[Opinions] Margaret or Mary
If you had to give your child either the first name Margaret or the first name Mary, which one would you choose and why?
Combos welcome, as per always.
Combos welcome, as per always.
Replies
I would choose Margaret if I was planning on using nn's which is what I would do, my favorite are Meg, Mari, Maisie, and Greta. Mags and Maggie are pretty good but I prefer the other nn's I mentioned, though Mags and Maggie are better than Marge, Margie, Peg, Peggy, Mamie and Mayme. I like Madge and Midge, I think I prefer Madge, but they are a bit odd yet their oddness is part of what I like about them. May and Meggy are also pretty good nn's.
If you weren't wanting to use nn's then I'd go with Mary. If it comes down to just plain Margaret and Mary I'd definitely choose Mary. Margaret isn't terrible, it just isn't the most pretty name. I prefer Margaret as a three syllable name than as a two syllable name, I think the sound of it is prettier, less common, and it makes more sense. Even though I know mostly two syllable pronounced Margaret's, my brain always tries to pronounce it with three syllables. That's why two syllable pronounced Katherine is annoying to me and why I prefer the spellings Kathryn and Cathryn when it is pronounced the two syllable English way.
So in conclusion I'd use Margaret pronounced the three syllable way and I'd use nn's, but if I couldn't use nn's I'd choose Mary.
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If you weren't wanting to use nn's then I'd go with Mary. If it comes down to just plain Margaret and Mary I'd definitely choose Mary. Margaret isn't terrible, it just isn't the most pretty name. I prefer Margaret as a three syllable name than as a two syllable name, I think the sound of it is prettier, less common, and it makes more sense. Even though I know mostly two syllable pronounced Margaret's, my brain always tries to pronounce it with three syllables. That's why two syllable pronounced Katherine is annoying to me and why I prefer the spellings Kathryn and Cathryn when it is pronounced the two syllable English way.
So in conclusion I'd use Margaret pronounced the three syllable way and I'd use nn's, but if I couldn't use nn's I'd choose Mary.
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This message was edited 3/19/2013, 1:57 AM
100% Margaret, with the nickname Maggie. This is actually a strong contender if I have another girl.
Not only is it my grandmother's name but I like the nicknames Meg and Maggie and even Maisie. Mary is boring and was too overused.
Combos I would use: Margaret Kay, Margaret Beth, Margaret Elise, Margaret Annabeth
Not only is it my grandmother's name but I like the nicknames Meg and Maggie and even Maisie. Mary is boring and was too overused.
Combos I would use: Margaret Kay, Margaret Beth, Margaret Elise, Margaret Annabeth
Margaret. My aunt's name. Mary is also too popular. Margaret is less popular but still classy and gorgeous, it'll age well.
Mary, probably Mary Grace. I do like Margaret as well, but prefer Mary.
Mary would be my choice. It's always been a fave name of mine and it's just classic, timeless and beautiful imo. I love the combo Mary Elizabeth and it would have to be my fave Mary combo, but I also love Mary Pearl, Mary Katherine, Mary Louisa, Mary Jemima, Mary Georgia, Mary Freya, Mary Celeste and Mary Ada.
I love both names, but would choose Margaret.
I just love Margaret a little more and I like that it has so many nickname options.
My favorite Margaret combos are Margaret Elspeth, Margaret Helene (heh-LAYN), and Margaret Cecily.
If I opted to go with Mary, I would use the combo Mary Alice (Alice is my maternal grandmother's name) and sometimes call her Mary and sometimes call her Mary Alice.
I just love Margaret a little more and I like that it has so many nickname options.
My favorite Margaret combos are Margaret Elspeth, Margaret Helene (heh-LAYN), and Margaret Cecily.
If I opted to go with Mary, I would use the combo Mary Alice (Alice is my maternal grandmother's name) and sometimes call her Mary and sometimes call her Mary Alice.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 2:02 PM
Margaret, for the multitude of nicknames. Honestly, Margaret nn Mary isn't too much of a stretch if you wanted to use both.
Margaret
If Maria was a possibility I'd go with that.
Otherwise I just don't like Mary and while I'm not a huge fan of Margaret it does have interesting nickname options.
Margaret Anita
Margaret Bryony
Margaret Lenore
Margaret Leonarda
Margaret Olivia
Margaret Penelope
Margaret Peony
Margaret Sabine
Margaret Susannah
Margaret Viola
If Maria was a possibility I'd go with that.
Otherwise I just don't like Mary and while I'm not a huge fan of Margaret it does have interesting nickname options.
Margaret Anita
Margaret Bryony
Margaret Lenore
Margaret Leonarda
Margaret Olivia
Margaret Penelope
Margaret Peony
Margaret Sabine
Margaret Susannah
Margaret Viola
I'm a big fan of Margaret Olivia :)
It's been on my list many times.
It's been on my list many times.
Definitely Margaret. It has a beautiful meaning and I like the nicknames Meg and Greta. Mary and John are the most boring names of all time, they've completely lost their beauty. Mary is just so empty and lifeless. Maybe in a few decades it will sound fresh again. Maybe.
Mary
Mary exudes warmth, and I like the sound of it.
Margaret sounds dull to me. It has a rich history, but I've just never been able to warm up to it.
