[name_f]Mary[/name_f] is one of the top three names in the list my husband and I agree to use if our baby due [name_u]January[/name_u] 1st is a girl. Today I would say it’s my favorite, but I go back and forth. I also have some concerns about using [name_f]Mary[/name_f] that I would like to ask about.
Is it wierd for a non religious family to use [name_f]Mary[/name_f]? [name_f]My[/name_f] husband doesn’t think so, but I worry it is.
Does [name_f]Mary[/name_f] have too much teasing potential? Bloody [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f] seem like they would be embarrassing nicknames in middle school and high school. Also she will likely be born around [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] if she’s born a week before her due date like my son was. Is [name_f]Mary[/name_f] born around [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] extra silly because of [name_f]Merry[/name_f] [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]?
It’s not too common for me, but is it too plain without a middle name suitable to combine?
Any other thoughts on [name_f]Mary[/name_f] would be helpful too.
I would be surprised to see a secular family with a little girl named [name_f]Mary[/name_f] to be honest. I wouldn’t worry about the teasing potential though. I also don’t think the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] thing is an issue, although [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is important to the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] story, which may form a connection you didn’t really want.
I do think [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is too plain. [name_m]Even[/name_m]. [name_f]Marie[/name_f] has more pizzazz in my head. It just seems very unexciting. I adore most of the names in your sig waaaayyy more than [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. Plus side - nicknames are cute - [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] etc.
As [name_f]Mary[/name_f] seems to have the image of being “such a common name” these days, (even though it’s not common on young people/babies), I think the fact that it was so popular for so many years so many long ago helps to dissociate it from the Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. The Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is definitely not the first thing that pops into my head when I hear the name [name_f]Mary[/name_f].
Again, I think the fact that [name_f]Mary[/name_f] was so popular for so long helps to also dissociate both of those teasing potentials. Although they are well-known connections, I don’t think the potential is too high. And, kids are kids, if they’re going to tease someone, they’ll find a way to do so, no matter what the victim is called. It’s unfortunate, but has been proven true in my experience.
I don’t think [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is too plain without a middle name suitable to combine, but I would love to see a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] with an uncommon and unexpected middle name.
I associate the name [name_f]Mary[/name_f] with a religious family, usually Catholic. But I don’t think it’s confusing or unacceptable for a secular/non-[name_m]Christian[/name_m] family to have a [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. [name_m]Just[/name_m] unusual. The Xmas connection to the birth of your [name_f]Mary[/name_f] feels like a religious connection, but it’s not a big deal. It’s not religious naming, and that’s that.
I don’t think name-based teasing will necessarily be an issue because it such a “normal” and conventional name. It’s not an easy target. Many kids will have weirder, more tease-able names than the kids who are named [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. And if you don’t feel like it needs a middle name, that’s cool.
Personally, I cannot get past the fact that “[name_f]Mary[/name_f]” means “bitter” (in Hebrew). Over the past two decades, all the baby name literature I have read said that “[name_f]Mary[/name_f]” means “bitter.” Only recently have I seen a couple sources online (sheknows.com) that say it also means “rebellion” and “wished for child.” I debated on whether to mention it to you but since it’s not a religious name for you guys I decided to just be honest.
Oh I know that it’s commonly said to mean bitter. I don’t care if that really is what it means because I like [name_f]Mary[/name_f] for the sweetness and simplicity mostly. [name_f]My[/name_f] 2 most trusted name meaning sources behnd the name and the [name_m]Oxford[/name_m] dictionary of first names argue against the meaning bitter, although like I said I don’t mind that.
If you love [name_f]Mary[/name_f], use it. It is a classic. Pair it with another name you have on your list except [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]! I like [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t religious. I wouldn’t worry about teasing either.
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] is one of those names that transcends class, race, and even religion. Yeah, it is highly associated with Catholicism, but I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if I met an atheist named [name_f]Mary[/name_f].
I think [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is a beautiful, traditional name. I don’t think it’s weird for a non-religious family to use it, and I really would not worry about the teasing potential – every name has teasing potential!
