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-Mae is just so overused and dull. Along with all the Evie-Mays and Ava-Mays and every other girl that has May. Merhat I have never heard of and not keen on.

Ivy is nice. Mae is an ugly spelling and overused. I’m not sure how to pronounce Merhat.

Agree, ditch the hyphen (and ideally the May/Mae/Mai) too. This will be a generation of Ella-Mays / Ivy-Maes / Evie-Maes etc.

Ivy Merhat would be my pick, too. Ivy is a classic and a strong first name. Merhat seems a bit too out there for a first name but I like it as a middle, and Ivy Merhat flows nicely.

Have to agree with everyone else.
I don't like hyphenated names, and I really don't like 'Mae'.

I've never heard the name Merhat.
I suspect she would be asked wherever she went all her life where it was from.
OTOH, Ivy has become very popular over the last 2 or 3 years, so that's at the other end of the scale in terms of how common it is going to be.

The -Mae is dreadful, lose that.
Also how is Merhat pronounced?
It's not a name I'm familiar with, and I'm sure it's not Mer Hat which is how I'm saying it in my head.

Don't like Merhat.
Ivy OK.
Esmae?

Just Ivy... on it's own

Mehrat-mae sounds terrible

It's been done to death - something-Mae. If Mae is a tribute to a relative I'd use it on its own, but if not I'd steer well clear!

Mae or May are not my choice for a second name.

Do you mean Mehrat?

Agree lose the -Mae whichever you choose.

Ivy is nice on it’s own

, I’m not familiar with Merhat - if it’s pronounced “Mer-at” it’s nice, but not keen if pronounced “Mer-hat”, and unfortunately if you’re in UK and it’s unfamiliar that’s what you’ll get

Ivy Merhat

Just Ivy is nice.

Anything -Mae is bloody awful.

I like Mirhat, but not hyphenated with anything.

💯 lose the hyphen. It sounds very reality TV or influencer. Merhat sounds like Meerkat.

Ivy is beautiful. As it is.

I'm sorry but you can't call a child Merhat.

Ivy - Mae Merhat would be nice. If you like Ivy - Mae as a hyphenated first name and then Merhat as a middle name to honour DH’s Gran.

Laughed out loud at this!

I'd lose the hyphen and just use Mae as a middle name.

Ivy and Merhat are very different names. Merhat will be seen as an ethnic name in the UK and she'll probably get questions about the meaning and pronunciation. That won't happen with Ivy. Whichever one you go for is up to you.

I agree move AWAY from the Mae.

I work in education. Practically four girls in every preschool and reception class are something-Mae at the moment. It’s done.

Whats your surname? Hopefully she won't be Merhat Mae Coat

I don't think hyphenation is a thing any more thank god.

I don't personally like any of those names but Merhat is awful and lends itself to many pisstakes.

Ivy may merhat surname. Not hyphenated.

Can then choose herself whether to disclose middle names and if asked could just say her middle name is May

While using family names is nice if that name is very unusual it can be the source of bullying at school and kids could do a lot with the name Merhat (lets face it, she would be called meercat) if it is a second middle name then it is her choice whether to tell people it or not disclose it. Definately dont make it her first name - no one will know how to pronounce it.

Also i have seen about 4 different spellings of merhat on this thread. People will constantly mispronounce her name and spell it wrong.

There hasn't been enough appreciation for this comment

I've never heard the name Merhat. I need the OP back to give a pronunciation lesson before I can decide. Ivy is lovely. If Merhat is said Merrat I rather like it. If it's mer-hat I'm less keen. Also not a fan of hyphenated names but respect the OPs right to choose that and if she wants one of her 2 options then my vote would be Ivy-Mae.

-Mae is not nice and I also dislike -Rae as a hyphenated add on. Noticed a few of those a few years ago for a while, must have been a trend.

Ivy is lovely
What about just May on its own?
Merhat will be spelled and pronounced wrongly all her life and doesn't roll off the tongue at all.