.

SoWhite · 03/12/2015 13:40

Olsen. I cannot separate it from Ashley.

BettyBi0 · 03/12/2015 13:42

I think it sounds a bit Waltons sorry

Bubbletree4 · 03/12/2015 13:51

I like it.
But I do think Olsen and it does sound American to me. Those aren't bad things though, so I'd use it.

Scarydinosaurs · 03/12/2015 13:58

I don't associate it with the Olsen twins.

Hersetta427 · 04/12/2015 15:47

Too twee and too American for me, but to be honest all hyphenated names make my teeth itch.

CharmingChampignon · 05/12/2015 17:59

I loved the books as a child 'Mary Kate and the School Bus' etc - I think it's lovely without the hyphen.

mydogeatsnutstoo · 06/12/2015 12:16

I like Mary and I like Kate but really not a fan of double barrelled names - it detracts from the beauty of each name. I would choose one of them and maybe give a longer middle name.

Original poster
bkay19 · 09/12/2015 13:25

thanks for the input everyone :) definitely given us something to think about

OP posts:
Thetruthfairy · 09/12/2015 17:25

Could you call her Mary Katherine and use Mary-Kate as her 'pet name/nn' at home? I think Mary is a lovely name x

manicinsomniac · 09/12/2015 22:57

I like it but do automatically think Olsen.

Hyphenated names but have been an American thing once but they're a very British thing now. Almost no double barrels in the US stats but loads in ours.

Burgatroyd · 10/12/2015 16:28

I like it!

Original poster
bkay19 · 11/12/2015 16:01

DH is pretty set on going for Mary Katherine, having Mary-Kate as a nn but I am still not 100% convinced! I think I prefer Mary-Kate as it is... further discussions to be had I think.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 13/12/2015 18:12

First thought is Ashley, second is it sounds like a nun.
It is a nice name though.

spring1bee · 18/12/2015 00:33

love it. Yes "Ashley" did spring to mind but your DD won't even know who she is! Lovely name

CherryPits · 18/12/2015 02:11

i also prefer Mary Katherine, or even Marie Clare or Marie Louise. I like the Frenchness of the last two.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page