Is Marlow terrible?

danasphillips

We are team green and are finding it impossible to find any girl names we like. I normally like classic names and I was leaning toward Judith, as it's my grandmother's name, but wasn't in love with it and my mom said that my grandma actually hated her name, so I'm having a hard time really liking it now.

I've known a couple Marlows and thought it was a pretty yet strong name, but hate the trend of surnames for girls and it looks like that's what this is. I put it in Nymbler and the "similar names" it came up with were absolutely terrible (Rylee, Arly, Atlanta, Ripley, etc), so I'm seriously questioning whether I've gone crazy.

Other girl names I somewhat like are:
Mabel
Maeve
Matilda
Winifred
Edie
Edwina (worry about kids calling her wiener)
Winter (not sure I'd have the guts to go for something like this)

Any input or suggestions are greatly appreciated! Middle name would likely either be Ann after my grandma or Lou after DH's grandma.

LoveIsOwlYouNeed

If you hate the trend of surnames for girls, I am having a hard time understanding why you'd consider this. Its pretty bad, made-up and trendy. Your other names are better and more legit as established names (although I am not a huge fan of Winter, TBH).

kerismatic

Yes, it's a terrible name.   And tbh, I don't like any in your list.  Back to the drawing board!

PS if I absolutely had to choose one it would be Maeve

wassuphoes

So, reading the title my first thought was "Well, Marlow isn't the worst name for a boy, but it's pretty bad"

And then I read that it's a possible name for a girl. 

Every other name on your list is so much better then Marlow, I wonder you even arrived at Marlow. Doctor Faustus was not that good of a play, step far, far away from Marlow.

danasphillips

LoveIsOwlYouNeed said:

If you hate the trend of surnames for girls, I am having a hard time understanding why you'd consider this. Its pretty bad, made-up and trendy. Your other names are better and more legit as established names (although I am not a huge fan of Winter, TBH).

I think because I've known a couple Marlows for a while I didn't realize it was a surname until I looked it up.

I wish I could get excited about the other names, but I just feel "meh" about them. I had kind of resigned myself to thinking I would have to wait until the baby gets here to choose, I just thought it would be nice to go to the hospital with a few that I liked.

danasphillips

wassuphoes said:

So, reading the title my first thought was "Well, Marlow isn't the worst name for a boy, but it's pretty bad"

And then I read that it's a possible name for a girl. 

Every other name on your list is so much better then Marlow, I wonder you even arrived at Marlow. Doctor Faustus was not that good of a play, step far, far away from Marlow.

I've met three Marlows and all were girls, so I just assumed it was an older girl name that had lost popularity along the way.

Thanks for the input, I'll cross Marlow off the list.

danasphillips

I'm also open to suggestions! DS is Theodore.

jessilee15

Theodore is a great name! Strong and classic. Suggestions: Anna, Caroline, Julia, Elizabeth, Eliza, Margaret, Margot, Genevieve, Joanna, Marilyn, Mona, Molly, Madeline, Mariah, Miranda, Martina, Mavis, Maxine, Meredith...

Tried to include some classic and some slightly less common strong names...-and some with M since you seem to like that

Jenners24

Yeah not a fan of Marlow. I like Matilda and Maeve from your list. 

Latina211508

Judith is actually my grandmas name as well (dads side). Honestly I don't like marlow.
Deborah, nancy, Patricia, Margaret, Caroline, Marcela, Angelica, Pamela, Miriam, Jaqueline, Lorraine, Cynthia, Norma, Victoria, Elise, Eloise.

kayway85

Have you heard of Marlo Thomas? She's a singer songwriter. She's who I immediately thought of. I've actually never met a male Marlo (or Marlow) but I've known a few older Women named Marlo - mostly born in 50s. All of them had Marlo as a nickname for Margaret, and as a nickname, I think it's fine. I'd give your kid the option of a more classic formal name, though. I prefer the spelling Marlo to Marlow... Or what about Margot? I've always thought Margot was quite pretty.

breezypip

I love Matilda and Winifred from your list!

saham07

I don't care for Marlow. Matilda is awesome and I love Winter (GP name for me) with the nn Winnie

Smax0822

I personally do not like Marlow. I love Winifred and Winter.

fourtsixand2

Honestly I'm not a fan of the named you listed aside from Matilda. It's classic and cute, in my opinion. I don't hate Marlow either.

holocene

I really don't like Marlow. 

Judith
Mabel
Maeve
Matilda
Winifred
Edie

Are all so much better. 

