[Opinions] Re: Marion / Marian
in reply to a message by shantastic
Marion is technically unisex, but it's been traditionally used for boys for ages. Marion Morrison is the most famous case; he's better known as John Wayne.
Additionally, the -on ending looks more masculine to me than the -an ending.
So, I prefer Marion for boys (as a masculine form of Mary) and Marian for girls.
True, Marie and Maria are used in French-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, respectively, as male names--usually as mns, paired with 100% masculine fns--, but here in NA that practice is uncommon. Marion is a more familiar, perhaps more accepted alternative if you want honour a Mary by naming your son after her... or if you just like the name.
Both Marian and Marion are dated, yes, but that doesn't bother me at all. I think many dated names sound very refreshing amongst the sea of today's popular names.
Miranda
Additionally, the -on ending looks more masculine to me than the -an ending.
So, I prefer Marion for boys (as a masculine form of Mary) and Marian for girls.
True, Marie and Maria are used in French-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, respectively, as male names--usually as mns, paired with 100% masculine fns--, but here in NA that practice is uncommon. Marion is a more familiar, perhaps more accepted alternative if you want honour a Mary by naming your son after her... or if you just like the name.
Both Marian and Marion are dated, yes, but that doesn't bother me at all. I think many dated names sound very refreshing amongst the sea of today's popular names.
Miranda
Replies
ditto. MIranda said it better than I could :)