Margaret?

[HereThereMer]

I love Margaret (and it's a name that DH and I agree on), but my parents and in-laws are not so keen. It's been called old-fashioned, ugly, frumpy. Margaret Thatcher has been mentioned. My mum has even said that she will hate her name once she's a teen. Whilst I recognise that this is a possibility, it doesn't dissuade me. My opinion is that most, if not all, people have disliked their own name and wished that their parents had called them a different name at some point. There are all sorts of reasons that people hate their name (too common, too unusual, too long, too short, too old-fashioned, too modern, too hard to spell, too hard to pronounce). It is not certain that our child will like any name (even if not Margaret) that we have chosen in the future. Am I wrong? Thoughts?

I hate it. I will never forgive my parents for landing me with such an ugly name.

Greta, Rita, Margery, Marjorie, Margarita, Marguerite, Margie, Margot, Meggy/ie ...

Long overdue a revival. The memory of Mrs T must now be fading, given that she ceased to be Prime Minister in 1990. 36 years ago, people! 😱

It's a horrible name. I can't see a teen thank you for calling her it

I think it’s a beautiful name, with so many options for shortening, if desired.; Meg, Daisy, Pearl, Margie etc

Margaret Thatcher will never be forgotten. Both by those who revere her and those like me who hated almost everything she did as a political leader.

Don't saddle a daughter with the inevitable comments that will happen if given that name.

Hard no from me, its an old lady name, not yet in the dead old lady phase.

Margaret has been a popular and well-used name for hundreds and hundreds of years before Mrs Thatcher was a twinkle in her parents' eyes. In a decade or two, hard as it may be to imagine now, Mrs T will be a footnote in history. The longer lasting association for many at the moment will be Princess Margaret, thanks to The Crown.

It’s a lovely name with loads of options for nicknames. Much nicer than Margot. I think it’s overdue for a renaissance given all the vintage names little children have now. If you like it, stick with it.

I like it and love one of the shortened forms - Meg. But I have a similar vibe middle name - Elizabeth - which I hate, so I have some sympathy for those who find it over long and old fashioned. Inevitably it will also be divisive in the UK for probably a few more decades (and I say that as someone broadly on the right of politics), you can’t avoid the association.

That said, the main problem here is you’ve discussed it in advance. A baby owns their name once they’re here so I’m sure that any negatives from relatives would disappear quickly once she’s here - particularly if you choose a lovely nickname.

It's my DD's middle name. It's a family name that I was set on using and I would happily have used it as her first name but DH wasn't keen. It is pretty, classy and there are lots of lovely nickname options.

My ex-miner grandfather would turn in his grave if I called my daughter Margaret. It would be a complete betrayal of him, of everything taught me, of everything he ever stood for & everything he represented. He was a good man.

It’s not a pretty name at all! It’s old and harsh.
I would have HATED being called it when i was a child and a teen.

I think it fits nicely with all the names new babies have been called over the last 5 - 10 years.
Most baby names now are what I would call "old people names" .... Reggie, Stanley, Alfie, Edith, Anna, Dottie/ Dorothy, Isobel / Bella, I've even hear of an Ernie and a Kenny recently.

Margaret is particularly good as there are so many different shortenings that come naturally from it.

My teenage Margaret likes her name. Has had Peggy from good school friends. We call her Daisy and therefore most people who have known her from a baby also call her Daisy but she introduces herself as Margaret so school, sports clubs etc all know her as Margaret. She hates Meg.

I like it. I think asking parents and in laws is a bad idea, because it's hard enough agreeing as a couple let alone taking votes from others. Just pick together with your husband and tell everyone when the baby arrives:)

I love Margaret and as the granddaughter of a miner who loved the name. Margaret Thatcher doesn’t even register.

I personally don’t love it. But there’s nothing wrong with it!

My opinion is that most, if not all, people have disliked their own name and wished that their parents had called them a different name at some point.

I absolutely agree with you.

I love Margaret nn Maggie which is a great name for a teen.

We know a 6 month old Maggie (nn)
The older names like this are having a comeback

I like it . It was popular when I was young and used due a comeback. It doesn't make me think of Thatcher.

First rule of baby names - Don't tell anyone your proposed choices.

I think it sounds current and is a good choice. There are loads of good nick names, it is a well known but not commonly used name that people can pronounce and spell. I would have it on my list if I were naming a baby girl now. Ignore your family’s thoughts on names .

I like Margaret. What middle name are you planning? Can be shortened to Mags, Maggie, Peggy.

My grandma (dad’s mum) was Margarett but always called Peggy.

I love it. Especially all the shortened names that go with it.

I'm in my 40s and Thatcher isn't really at the forefront of my mind when I see / hear the name. And as time goes on, the name will get softer as generations & their political memories fade.

(Sorry if that sounded weird, I didn't really know how else to word it!)