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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is this name too "out there"?

58 replies

GreatScot8 · 30/01/2017 06:21

The name Merritt, for a girl?

It has sentimental meaning to me as it will (indirectly) be after my late father. His name was not Merritt, but the name relates to his favourite place (and where his ashes were scattered).

OP posts:
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00100001 · 30/01/2017 06:26

Call your child whatever you want.

CheshireSplat · 30/01/2017 06:29

001 that's not really how the baby names threads work...

OP applying the "if there was a new girl at school" rule and I don't think it's too out there. I'd get used to it very quickly. I like it.

newroundhere · 30/01/2017 06:30

I like the sound of it but never heard of it as a girl's name before. I guess people may think it's "merit"? I guess there could be a lifetime ahead of spelling and correcting - "no, with two r's and two t's..."

But if it's meaningful for you then go for it Smile

witwootoodleoo · 30/01/2017 06:40

Tbh I think it would be a pain to have a name that has to be spelt out every time.

I bet she'll end up with the nn Merry though which is nice.

I like that it has meaning for you.

Wonderpants · 30/01/2017 06:45

I knew a Merrit, short for Meredith!

Veterinari · 30/01/2017 06:45

I know someone with the name Merritt. Elderly and male but def a name. I think it would quickly become her name

mumhum · 30/01/2017 06:46

Lovely name, definitely not too out there.

nooka · 30/01/2017 06:48

I live near a town called Merritt. It's a bit of a dive. My associations are therefore not good!

I think it's a pretty harsh name for a girl, even with surnames as first names being popular. It also has the risk that most people are likely to expect a Merritt to be male, plus it will pretty much always be misspelled. I'd think about using it as a middle name not a first name.

dalmatianmad · 30/01/2017 06:48

I think it's a really beautiful name! A lovely tribute to your dad too Smile

Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 30/01/2017 06:49

Wow, it's lovely and different but not out there different. Go for it!

Iris65 · 30/01/2017 06:50

I like Merrit.

BasinHaircut · 30/01/2017 06:53

I like it. Sounds American. I can imagine a girl in a 90210 type show being called Merritt

Motherfuckers · 30/01/2017 06:53

It's quite old fashioned, in a Malory Towers kind of way.

pinkieandperkie · 30/01/2017 06:53

I think it's a lovely name.

lazydog · 30/01/2017 06:53

Nooka beat me to it with the observation that it's the name of a place in Canada that's pretty grim, but if I didn't have that association I probably would think it was an ok name.

atheistmantis · 30/01/2017 07:05

I'd like it if it wasn't so close to the word Merit - at high school pupils get given merits.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 30/01/2017 07:13

I think she'll get very tired of the 'Merit Certificate' 'jokes'.

Maybe, as it's not your Dad's actual name, you can find an alternative name with as much meaning to you, that will be less hassle for her. I would.

Lovemylittlebear · 30/01/2017 07:15

It's lovely :)

squiggleirl · 30/01/2017 07:16

I'm not normally a fan of out there names, but that's a name I really like. When a name has meaning, I think most things are good. We all have a 'foreign' surname. We always have to spell our names. It's not really a problem, and certainly not anything our kids have even commented on, let alone complained about.

Marcipex · 30/01/2017 07:21

I rather like it. It's not so onerous to say ' two rs two tees'. Every Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn Ann/Anne Emilia/Amelia has to specify their spelling every time and they manage okay.

SmokyRobinson · 30/01/2017 07:22

It's very easy to get used to the name Merritt, even though I haven't heard it before. Sounds lovely.

Ohbuggermebugger · 30/01/2017 07:22

Love it! Never met anyone with this name before.

Marcipex · 30/01/2017 07:33

Would you use it for a boy op?

Original poster
GreatScot8 · 30/01/2017 07:45

Thanks for all the comments so far. Pleasantly surprised that many seem to like it or at least think it's fine. Smile

Wouldn't use it for a boy. If we have a boy, we'll use my dad's nickname (different to his real name, but a name he went by his entire life).

OP posts:
Pipilangstrumpf · 30/01/2017 07:48

I like it. Easy to pronounce and spell and nice sounding. And not already used by hundreds others. And it has special meaning to you. A perfect name!