Ivy-Mae or Merhat-Mae

[Jillsampson]

Thinking of possible baby names with DH, which one do you prefer, Ivy-Mae or Merhat-Mae (Merhat is DH's gran's name)?

Ivy

I would just go with Ivy. Really not keen on Merhat, not 100% on pronunciation as never heard it before but can’t think of a way to say it that sounds nice to me.

suggest you don’t use hyphens? They don’t work well in the computer/digital age

Agreed. There are loads of -May or -Mae names around.

Merhat? Erm no.

Ivy is better, but not MAE. Just MAY. Ivy May.

What is Merhat?? Never heard of this for a girl's name at all and it doesn't sound or look very nice.

Ivy however is lovely. Agree the -Mae is so unnecessary but if you really do want it Ivy-Mae is quite nice actually. Although putting Mae or Merhat for a middle name if absolutely needed would be better than hyphenating.

Of what origin is Mirhat, please @Jillsampson ?

** Merhat not Mirhat

Hyphenated names lower perceived social standing. Sad but true. Don’t do it. If you want a longer name choose a proper one.

Glancing at Merhat I saw “meerkat” but I need my eyes testing …

Ivy is pretty.

Merhat-Mae? Is your surname Gandhi?

Ivy may

What they said ⬆️

Ivy Merhat.
No Mae.
Definitely no hyphen!

Is it Mirhat?

Either way, I would lose the hyphen.

The -May -Mae -Mai name thing is going to be really dated, like all the 90s babies called Stacy.
Half the kids in her class will be Ellie-May, Gracie-Mai, Alice-Mae.

I would go with Ivy or Merhat. Or have two middle names so Ivy Merhat May Smith.

Merhat is awful
Mae is awful

Hi sorry sounds like Meerkat Ivy is lovely

I second this. I spend half my life being asked if I want to know as Thick, Skinned or Thick-Skinned. As it is, I personally only use Thick, as even my parents don't use Thick-Skinned unless I've pissed them off. One thing I'm glad I didn't do with my own child is hyphenate and join in the tackiness. It was very uncommon in my youth and I don't know why it ever took off. Cringe when I hear a hyphenated name.

Merhat?

No..

Gosh, hyphenated names are so redneck American! Just no. All these names are nice on their own (even Merhat which is what, Arabic?)

I absolutely love Ivy

Should read as 'want to be known' not 'want to know'

Ivy Merhat.

Both lovely names, one beautiful but not overdone yet and one more unusual. I think it's going to be a good while until Mae as a middle name stops feeling overdone, there was a while where it felt like everyone was doing it. I'd almost prefer it as a first name because it's specifically as a hyphenated or middle name that everybody seemed to use it!

Am assuming Merhat could be a ethnic name, the only one I know is Sikh and it is a lovely name. Although it is spelt differently.

The choice is really yours. There is something lovely about connecting with a beloved family member if that is what you want as parents. I probably wouldn't hyphenated though.

I read Meerkat too.

How is Merhat pronounced? It looks Turkish or Arabic to me but I can’t find anything online. It would be lovely to have Ivy Merhat so you can honour the family member :) anything May/Mae/Mai especially with a hyphen involved is awful and cheapens a name imo