Iris, Marnie or Genevieve

[Iliterallycantthinkofanythingq]

Our final 3.

Love them all equally, but have tiny concerns about each. Please listen to me being neurotic and tell me which concerns are reasonable and which are ridiculous and should be ignored!

Marnie
Pros:

• my favourite name since childhood, due to appearing in one of my favourite books
• I just think it's lovely! Vintage-y but a little bit different
• DHs beloved grandmother's name, so it would mean a lot to him

Cons:

• apparently there is a reality TV star with this name. Does this make it naff? Will everyone think I named my daughter after a reality TV star? Would this even matter?
• Other concerns I've seen on naming boards are that it sounds like 'mardy' and it rhymes with 'sarnie'. (My hometown in the UK is not one where 'mardy' is common slang - I've never heard it before! And although 'sarnie' is used I can't really get that upset about it. Also DH and I live abroad where neither word has any meaning and the name works nicely in the language.

Iris
Pros:

• the name of a family member of mine who died when she was very young. I always thought that if I had a daughter, I'd like to name her this to honour her.
• I just think the sound of this is absolutely beautiful, and a lovely meaning too

Cons:

• part of me thinks that naming a daughter after someone who died so young is a little morbid and I am not sure if it might just make me feel sad. Maybe it would be better as a middle name for this reason.

Genevieve
Pros:

• I think this is gorgeous and classy when used as a full name

Cons:

• my opinions on the nickname options vary from 'yeah that's alright' (Vivi, Eve) to 'yuck I hate it' (Jenny).

So there you have it. What do you think?

Iris

I would choose Marnie Iris. Marnie makes me think of the same books and I have no ideal who the reality star is! It’s a lovely name.

I love Marnie! I'ts my niece's name and my sister had nothing but compliments about it.

I wouldn't let a reality show contestant put you off - she will only be known to people who watch the programme and will rapidly be forgotten.

The Alfred Hitchcock film or the singer Marni Nixon (showing my age!) are far more pleasant associations.

Marnie is beautiful - I know a lovely little Marnie

A daughter of a very cool, sassy, literary, charming, gentle and dynamic woman I know is called Marnie. The Marnie is also a very cool girl! (With siblings with equally lovely names). Go for it!

I adore When Marnie was There! That's got to be the book, right? The Ghibli film of it is lovely too.

Definitely Marnie!

Not keen on Iris - a bit old lady.
Marnie - no
Genevieve - not keen. Seems to tie in with the trend for Eve, Eva, Ava names.
Of the 3, Iris.

Love Marnie. Often suggest it on baby name threads.
Like Genevieve
Not sure on Iris

I love all your choices. I'm warming to Marnie after recently meeting a really lovely one. It's a cool name, not too popular, easy to pronounce and spell. I'm into name meanings and the meaning of it is beautiful.
Marnie Iris has a good ring to it.

Genevieve - lovely and I don't really see what's yuck about Jenny . But your baby etc. There's no reason she would have to be Jenny. I think Ginny is another possibility. Don't know how you feel about that.

Iris is ok, but not my favourite flower name. It has a bit of a harsh sound to me.

Marnie I don't like. I'd put it in the Molly / Maisy / Macey / Mandy camp. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, but I don't like those names. They seem to be lacking in something and maybe a bit too nickname-y sounding...? I also know a really unpleasant woman named Marnie. So she has put me off it somewhat.

I loved the book 'when Marnie was there' when I was a kid and consequently love the name. Love Iris too.

Not so much Genevieve - it's a bit of a mouthful. How would it shorten?

I love that book too!

I think it's pretty clear you should call her Marnie. It's your favourite name and it would honour a much loved grandmother. No brainer!

Go with Marnie Iris

Genevieve I only like pronounced the French way.

I loathe Iris.

Marnie, whilst I wouldn’t use it myself, I like the most of the three.

I would choose Iris, it's such a beautiful name. I like Marnie and Genevieve but they aren't quite as lovely in my opinion. And I don't personally think the back story for the name is too morbid although if it makes you sad that's obviously a problem...

Definitely Marnie - When Marnie Was There is beautiful - film and book.

I agree that Iris is lovely but perhaps a bit morbid. I actually had the very same reasons for not choosing it myself! My grandma’s sister died aged 2 and I just couldn’t.

Marnie again we almost chose too. Lovely Gibli film with a Marnie - love the homage to the sea as it’s traditionally also short for Marina. Beautiful.

Not sure on Genevieve. Bit fussy for me.

Is Marnie short for something? Maybe give your dd the long version so she has options when she grows up?

Google says it comes from Marnina. From that your dd could choose Marnie or Nina if she wanted a more sophisticated name.

Marnie by far the nicest

In the book Marnie is short for Marianna, both girls have the same name but one is Marnie and the other is Anna.

My vote is Marnie Iris! Gorgeous name

'When Marnie Was There' .... Favourite childhood book and love the name!

The Alfred Hitchcock film or the singer Marni Nixon (showing my age!) are far more pleasant associations.

Have you seen the film? decidedly unpleasant association IMO.

But an old film isn't really enough reason to be put off it.

Marianna MN Marnie would give the child more flexibility in due course if she didn't like Marnie.

In the book Marnie is short for Marianna, both girls have the same name but one is Marnie and the other is Anna.

Anna is approximately 50,000 times nicer than Marnie. I'd go with that.