ETA: Does Theodore go by a nickname ever? My friend has a Theo and she calls him Teddy. I love Matilda with Theodore, but if you ever nicknamed her - Teddy & Tilly would be too much. Maeve is lovely as well. 

amela214

Maeve is one of my all time favorite names. I vote for that!

YogaSandy

Marlo (this spelling) is NMS for a girl, but as far as I know, it's legit. Marlow made me think boy. And immediately made me think of Marlow from Heart of Darkness (the book Apocalypse Now is based on). Not a positive association.

I've known a Marla. NMS, but kinda similar.

lm45678

I think if you have to ask, you already know how you feel.

Love Maeve though!

4N6s

I love Maeve!

danasphillips

holocene said:

I really don't like Marlow. 

Judith
Mabel
Maeve
Matilda
Winifred
Edie

Are all so much better. 

ETA: Does Theodore go by a nickname ever? My friend has a Theo and she calls him Teddy. I love Matilda with Theodore, but if you ever nicknamed her - Teddy & Tilly would be too much. Maeve is lovely as well. 

He does go by Teddy and I love Tilly but yeah, too much.

FutureMrsCaesar

I don't mind marlow but it's nms. From your list I love Edie/Edith. We have friends whose little girl is Edith, goes by Edie, she's so awesome so I have a great association with that name.

ashleyandely

I love Mabel!

aimeern623

Yikes!! Marlow is awful IMO. And although I don't like any of the names from your list, I would vote for Matilda if I had to vote. But maybe it is time to go back to the drawing board...:(

Out of curiosity - what is your boy name?

englishtearose

I like Margot! Similar sounding, but much nicer IMO.

mrstrax

I had a teacher named Mrs Marlow in middle school. She was really bad at her job. Both a bad association and an odd surname to make a fn, IMO.

I agree with PP about Margot as an alternative.

Linsbins

LOVE Maeve!

magsugar13

love maeve!

Knottie1442268460

You need to pick a name you like. I'm surprised every comment has been negative. I like it better than the other names you listed. Marlowe Ann would be nice.

20 years ago I went to school with a female Marlowe. She was nice, friendly...

This was one of my selections but DH didn't care for it. I like Margot too but don't like any spellings.

PreggersinParis

Oooh, I'm alone on this one but I do like the name, a lot. I usually go for classic names but I can't help but think of fabulous 60s icon Marlo Thomas (she also plays Rachel's mom on Friends for a more current pop culture reference) whom I adore!

MrsCliffwood

I know Marlo from Marlo Thomas too - I actually don't mind it - prefer it spelt this way though. The 'W' to me somehow makes it look more masculine for some reason.

Also really like Mabel - and Matilda is really growing on me these days!

danasphillips

aimeern623 said:

Yikes!! Marlow is awful IMO. And although I don't like any of the names from your list, I would vote for Matilda if I had to vote. But maybe it is time to go back to the drawing board...:(

Out of curiosity - what is your boy name?

Boy favorite right now is Hugh Leopold (Leo is a family name). Backup boy names are Byron and Remy.

danasphillips

PreggersinParis said:

Oooh, I'm alone on this one but I do like the name, a lot. I usually go for classic names but I can't help but think of fabulous 60s icon Marlo Thomas (she also plays Rachel's mom on Friends for a more current pop culture reference) whom I adore!

Yes! Whenever I hear Marlo/Marlow I totally picture a kickass old lady, which is part of why I liked it and also surprised with nymblers "similar suggestions".

gonetothesea

Yeah, I kind of love it, if it's paired with a really feminine middle name.

ElRuby

How about Marly?

Miss Lilac

Someone suggested Miriam and I think that's really nice. Miri as a nickname works for all ages too.

emilyray14

I actually like Marlo[w]. It may fall into the trendy category, but it's still funky/cool to me.

mrsE2015

Yes, it is a bad choice!

mylilwildflower

I actually like Marlo! I also love PP's suggestion of Margo!! 

Mabel is a close second. Pretty and refreshing.

Mabel Judith is adorable

g8trkim

Not a fan of Marlow. It's a little trendy for my taste. I like Maeve best. Matilda and Edie are nice too.

mamabecks

I like it - I know a baby named Marlow. Such a sweet girl so I have a soft spot for the name. I like Maeve, Edie & Matilda too. My 8 year old daughter had an Edwina in her class for three years - no one ever called her anything mean.

I love Hugh too - an in law has a toddler named Hugh.