What's wrong with Marley?

guilletskichuk

I know my taste in names is probably NOT most of your styles...but I was just wondering what's wrong with Marley (re: my baby names list)? Trust me, I know some of the names on there are out there. But I like 'em.

I'd love some feedback. I've been thinking of asking for a few days, actually.

Does it make you think of the dog from the movie, Marley & Me?

I have LOVED this name for many, many years. My mom, Marlene, died almost 10 years ago and I always thought that I might use Marley as a fn (or maybe Marlene as a mn). It was honestly my top name for a long time.

But then the book and movie came out. I haven't read it or seen the movie. I can't bring myself to doing that because I love the name and don't want to associate the name with the dog even more! lol

Please let me know what you think! TIA! 

JENVALENTINE1981

I think its cute!  A friend of mine named her daughter Marlee and it is beautiful and unique!

 

RedCardinal

I personally do not think it's fitting for a human child. If I saw Marley on a job application I would probably cringe. YKWIM? It's mn material.

plunderb

I don't think of the dog ? I think of Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol. Scrooge! Scrooge!

Marlene is lovely, but I think Marley is not nearly as attractive. It's not really cute or elegant ? it's just kind of harsh. It makes me think of Harley. Or gnarly. In any event, a good name for a dog or a pirate, but NMS for a little girl. Go with Marlene!

RedCardinal

plunderb:

I don't think of the dog ? I think of Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol. Scrooge! Scrooge!

Marlene is lovely, but I think Marley is not nearly as attractive. It's not really cute or elegant ? it's just kind of harsh. It makes me think of Harley. Or gnarly. In any event, a good name for a dog or a pirate, but NMS for a little girl. Go with Marlene!

I agree with this. I guess it sounds harsh to me too, I just couldn't describe it in words. 

hollyberry3333

I think Marley is cute, maybe give her the more formal name of Marlene and call her Marley...that way she has options later

Sxia

Definitely NOT unique, imho (per previous poster). Yes, I think of Marley and Me. Or Bob Marley. It does not scream cute little girl. I think maybe Marlena and have her nn be Marley, maybe. Give her a possibility of a more grown up and feminine name.

(I also know another dog before the movie named Marley.) Of course, my kids names are Max and Sam, so those are good "dog" names too. I just don't care for Marley, and I REALLY hate anything with -lee at the end. (Probably too many people asking me how to spell Kimberly. I feel like saying "spell it how it's spelled.")

Spookster

I think its more nick namey than anything. Have  you thought of Marlena? 

https://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/marlena

Just a suggestion  

alliejo725

Marley is NMS. It reminds me of...

1. A dog

2. Scrooge's associate

3. Bob Marley

In. That. Order.

However, unlike PP, I prefer it by and large to Marlene. It's twangy and very dated, IMO. It's a great middle name option because it honors your mom, but if was me, I'd rather be named Marley than Marlene.

Advice: Middle name Marlene. It's honoring to your mother because it's her name. And your daughter won't be associated with a dog.

HannahO28

Though Marley is NMS, I would advise you not to read too much into the votes on your list. People vote in so many different ways. They could be going off of what they would name their own child, or how much they like the sound of the name, or how much they like it in comparison to other names. I mostly just use my list as a way to keep track of names I like and to give people a general sense of my style. I don't put too much stock in the votes. I clear them pretty regularly and a name that had tons of thumbs up might get tons of thumbs down a week later. 

lisa5201

I tend to dislike any name with a -lee ending in general (Briley, Miley, Kiley, ect..) NMSAL

These names to me are also very cutesy. Not elegant. Not professional. Not classy

Trendy, dated and low income 

I can't picture a Marley in an evening gown or as a Dr. or as a news correspondent. I picture her as a preteen playing soccer or a adolescent in pigtails, missing teeth

I also tend to like names that are underused. Marley is pretty popular

Sorry if this is harsh, but it's my honest opinion of the name 

 

sunnydays99

I don't mind it at all.  I know a few adult Marley's and I rarely think of the dog...

lageorgiapaperie

As a given name, it's terrible. I think of last names and dogs.

As a nick name I think it's very cute! Marlene or Marlena or even Marla would work much, much, much better for your daughter in the future.

lilhotcandie69

Marley sounds like a dog name. It reminds me of that movie...Marley and Me.

jburdet1

I think it's great to see what others think of a name, but if you like Marley then you should use it! The name really isn't my style at all, but I don't think it is a low class name either. Anyway, a name doesn't make a person low class or elegent or smart the actual person does

BTW, I met a girl in college named Marley and she was super cute, so I have a good association with the name.

laurakaz13

It is a dog name.  That's all I think about. 

