[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there! My husband and I both really like the name [name_f]Marin[/name_f] for a girl. It’s seems to have a pretty mixed etymology, but we like that it’s the [name_m]German[/name_m] variant of [name_f]Maria[/name_f] and can mean “rebellious” or “wished-for-child”. We think we would want to pronounce it MAHR-in, since that’s how it would be pronounced in Germany. (We both have mainly [name_m]German[/name_m] heritage). It makes the most sense to us, but I told my siblings and they both thought [name_f]MARE[/name_f]-in first. [name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it?
For middle names, so far I like [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]. We tend to like classic, vintage names but I’m drawn to the intrigue and slightly exotic flair of [name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any good ideas for other middle names?
We’re about to start trying for baby #1 and we have a good list of boys names, but girls names have been harder for us!
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] is a lovely name, full of spark and personality and life. I would pronounce it muh-[name_f]RIN[/name_f] though. I think MAHR-in would be a hard pronunciation to indicate with any spelling, since it’s one of those sounds that just has so many ways to spell, and all those spellings can be pronounced different ways depending on the word! If you want to use that pronunciation you’ll have to correct people a lot. I know some people whose names are generally pronounced like in English but their families use a less intuitive ethnic pronunciation- would you be open to that? [name_f]MARE[/name_f]-in to me would be [name_f]Maren[/name_f] though.
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] is a fabulous combo, as [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] has a lot of the same traits I love about [name_f]Marin[/name_f], with more international flair. In the same vein we’ve got:
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Catriona[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Paloma[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Lucia[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] (if you don’t use it as a first name; I see it’s in your signature)
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] [name_f]Victoire[/name_f]
[name_f]MARE[/name_f]-in isn’t how most people pronounce on here, but that’s how I hear it in my head every time I see it anyway. I can’t stop myself. lol If you want MAHR-in and you live in a predominantly English speaking country, you’ll likely just have to keep correcting people until they learn it because I don’t know that you’ll get the pronunciation often unless people know how to pronounce the name in the first place.
As far as middles go, I think [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] sounds beautiful with it. It is not a name I have ever heard on a real person, but neither is [name_f]Marin[/name_f]. haha International names are not common where I’m from unless you’re previously from a foreign country. I like @bonfireazalea’s suggestions of [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] (huge soft spot for this name!), [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. Other suggestions–
I love the name and the pronunciation! One thing to consider, possibly, is that San [name_m]Francisco[/name_m] is in [name_f]Marin[/name_f] County in [name_u]California[/name_u]. That [name_f]Marin[/name_f] is pronounced mah-[name_f]RIN[/name_f]. When I see [name_f]Marin[/name_f], that’s my go-to pronunciation. (I’m actually from [name_m]Washington[/name_m] but my folks are from the [name_u]Bay[/name_u] Area.) I’m guessing she’ll always encounter a bit of confusion on the pronunciation, except while in Germany. And if you’re not naming her after San [name_m]Francisco[/name_m], some people may assume you are. I think the name is gorgeous though, and it could be worth it!