I have only met one [name_f]Mary[/name_f] under 20 (she was four). I was surprised at how fresh it felt. I have no idea if her parents were religious and I never wondered. I would personally pair it with something a little less simple, but that’s not necessary.
I have periodically asked this same question! I am not at all religious. I wouldn’t go as far to say atheist, but definitely not religious in the least. I also tend to like a little quirkier names - not too out there, but not overly popular. But, I like [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. I don’t know ANY people named [name_f]Mary[/name_f] under 50. I would see it as so fresh and when you just look and hear the name [name_f]Mary[/name_f] itself and drown out all the other associations… it’s absolutely darling.
When I asked about [name_f]Mary[/name_f], many people responded saying that they knew several [name_f]Mary[/name_f]'s because they are Catholic. Well, I’m not and I don’t fall into those circles. I was still a little weary, but I think I concluded that it really is based on who you personally surround yourself with. If you frequent religious circles, then people will probably assume you named your kid [name_f]Mary[/name_f] for religious reasons. If you don’t, then people won’t immediately associate the name with religion and it’s no big deal. It’s just a classic like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Katherine[/name_f].
I am an elementary school teacher and the teasing concern doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me in this day and age. Yes, kids get teased occasionally, but I’ve never witnessed any kid getting teased for their name because nowadays, there’s such a wide variety of names so there’s more acceptance. There’s not to say she won’t ever get teased, but if she does, it probably won’t be because of her name. Well, if I were perfectly honest, I think less teasing happens until kids reach middle/high school when it goes beyond names. So, if she’s going to get teased, it’s going to happen anyway. And if my daughter was named [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and people called her Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f] in high school… well, I’d be okay with that.
In all seriousness though, I adore [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and would love to see a little girl with this name. I also agree that it should be paired with something a little quirkier and unexpected like… [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Calista[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], etc… [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is sweet, but a little too prim and proper. [name_f]Mary[/name_f] needs to be spiced up to break it free of that “boring” stigma!
It’s a bit simple & traditional but who cares? If you love it, you love it! It wears just fine in this day & age. I wouldn’t necessarily assume someone named [name_f]Mary[/name_f] was Catholic or anything…and when it comes down to it…who cares if they are or aren’t?? I can’t imagine anyone would qualm with her over her name on account of religious preferences.
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] is a classic that totally transcends religion. No more religious than [name_m]John[/name_m] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] are, and it has lots of interesting namesakes ([name_u]Shelley[/name_u], Woolstonecraft, [name_u]Blair[/name_u], [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m]).
I love [name_f]Mary[/name_f] (see signature): I don’t think it is odd to know a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] with a secular family (probably because I knew one). I don’t think there is much teasing potential at all. I don’t think most children would latch onto the Bloody [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f] thing. There is always a possibility, but it seems to have a lot less teasing potential than many more popular names. The [name_f]Mary[/name_f] (nn Mez or Mouse) I knew was completely lovely, spunky and sassy and made the name her own. I believe she was born in the [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] holidays too (though I may be wrong), and it never posed a problem.
I love [name_f]Mary[/name_f]. I’ve recently added it to our list (to replace [name_f]Alice[/name_f]) since it’s a classic that I feel is fresh again after years of little use. I don’t think the religious aspect would matter at this point.
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I feel reassured. [name_f]Mary[/name_f] is still my #1 today in fierce competition with our longtime default girl name [name_f]Leona[/name_f] and DH’s #1 [name_f]Athena[/name_f]. Of course it could still be a boy, we’ll see in 3 weeks.
I’m too lazy to look back and see who suggested it, but I liked the idea of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. I waz thinking [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] since it’s a bit of a memorial name to me, but I don’t want to start a child sacrafice myth middle name theme with my son’s middle name being [name_m]Isaac[/name_m].
[name_f]Mary[/name_f] is the ultimate sweet, warm, classic name and so refreshing. Religion wouldn’t cross my mind one way or the other. I would definitely use it!
I’ve known a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] from a secular family and a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] from a Muslim family so I don’t think that it would be out of the ordinary. I think it’s a nice name, although I do prefer [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]. I say go for it.
