India or Maria?

[Snoopy90]

Which do you prefer? India would probably be shortened to Indie.

Neither but in Indira a name? That's quite pretty!

India is a pretty name but I do think you need to be linked to the country in some way.

Indira was the Indian PM. Pronounced Indra though.

Maria is a fabulous name and proves the Mumsnet rule that you can’t go wrong with a Jane Austen baby name (although she’s a baddie IIRC).

I think India sound quite pretty however I'm not keen on the imperialist overtones it carries (showing age here!) Indie as the given name would bypass this.

Marie is OK.

India

Maria

Prefer Maria as classic and international. Agree with PPs India has a bit of a 90s fad vibe

Maria. Or Mariah, nickname Riah?

Maria is beautiful. Although overused in many countries, it is not here in the UK. Also like Marie.

Don't really like India much, feel it was a faddy name of a few years ago amongst trendy posh folk (didn't Princess Diana have an India as one of her bridesmaids?) Also agree with Horatio about possible imperialist overtones. And Indy/Indie is not attractive as a name, to me it describes a certain type of music, that's all.

Maria.

didn't Princess Diana have an India as one of her bridesmaids?

Yes, India Hicks.That was how the name came into Britain's consciousness, as it was unheard of before that other than in society columns. It was a traditional name for the Hicks women, to commemorate the days of the Raj when they owned half of India. So yes, fairly imperialist!

Why do people post on a message which is asking which name they prefer to only go and trash both names?!
That's not the point of OP message.

What does try hard actually mean?

Anyway like both but I'd say India personally and no you don't need have a connection to the country or tick every box mumsnet dictates.
Both lovely names, your daughter will be happy to be named either one. Ignore the judgy comments.

Defo India!
Although Maria is pretty sounding it feels a little dated to me. India NN Indy is adorable.

Definitely Maria! Classic and beautiful.