May, as any Catholic schoolchild can tell you, is the official month of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Which might make Mary an appropriate name for a girl born this month, except after a 400 year run, Mary is more than ready for semi-retirement.
The good news is that you can hold onto Mary’s symbolic value by choosing one of her fresh, appealing variations. And there are literally dozens of them, formal and breezily nicknameish, ultrafemme and down-to-earth. Some of the options:
MADONNA – There’s only one Madonna – and it’s not the plaster one in the blue alcove at church. The pop star has all but taken over this formerly holy name and rebranded it with a modern in-your-face sexuality. Do you dare use it for your child? Do you want to? Maybe not yet, but with names like Elvis and Scarlett gaining widespread popularity a generation or two after the fame of their original bearers, we all might end up having grandchildren named Madonna.
MAE and MAY – A mere handful of years ago, Mae was a quintessential old-lady name, barely baby-appropriate, but today it feels as sweetly simple as a warm day in the sun. Can be a short form for any of the Mary variations and also makes a good middle name.
MAISIE – Maisie takes Daisy and raises it one. An insouciant, charming name, Maisie can be given on its own or can be used as a short form for any of the Mary variations – or even for Margaret.
MAMIE – Mamie is sassier than either Mae or Maisie, though definitely in the same family. An old-fashioned nickname that’s enjoying another day in the sun, Mamie was the name of President Eisenhower’s wife and is also the nickname of Meryl Streep’s actress daughter – both mother and daughter are properly named Mary Louise.
MANON – This French diminutive of Marie is very popular in its own right there and would make a distinctive and unusual choice here, but one with some genuine underpinnings. Parents considering Manon should see the French film, Manon of the Spring.
MAREN – The Norwegian form of Mary has the emphasis on the first syllable, as opposed to Marin as in the lovely county north of San Francisco, pronounced ma-RIN.
MARIA – As common as Mary in Latin cultures, Maria often gets overlooked for its own intrinsic beauty. But with the ascendance of Sophia and Olivia, it deserves the same appreciation as a womanly classic that carries considerable feminine charm and a touch of the exotic. And it feels fresher now, too, than the overworked Mariah.
MARIAN – Marian the Librarian pretty much says it all: Marian (or the somehow less charming Marion) has been stuck with a plain-faced, sensible-shoed image for too long now. But baby namers looking to move beyond resurrected classics like Violet and Clara would do well to consider Marian, a beauty in disguise. Among the top 20 names a hundred years ago, Marian is actually the medieval French version of Mary.
MARIETTA – French diminutive of Marie that feels a little bit buttoned up…and a little bit naughty. An appealing combination.
MARINE – Americans may be more familiar with Marina, name of the tennis star, but the simpler Marine, redolent of the sea, has been popular in recent years in France yet is still special here.
MARISKA – Actress Mariska Hargitay brought this Czech version of Mary to the world’s attention.
MARISOL – Marissa and Marisa have been quietly but fashionably used over the past few decades, but we prefer Marisol, the more dramatic Latina version. This name related to Stella Maris, Star of the Sea, one of the names for the Virgin Mary.
MAURYA – Irish variation that updates Maura and appears as the name of a character in literature as well as on the stage in J.M. Synge’s 1904 drama Riders to the Sea.
MINNIE – Minnie is finally shaking off its mouse associations and finding new appreciation among modern parents. A relic of the days when so many girls were named Mary that its nicknames were many and varied, Minnie is another short form with energy and charm.
MIRIAM – The oldest known form of Mary, the Old Testament Miriam was the older sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess who led the triumphal song and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea. One Biblical choice that has not in recent years been overused.
PILAR – Spanish classic meaning “pillar” that honors the Virgin Mary yet feels more exotic than many of the Mary variations. A name with an ideal combination of strength and style.
POLLY – Polly, believe it or not, got its start as a nickname for Mary, though these days it would almost always be used on its own. A variation to consider if every other female in your family is named Mary and you want to carry on tradition, but also want to call your daughter by a name distinctly her own.
SOCORRO – Another Spanish name relating to one of the Virgin Mother’s titles, this one is rarely heard on our shores but makes a good choice for the adventurous baby namer.
There are definitely other appealing Mary variations and short forms. Tell us your favorites!
Share on Facebook
When we wrote our first book, Beyond 
Maybe it’s because we’ve been planning our summer vacation, but the idea of exotic place names sounds very appealing right now. Options can be found all over the map: Nameberry has a big all-inclusive list of 
Thanks to all of you for entering the Nameberry Mother’s 
The winners get an advance copy of our brand-new book, 
