If I day Mariah...do you think Carey?

[GoingMadder]

It was my great grandmother's name (spelt Maria) but is it usable?

@KnickerlessParsons Black Maria doesn't have an h.

@SofiaAmes , Mariana Trench. Marianna is even worse - Spring. The names are far too fussy.

Her's was spelt that way but pronounces like Carey's. I love the name Maria (pronounced like Sound of Music version) as well.
Love Mariana and Marina as well.

No weirdly I think of Uriah Heep. No idea why

I do think of Carey, but like others don’t see it in a tacky way like I would Kylie, Britney, Whitney.
I quite like the name Mariah, but would definitely spell it with the ‘h’ .

Maria used to be pronounced Mariah in the UK (eg Jane Austin), but it’s moved over to the general European pronunciation.

I would think M Carey OP, but her peers won’t and that’s what matters.

I do know a couple of Sophias (both young) who pronounce it Sah-fy-uh which is also the trad Brit pronunciation - they do have to correct it but don’t seem to mind, but it would seem a bit daft not to add the H to Maria to make it clear.

Yup, Carey then Pride and Prejudice. Neither are bad associations. Lovely name.

I would also think Jane Austen and Maria Lucas (pronounced Mariah, spelt Maria) first before Carey.

A black Mariah is also a hearse

Yes, I would. It's not a problem though, is it.

Of course. You don't hear anyone saying Maree Lloyd do you. And personally, I always pronounce Maria as Mariah in my head, although I know it's often pronounced Maree-a. I don't think it's a problem, just tell people how you want it said.

It's a very pretty name and I doubt the children she will grow up with will make the assumption, my daughter is called Elizabeth after her great grandmother and the amount of people that ask if I named her after the queen 😂

100% yes

It’s like being called Cher or Whitney or Beyoncé.

Britney, Kylie or Rihanna?

Lots of little girls were called Kylie back in the day. I have a colleague called Kylie and she styles it out.

I would think Carey. A lovely name but she might get quite a few people singing Mariah Carey songs to her during her life!

Yes

Sorry but yes, immediately...... it's in the same bracket for me as Britney, Kylie, Rihanna, Whitney et al

And please just spell Maria as Maria (Ma-Ree-ah) and Mariah as Mariah (Ma- Rye-ah)
Totally different pronunciations in modern day UK (maybe different if you are from somewhere else)

From the sound, I think of 18th/19th Century Jane Austen style genteel women in novels/films who always seem to be called “Ma - rye- ah” or “So - fye- ah”.

I suppose seeing Mariah written down, I’d think of Carey. You could go with traditional Maria and accept you’ll/she’ll need to correct the pronunciation or spelling sometimes? Perhaps not ideal but the Esme’s, Maya’s etc about at the moment probably have to do the same sometimes and they manage. It’s a pretty, classic name and nice that you’re honouring your G-GM.

No it's actually an old name , my Nan had several friends named Mariah . It's beautiful

It's soooo not!!

Yes and I think everyone always will when she's defrosted and rolled out for Christmas each year but it will only be the first time she meets people

Maria Bertram in Mansfield Park was my first thought.

My lovely Great Auntie Elsie's middle name was Maria, pronounced Mariah, so it has really good associations for me. I've never come across another one with that spelling and pronunciation.

40+ years ago — long before Mariah Carey — I met a very nice lady who named her daughter Mariah.
There was a song on the radio called “They Call the Wind Mariah,” and everybody thought the song and the lady were ridiculous. Except me.
The little girl was adorable and the name fit her and you should name your child whatever the hell you want.