Merit

[TheBirdintheCave]

What does everyone think of the girl's name Merit? I floated it to my husband the other day and, surprisingly, he said he liked it.

It has a lot of uses in different cultures: it's ancient Egyptian (meaning 'beloved'), is a (sort of) virtue name in English and is a diminutive of Margaret in various European languages.

We have a girl's name chosen already (Hero) but twins run in my family so there's a chance we might end up with two 😂 Plus, names are fun 😅

Big brother to be is Gilbert.

Merry, Mary, Marie - good name options. Even Merida (as in the princess in Brave) would be better.

if your eldest I called Gilbert, does he get called Gill or Bertie?

Names ARE fun! I like both Hero and Gilbert. I'm not as convinced by Merit, for the connotations of worth as others mentioned. You name your children whatever you like though. I did 😊 Also, congratulations!

Oh Verity is a lovely name. Underused as well.

Haha this!

Why not just call them "gold" and "silver"

He's called Gil, Gilly or Gilby generally.

I wouldn't for the simple reason some people will pronounce it wrong ('merih, without the T) and it would drive me mad!

We love Verity but can't use it I'm afraid :(

Hera and Marguerite would be better.

I'm not keen on hero for a girl. It's a male word.

I knew a family who's surname was Meritt so I'm not as against that name, but if you like the meaning beloved, Carys / Cerys means the same.

I get why people wouldn't like Hero or Merit... but what's wrong with Gilbert? 🤔

My DC goes to school with a hero, it is nice actually I think when used on an actual child. But you can't have twins and call them hero (great amazing one) and merit (not quite a distinction). Poor merit is always going to feel like the shit one.

Hero will face a lifetime of people screeching Bonnie Tyler lyrics at her. Probably me, tbf. I apologise in advance.

No just no to hero and merit. They are no names. Give your child a name that won't be laughed at by recruiters etc when they are adults (former hr executive here)

Meredith and Hera?

Merit and Hero are an awful combination.

Do you know that a BTEC Merit is the equivalent of a grade c and that music exams are graded pass/merit/distinction ? So the Merit grade is good but not outstanding - imagine having that as a name. If her sister is called Hero which is an outstanding person then Merit is going to be a demotion in terms of meaning.

If your daughter isn't extrovert and brave then Hero is going to be a burden as a name.

Hera is a really nice name
Hero has sort of lost the shakespeareness in the age of superheroes, it feels like calling your child Pirate or Mermaid or Princess or another word to describe the theme of a six year olds birthday party

I actually knew a Merit. And grew to like the name. But she's Estonian and very confident and totally owned her name whilst (despite?) living amongst Brits. I really wouldn't if you have no cultural connection to the name, for the many reasons already outlined. And Hero, well it's really not to my taste but then neither is Gilbert.

I like Gilbert - reminds me of Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables

Not keen on Hero, definite no to Merit

I would expect a more old fashioned name keeping in with Gilbert

Hero is fantastic!

Shakespeare's brother was called Gilbert. I can't recall anything about Shakespeare's Hero, but in Marlowe's poem she's a doomed young lover described as being followed by clouds of bees everywhere as she's so sweetly-smelling. I agree Merrit/ Merett is a nice sound , but don't use Merit the everyday vocabulary word! How about Gilbert, Hero and Mercy? Or Imogen instead of Hero?

Hero and Merit are lovely names… for pet Guinea pigs. Sorry OP but please don’t.

How about Meredith?

I see Meredith as a boy's name, as nice as it sounds.

Meredith is definitely a girls name where I’m from OP. Merrick is a lovely boys name that has a similar vibe.

Merit is a brand of cigarettes to me. Just no.

Traditionally it's male in its origin language of Welsh :)