Maria if you're not religious?

[MustardYellowJumper]

What do you think?

We think the name Maria is lovely, and like many people we have plenty of relatives with Mary/Marie in their name who we'd like to recognise.

But is it a bit odd in a non-religious family? I'm not sure I'd call a girl Christine, for example, but there are obviously many saints' names I'd use.

I must say Mary/Maria are not what I’d call religious names (nor is Christine, either, for that matter). It wouldn’t occur to me to assume you were a Catholic.

It’s a lovely name.

Thanks, Weeping - I guess I was thinking of Christine/Christian based on people I know with those names. But no reason people with those names would necessarily be religious either of course!

I don’t think it’s an issue. I know a Marie who is an atheist.

I know 4 women called Maria, they are all Greek (and all married to men called Andrew) I have never thought about the name having a religious link.

I know a muslim Maria. It's a beautiful name.
I wouldn't expect a Christine's parents to be religious.

Some would - I’d think so more with Maria than Mary, but I don’t think it should stop you.

I wouldn’t get the religious link at all. Beautiful name.

It's a beautiful name and very underused

I lived in an Irish catholic area of Britain and I would think Mary as a very religious name.

I wouldn't ever hear Maria and think 'religious'.

I would assume both are RC names. I guess it depends on your cultural context.

It's completely fine for a non-religious family. And a very nice name indeed.

Very interesting split, but nice that most people like it!

There are quite a few Mary, Marie and Marias in my large Irish Catholic family. I don't think that gives us exclusive rights to these beautiful names.