Combos:
Mary Lenore
Mary Colette
Mary Susannah / Susanna
Mary Bernadette
Mary Georgia
Mary Keturah
Mary Diana
Mary Tamar
Mary Tabitha
Mary Talitha
Mary Joanna
Mary Johanna
Mary Zelda
Mary Zola
Mary Fern
Mary Estelle
Mary Nell
Margaret Camille
Margaret Susannah / Susanna
Margaret Helena
Margaret Amelia
Margaret Flora
Margaret Sarah / Sara
Margaret Sophia
Margaret Diana
Margaret Keziah
Margaret Cora
Margaret Phoebe
Margaret Joanna
Margaret Johanna
Margaret Cecily
Margaret Zola
Margaret Fern
Margaret Fiona
Margaret Naomi
Mary exudes warmth, and I like the sound of it.
Margaret sounds dull to me. It has a rich history, but I've just never been able to warm up to it.
Combos:
Mary Lenore
Mary Colette
Mary Susannah / Susanna
Mary Bernadette
Mary Georgia
Mary Keturah
Mary Diana
Mary Tamar
Mary Tabitha
Mary Talitha
Mary Joanna
Mary Johanna
Mary Zelda
Mary Zola
Mary Fern
Mary Estelle
Mary Nell
Margaret Camille
Margaret Susannah / Susanna
Margaret Helena
Margaret Amelia
Margaret Flora
Margaret Sarah / Sara
Margaret Sophia
Margaret Diana
Margaret Keziah
Margaret Cora
Margaret Phoebe
Margaret Joanna
Margaret Johanna
Margaret Cecily
Margaret Zola
Margaret Fern
Margaret Fiona
Margaret Naomi
Definitely Mary.
I've never liked Margaret, always found it too harsh. "Maggie" just makes that worse, imo. "Meg" is all right, but if I wanted that nickname I'd go with Megan or Meghan. So, for this thread, I'll choose Mary.
Mary Jane is probably my stock combo, and it would be a double-barreled first name. But I also like:
Mary Blythe
Mary Bryony
Mary Catherine
Mary Elise
Mary Josephine
Mary Juliet
Mary Lenore
Mary Olivia
Mary Patricia
Mary Sophia
Mary Stephanie
Mary Theresa
Mary Tiffany
I've never liked Margaret, always found it too harsh. "Maggie" just makes that worse, imo. "Meg" is all right, but if I wanted that nickname I'd go with Megan or Meghan. So, for this thread, I'll choose Mary.
Mary Jane is probably my stock combo, and it would be a double-barreled first name. But I also like:
Mary Blythe
Mary Bryony
Mary Catherine
Mary Elise
Mary Josephine
Mary Juliet
Mary Lenore
Mary Olivia
Mary Patricia
Mary Sophia
Mary Stephanie
Mary Theresa
Mary Tiffany
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 11:36 AM
Margaret because it has many nickname options: I love Maggie and Greta; Meg is pretty good too. Mary is just Mary and doesn't have any nicknames.
Also, my great Nan is named Margaret so it would honour her.
Also, my great Nan is named Margaret so it would honour her.
Margaret ;)
Clearly, since that's my daughter's name! I could go on and on about why we chose it, but ultimately we like it more and it means more to us than Mary. Mary was never even on the table. I do like Mary, I just wouldn't use it because I simply don't like it enough.
Our Meg's name is Margaret Sue (Sue for my grandma). Her great-great-grandma's name was Margaret Ophelia, which I think is awesome. She's not named for her, but my husband's family does really like the tie.
Clearly, since that's my daughter's name! I could go on and on about why we chose it, but ultimately we like it more and it means more to us than Mary. Mary was never even on the table. I do like Mary, I just wouldn't use it because I simply don't like it enough.
Our Meg's name is Margaret Sue (Sue for my grandma). Her great-great-grandma's name was Margaret Ophelia, which I think is awesome. She's not named for her, but my husband's family does really like the tie.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 8:26 AM
I'd name her Mary Margaret and use it as a double name. Yeah, it's very Catholic, and we're not, but I don't care. I've always loved it. I'd sometimes call her Maggie or Meg, but most of the time she'd be Mary Margaret.
Definitely very Catholic, I actually know a Catholic Mary Margaret who has a sister Mary Therese and another sister Mary Anne. Their mother is Mary something and there are four or five brothers, there is Timothy "Tim", Joseph "Joe", Michael "Mike", Peter "Pete", and I can't remember more than that. One of the brothers is married to a Margaret who goes by Mags, definitely not Tim because he is gay. They are all around my parents age, so in their 50's or 60's, the youngest might be in their late 40's.
Truthfully both Mary and Margaret seem very Catholic but Mary Margaret seems even more Catholic. But I really don't think that is a reason not to use it, since it is such a cute combo plus who cares if people assume that you are Catholic.
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Truthfully both Mary and Margaret seem very Catholic but Mary Margaret seems even more Catholic. But I really don't think that is a reason not to use it, since it is such a cute combo plus who cares if people assume that you are Catholic.
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This message was edited 3/19/2013, 5:56 AM
It's funny you should say that because I recently had a dream where I renamed myself Mary Margaret and insisted that I was called both names (though sometimes I was Mary Mags). Mary is my middle name and Margaret is my sister's so that's where it came from. I think it's a cool name, and I don't associate it with the Catholic religion. :)
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 11:02 AM
Margaret, but only if she were Maggie.
I changedid my mind.
I changedid my mind.
This message was edited 3/16/2013, 7:58 AM
Margaret
But I'd rather go with Margareta. It works better in Sweden, and it's my grandmother's MN (Britt Signe Margareta)
Combos: Margaret Philippa or Margareta Isadora
But I'd rather go with Margareta. It works better in Sweden, and it's my grandmother's MN (Britt Signe Margareta)
Combos: Margaret Philippa or Margareta Isadora