Merle?

I’ve been going over our old lists in an attempt to find other girls names. [name_u]Merle[/name_u] jumped out at me - We’re in the UK for anyone who’s going to commented that the sound is heavy and guttural - it sounds lighter here than in the US :). What do we think? Does it sound ok with brothers [name_u]Vale[/name_u], [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] and [name_u]Darby[/name_u]?

Also We’ve had an old thread about the name Sunset resurrected - I’d almost put in the too much pile but having seen it again I do really like it… So, working list is now: [name_f]Michelle[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f], Sunset and [name_u]Merle[/name_u]. Wow that’s a mixed bag…

Thanks, [name_u]Jessie[/name_u] x

I’ve always had a love/hate affair with [name_u]Merle[/name_u] as a girl’s name. It doesn’t sound heavy or guttural to me, though I am in the States. The sound is rather—rough? grating? rasping?—but not displeasing. But maybe it’s that sound that skews it heavily masculine to me. On the page, it looks feminine, in the ear it sounds masculine…does that make sense? I’d be afraid that [name_u]Merle[/name_u] would be taken for the 4th brother.

Of your list [name_f]Maude[/name_f] is my favorite, with [name_f]Eve[/name_f] as a close second. [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] seems too mainstream and lackluster against the boys’ names (which I love, btw), but perhaps that’s my American ear. Sunset’s in the ‘too much pile’ for me, but that’s just me. Other girl’s names that occur to me as a good fit with your boys: [name_f]Ramona[/name_f], [name_f]Jill[/name_f], [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Moira[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]…

I have a love for [name_u]Merle[/name_u] going back to age 10…I think it’s lovely.

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] [name_u]Jessie[/name_u], hope you and your family are well. With your cool sibset of [name_u]Vale[/name_u], [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] and [name_u]Darby[/name_u], I like [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_f]Maude[/name_f]. [name_u]Vale[/name_u] and [name_u]Merle[/name_u] have similar sounds to me. Although [name_u]Merle[/name_u] means “blackbird”, it’s also a pattern on a dog’s coat. I also have an image of glamorous actress [name_u]Merle[/name_u] [name_u]Oberon[/name_u]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like Mirth, [name_f]Muriel[/name_f] or [name_f]Myrna[/name_f]?

I can’t wrap my mind around [name_u]Merle[/name_u] for a girl.

I knew a male [name_u]Merle[/name_u], so it’s a stretch for me to imagine a female one. There’s always [name_f]Meryl[/name_f].

My favorite with your boys is [name_f]Maude[/name_f] or [name_f]Eve[/name_f].

I had no idea [name_u]Merle[/name_u] was ever used for girls. For me it’s 100% male, and I think would get mistaken as a boy with your sibset. I also think it sounds too close to [name_u]Vale[/name_u]. I do, however, love [name_f]Maude[/name_f] and [name_f]Eve[/name_f]!

My grandmother’s name is [name_u]Merle[/name_u] [name_f]Lorraine[/name_f], strangely enough by accident! Her Dad forgot how to spell [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] and so she became [name_u]Merle[/name_u]. Not so much now although she doesn’t love it; but when she was a child she said she always feel silly having a boy’s name and that teachers, schoolmates etc. where always pointing it out. She was born in 1927. I don’t really like it either.

I think [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] is a FANTASTIC suggestion!

I know a little boy with the mn [name_u]Merle[/name_u] so I only see boy and even at that Im not a huge fan! but [name_f]Meryl[/name_f] is great!

[name_u]Merle[/name_u] is all girl name to me! I’m in Australia.
While I do love old fashioned names, I do prefer [name_f]Eve[/name_f] out of your choices.
[name_u]Merle[/name_u] still sounds too old and aged.

[name_u]Merle[/name_u] is a beautiful girl’s name, and I much prefer it over [name_f]Meryl[/name_f], to be honest.

I particularly like it because I’m fond of [name_u]Merle[/name_u] [name_u]Oberon[/name_u], who was absolutely lovely. I think [name_u]Merle[/name_u] is actually quite feminine, but I can see it on a boy, too - I think it works well for either gender. I think it can be perfectly neutral. My favorites on your list: [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_u]Merle[/name_u]. All classically beautiful but with a hint of spark and surprise. [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] is boring to me personally, and it doesn’t have the “spark” that those three have; Sunset is just too much, I think? I mean, yes, it could be fairly pretty, but it just doesn’t work for me personally.

But [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_u]Merle[/name_u] - they’re all winners!

That is my mother’s middle name. She hates it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] saying, go with your heart. yell it a few times to your husband and vise virsa see what happens.