Mary Plus: Honest Opinions on Double First Names with Mary

[pepi]

I LOVE Mary variations. The issue is, many of them have been taken by family members. My sister, grandmothers and mom all have names with Mary derivatives for a first or middle name due to our family's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. My husband's family also has Mary variations and he is from the South where it is common to have double first names. My grandmother and mom have double first names too, but it is not common where we live.

What are your thoughts on some of these Mary "plus" names? Significance is noted.
Also, I don't want someone to call our daughter "Mary" when her name is "Mary____" so do you think I should give her a double first name and then use my maiden name as her middle name? This sounds silly, but in our family and circles, monograms are super popular, so this was my mom's first question due to gifts for the baby.

I prefer not super traditional Mary names as I went to Catholic school and don't want her to sound like a nun, but given that I am Catholic and my husband and I like fairly traditional or classic names, it might be inevitable.

Please weigh in and also give your opinion on if the names should be Mary (first) _____(middle) or Mary ______(first) Maiden name (middle). Our last name is a very pleasant sounding, two syllable English name.

Mary Grace
Mary Blair
Mary Michael
Mary Virginia
Mary Ellen
Mary Clare
Mary Shea
Mary Augusta
Mary Beatrix/Beatrice
Mary Brigid
Mary Nora
Mary Eileen
Mary Reed
Mary Elisabeth/Elizabeth
Mary Georgina/Georgiana
Mary Margaret
Mary Cate
Mary Eleanor
Mary Rose
Mary Elle
Mary Josephine
Mary Zara
Mary Stella


Any other ideas? I tend to like less traditional accompanying names and names that are fairly flowy.

Also, what do you think about a middle name? Yea or nay? My grandmother and aunt are just Mary_____ Last Name.

Thanks for your advice! My favorites so far are Mary Beatrix, Mary Virginia, Mary Shea, Mary Grace, Mary Clare and Mary Brigid.

[angel1110]

I love Mary Beatrix and Mary Grace. very cute. I also think giving her a middle name (in addition to Mary __) is a cute idea. Also, just a thought, but if you want to make sure people don't just call her Mary, you could hyphenate, a la Mary-Grace (although I guess some people might think that is pretentious. I'm biased, I gave my son two middle names and hyphenated them, never mind pretension ...)

I also like Mary Elese, Mary Rachel, and Mary Rebecca/Rebekah

[jersey_gray]

I love double names, especially Mary names. Mary Jane is the sweetest name I think (hyphenated or not hyphenated). My husband will never go for a double name though and there's no family precedent in my case. Hyphenating the name is a good idea I think for people to see when it's written that it's a double name. I don't see it as pretentious.

[kacey1010]

I am in favor of Mary _____ (first) Maiden Name (middle) Last name (last)..
But maybe because I'm biased, since I have a name like that and I love it! People always seem to be fascinated by my name. great conversational topic...
I am of the opinion that double names rock! (Please no hyphens, though. I find hyphens unecessary..)
Anyway, from your list, I absolutely love:
Mary Blair
Mary Clare
Mary Shea
Mary Virginia
Mary Beatrix
Mary Augusta

But just a warning... if you go with Mary and then a second name that is more than two syllables, such as Mary Beatrix, Mary Virginia, etc., it is bound to be shortened. I know you don't want people calling her Mary, but it is probably going to end up as a casual nn. (The casual nn does not necessarily have to be Mary. See anecdote below...) She can still be formally known as Mary ____, but I think that friends/people will naturally fall to shortening it.
Like Mary Beatrix could be Mary Bea? Mary Augusta could be Mary Gus?? Mary August?

I knew a Mary Alice, who went by Mary Alice. But her friends called her Mary A casually. It was cute.

What about...?
Mary Joelle
Mary Isabelle (i could visualize this having the casual nn of Maribelle)
Mary Quinn
Mary Justine
Mary Lane/Layne
Mary Sage
Mary Sara(h)
Mary Camille
Mary Adele
Mary Juliet

[lori johnson]

My recommendation is ...

Mary Claire [or] Mary Elizabeth [or] Mary Kate

... a complementary and modern-sounding double-barrelled first name [with a middle name besides], since you prefer that your daughter be called by two first names instead of one.

[esrever88]

I absolutely adore Mary Grace, Mary Beatrix and Mary Elle!! Those three are my favorites by far. I'd personally be in favor of hyphenating to make the double name clearer, but it's up to you.

[augusta_lee]

I really like Mary combinations with a punchy, unusual second name.

Mary Lark
Mary Pearl
Mary Isis
Mary Poe
Mary Lux
Mary June
Mary Zane
Mary Lola
Mary Nell
Mary Fay
Mary Maud
Mary Sage
Mary Shae
Mary Plum
Mary Ingrid
Mary Vale
Mary Olive
Mary Jade
Mary Aster
Mary Fern
Mary Crane

[karenp]

Sounds like Mary-____ Maiden name Lastname would be a great fit for you! As far as monogramming, I would say pick either just M and middle name or the double name with no middle name just for monogramming purposes. I have 2middles as do my girls and we just drop the 2nd middle for monograms.
If you dont want it shortened to Mary, I would do a one syllable second name.
Mary Blair
Mary Reed
Mary Claire
Mary Rose
Mary Kate
Mary Pearl
Mary Grace

My favorites are Mary Blair, Mary Rose, Mary Kate and Mary Claire

[paillette]

I love Mary _______ names! I would do Mary (FN) ________ (1st MN) __________ (maiden=2nd MN) ___________ (last). Then, as previously mentioned, drop the second middle for monogramming purposes. Good luck!

[garnet]

Honestly, it depends on what the double name is.

My favorites from your list:
Mary Blair
Mary Beatrix
Mary Margaret
Mary Cate
Mary Eleanor

Suggestions:
Mary Georgia
Mary Juliet
Mary Violet
Mary Alice
Mary Camilla
Mary Eloise