Help! Names too similar??

[Bertbear]

Due a baby girl in the next few weeks and I’m struggling to decide on a name. I’ve been considering Martha or Phoebe, however I have a George already and wonder if phoebe is too similar in spelling to George??

That doesn’t make any sense at all.

As you must surely know, I’m referring to the character in the bible and the references that derive from that (eg ‘she’s a bit of a Martha’ or the kitchen maids in Margaret Atwood’s book) rather than the etymology of the name.

The OP is asking for opinions, which is the point of a name forum. I wouldn’t want my daughter to have a name with such associations. That’s my personal opinion, it does not invalidate yours.

I truly have no issue with your opinion of the name. It’s simply that, as the parent of a Martha, I naturally tend to notice the Martha threads and I noticed that she’d be described as a ‘biblical kitchen drudge’ on each one. Then I started to notice the usernames and realised that this isn’t a widespread view; it’s you, posting the exact same phrase on every Martha thread. A thesaurus will give you some synonyms to try out a lovely new stock phrase.

I don’t need a new phrase, because it’s what I think, as I said before.

I think Martha is quite nice but can't shake off the New Testament association of a woman fussing over providing food

Ha, I’d noticed ‘biblical drudge’ too. Is it always the same person? How funny.

I’m self-conscious about saying this now as I know I’ve posted it on another Martha thread but I feel there’s a hefty dose of internalised misogyny in the dismissal of Martha. There are only 49 named women who speak in the Bible. Not only is she one of them but she speaks up for herself to Jesus actual Christ. She then in goes off and slays a dragon in a cool bit of apocrypha.

Anyway, sorry OP. Love both names.

Great names. Although I did think of whose afraid of Virginia Wolf. They're the names of the embittered couple

Oh and biblical Martha wasn't a drudge. She was venerated as a saint through her friendship with Jesus. I don't think we should be using the twisted perversion of the Bible by the murderous men of Gilead to condemn baby names

BiblicalDrudge would be an excellent MN name change.

Thanks everyone. Appreciate your views good and bad! I might wait to see what she looks like before deciding on which one to go with 😊

Phoebe is nothing like George 🤣

Well this is a new one on me I must say.

They sound nothing alike.