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Original poster

Maria?

39 replies

Loliee · 31/12/2025 00:37

DH and I are expecting our first daughter. We have a shortlist of names but most of them aren’t names we both love. The only name we both like is Maria, but when DH mentioned it to MIL as being on our shortlist she said it was very old fashioned. We have Italian and English family so the name needs to work well in both languages.
We also have
Sofia
Anna
Elena
Emma

On our shortlist but they all have some sort of caveat. Thoughts?

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OSTMusTisNT · 31/12/2025 00:40

It's an ok name but Blondie and Tia Maria would put me off.

I love Anna and Emma though.

ISeeYouHere · 31/12/2025 00:42

It’s very pretty and classic, I like it!

nellietheoliphant · 31/12/2025 00:43

I adore the name Maria. My number one name for a girl. I had a boy. I know three Maria's and asked them all of they liked their name, two said yes I love it, and the other said it's the only thing she's grateful her parents gave to her.

awrbc81 · 31/12/2025 00:46

I think Maria is lovely, it’s timeless so not likely to become dated.

However I do prefer all the other names on your list

AliceMcK · 31/12/2025 00:48

Would definitely fit both nationalities. I don’t think old fashioned is or should be a thing these days, lots of people use names used 100 years ago.

personally for me it’s a no, but only because I have a name association with the name I couldn’t shake. Before then I’d have said it’s a lovely name.

Groberts · 31/12/2025 01:26

I like it but prefer Marianne. Not sure if that fits with your Italian heritage then. But I know of a couple of recent Maria’s. I don’t find it dated.

Pettenell · 31/12/2025 02:15

I prefer all the other names on your list over Maria. Anna and Sofia are my favourites.

miniaturepixieonacid · 31/12/2025 02:40

I think it's pretty and classic.

I've taught quite a few children called Maria but they've all been Spanish. Never met a British child with the name. That wouldn't put me off at all though. It's clearly a well known name, nobody's going to to struggle to recognise, say or spell it.

Pranksters · 31/12/2025 04:55

I think, stop mentioning names to your MIL or anyone else.

TheSandgroper · 31/12/2025 05:43

Feckin’ MIL. Ignore the wumman. She’s had her turn.

Cando6 · 31/12/2025 06:29

Lovely name. Also love Marianne.

Moreteaandchocolate · 31/12/2025 07:17

My initial reaction is that I find it a bit dated but it would grow on me quickly if I knew a little one with the name and I’m sure it would be the same for your MIL. I love all the other names on your list.

PersephoneParlormaid · 31/12/2025 07:18

Prefer Sofia. And don’t discuss names with anyone.

JillyGiraffe · 31/12/2025 09:13

I think Maria is a lovely name! Sounds much fresher than Anna and Emma to me. Also like Sofia.

garlictwist · 31/12/2025 09:16

It’s nice. Quite catholic but that’s not an issue.

Lyonesse2020 · 31/12/2025 09:17

Definitely classic rather than old-fashioned. And has the benefit that it's quite uncommon now but everyone will still know how to spell it, which I think is helpful.

Denim4ever · 31/12/2025 09:18

I like Maria in both the trad and the Mariah pronunciation.

Re Elena - friends of ours have a daughter with this name and pronounce it like Eleanor with a na at the end El in na rather than El lay na

CeciliaC · 31/12/2025 09:19

I think it is a gorgeous name for a woman who is around my mums age (47), I think all of the Maria’s are still too young for the name to make a comeback.

Maybe in 30 years

BoleynMemories13 · 31/12/2025 09:53

It's still firmly in the top 100, used by many many Catholic families year upon year. I'm in a very multicultural area so I know of a few young girls called Maria. The ones I know have Romanian or Spanish heritage, but it works perfectly well to reflect Italian heritage too.

All the names on your list would work to reflect heritage. My personal favourite is Emma, followed by Anna and Maria. I understand why you would choose the Sofia spelling, but personally I much prefer Sophia (it's softer). Elena is not for me as it comes with pronunciation issues (people will say a mixture of Eh-lay-na, Eh-lah-na or Eh-lee-na when they see it written down).

Lins77 · 31/12/2025 09:55

I like it, but inevitably get a Blondie earworm.

I love Marianne.

BodenOrBodum · 31/12/2025 09:58

I'm partial, as my sister's name is Maria and dd's middle name too. Love it, much nicer than
Sofia
Anna
Emma

Kind of like Elena too.

BoleynMemories13 · 31/12/2025 10:00

CeciliaC · 31/12/2025 09:19

I think it is a gorgeous name for a woman who is around my mums age (47), I think all of the Maria’s are still too young for the name to make a comeback.

Maybe in 30 years

It never really went away, but the 'comeback' you claim it's too early for is already well on the way, reflecting the multicultural society we now live in.

It's probably area dependant, but for people who live in areas with large Romanian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish etc communities it wouldn't feel unusual at all to come across a young Maria.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#maria

Baby name explorer

https://names.darkgreener.com/#maria

deeahgwitch · 31/12/2025 10:04

I prefer Mariel or Marielle.

Marcipix · 31/12/2025 10:05

I think it’s too dated, but fine as a middle name.
Sophia Maria
Elena Maria

Bananalanacake · 31/12/2025 10:07

I love it.