Thoughts on Martha Lily

[SmeleanorSmellstrop]

My latest favourite!

Should add Martha: first name, Lily: middle name. Not a double barrelled first

I've never been keen on Martha, sorry - it just feels dowdy to me. Have you considered the similar Mara? I always think that has a lovely, exotic sound. I like Lily though, it's very pretty imo despite its current popularity.

I love it

I love it 🥰 I've always thought Martha was underrated and it goes nice with Lily

I want to like Martha, but I'm never quite sure... Maybe it's because of the Handmaid's Tale. That said, it's perfectly nice, and it suits lots of people.

But I think I would always pick Maria over Martha.

I like floral middle names, though.

While I don't love Martha I do think it's a good strong name and the combo of Martha Lily works very well.

I really love this combination

Martha in particular is one of my favourite names

It’s nice. I know a Martha Lucy which I always thought was lovely.

Love that combination. Martha isn’t my personal style but still a gorgeous name and lily goes well as a middle name 💞

Lovely! I love Martha and Lily makes a lovely middle name to go with it.

Love Martha .

I am not at keen on Martha - she is such a dreary drudge in the Bible

And I don’t like Lily either, think it’s wet, and also unfortunate if she turns out a solid build...

Maybe Iris Mary....?!

My great grandmother was a Martha and her eldest daughter (my nan's sister) was called Lily!

So it's a thumbs up from me!

Another one who thinks Martha is very dowdy here. I know a few young Marthas - lovely children, all of them - and I always think it's such a shame that they've been lumbered with a scullery maid-esque name.

I love the name Martha, it’s DC2’s name so I’m biased! She is the happiest most content of all my children so far!

Lily is gorgeous. I can't be doing with Martha, I find it very dreary (sorry)

Martha is a beautiful name. I would have used it if I'd had the chance.

I don't see it as dreary or dowdy at all. Especially when it is being used for lots of bright young things. How odd.

Love it

It’s nice as long as you don’t live somewhere it’ll be pronounced mar-fa

Unfortunately it is literally used in the Handmaids tale to refer to a social class of barren women doing domestic jobs so it conjures up really awful conditions for me. It has dowdy connotations because of the biblical Martha.

I much prefer Miriam?

@RMRM

Martha is a beautiful name. I would have used it if I'd had the chance.

I don't see it as dreary or dowdy at all. Especially when it is being used for lots of bright young things. How odd.

It’s not an odd association, the biblical Martha is a kitchen drudge, which is why it’s used for the domestic skivvies in the Handmaid’s Tale.

My friend called her daughter Martha twenty years ago. I’ve never liked it. It’s always seemed a frumpy, old fashioned name (obviously I’ve never told them!)

@Brighterthansunflowers

It’s nice as long as you don’t live somewhere it’ll be pronounced mar-fa

Same

Ah well, I've never paid any mind to the Bible, so that's why I didn't know!

And it's been such a long time since I read the Handmaid's Tale, I'd forgotten that too.

Still think it's a gorgeous name.

I am not at keen on Martha - she is such a dreary drudge in the Bible

But in MN-land, doesn't that conversely mean that Mary would be considered a Disney Mum?

I love the name Martha, but IMHO, Lily has become a bit too ubiquitous of late. I know it's a middle name and not a double-barrelled first name, but I still think that, on the occasions when all the names are said, the two names next to each other sound a bit too frivolous and sing-songy. I'd personally go for a one or three-syllable (with emphasis on the middle syllable e.g. Rebecca) name to contrast nicely with and define Martha in a pleasant-sounding way. And I'd say not one starting with a vowel - it's one of my pet hates when two names together invite a horrible fake 'R' in between, e.g. Selena RAlice or Lisa RAnderson.