 

tusshie2004

Marley is cute, but I like it as a NN for Marlene. 

jburdet1

mj.reilly:

jburdet1:

Anyway, a name doesn't make a person low class or elegent or smart the actual person does

But it does affect people's first thoughts on the person. A name is often one of the first things someone notices about a person (on paper, at least). It may not be right, but it happens a lot, consciously or subconsciously.

Pick up a copy of Freakonomics.

Oh, I totally agree that a person is pre-judged by their name. I just felt if OP really loves the name Marley, which is obvious by her post then she should use it. She shouldn't feel like everyone has to like her LO's name because they won't.

TripMomma

I like the name, I think of the actress Marlee Matlin first, but I also have not seen the movie or read the book.

alexvause

I know an adult Marley and my 2 yo goddaughter is Marley as well. I have a great association with the name so I personally like it. It's special to you as well so I would use it.

curlylocks3

I like the idea of Marlene as MN better but I don't think its a bad NN.  I probably wouldn't use it as a FN but its really NMS either.

emsumm

I like Marley.  It was my childhood friend's name growing up.  It's only been associated with a dog very recently.

Moxie27

i think of...

1.  bob marley - so, IMO, it's a last name.

2.  a dog 

guilletskichuk

Spookster:

I think its more nick namey than anything. Have  you thought of Marlena? 

https://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/marlena

Just a suggestion  

Yes, actually, I have. I had a classmate in high school with that name and I always thought it was a beautiful name. While it isn't really my style, perhaps it's something I need to revisit. I never actually thought of using Marley as a nn.

Thanks for the suggestion!

guilletskichuk

alliejo725:

Marley is NMS. It reminds me of...

1. A dog

2. Scrooge's associate

3. Bob Marley

In. That. Order.

However, unlike PP, I prefer it by and large to Marlene. It's twangy and very dated, IMO. It's a great middle name option because it honors your mom, but if was me, I'd rather be named Marley than Marlene.

Advice: Middle name Marlene. It's honoring to your mother because it's her name. And your daughter won't be associated with a dog.

I have been leaning more towards this lately. Thank you!

guilletskichuk

HannahO28:

Though Marley is NMS, I would advise you not to read too much into the votes on your list. People vote in so many different ways. They could be going off of what they would name their own child, or how much they like the sound of the name, or how much they like it in comparison to other names. I mostly just use my list as a way to keep track of names I like and to give people a general sense of my style. I don't put too much stock in the votes. I clear them pretty regularly and a name that had tons of thumbs up might get tons of thumbs down a week later. 

Thank you. I do agree. I know my taste is very different to that of the Bumpies who post on here regularly. I cringe when I see a lot of other names that aren't my style but I vote and put my two cents in as well. I'm taking the votes with a grain of salt. I just thought it was interesting that Marley was getting zero votes along with the names like Brinley etc. that I REALLY didn't think others would like. I was just curious why this might be so. I really appreciate all of the responses so far!

guilletskichuk

lisa5201:

I tend to dislike any name with a -lee ending in general (Briley, Miley, Kiley, ect..) NMSAL

These names to me are also very cutesy. Not elegant. Not professional. Not classy

Trendy, dated and low income 

I can't picture a Marley in an evening gown or as a Dr. or as a news correspondent. I picture her as a preteen playing soccer or a adolescent in pigtails, missing teeth

I also tend to like names that are underused. Marley is pretty popular

Sorry if this is harsh, but it's my honest opinion of the name 

 

It's all good! Not harsh at all. I asked for opinions and I appreciate everyone's honesty.

I have heard Marley used elsewhere but not in my personal life. I have never met a Marley which is actually quite surprising. I've lived in several places across western Canada and have been teaching for a while, yet I've never encountered it.

Also, I CAN picture a doctor or other professional named Marley. I guess it all depends on our associations with it. Now if it were spelled with -ee or -ie, I don't think I would feel the same way.

Thanks for your input!

guilletskichuk

TripMomma:

I like the name, I think of the actress Marlee Matlin first, but I also have not seen the movie or read the book.

Yes, I think of her as well.

guilletskichuk

emsumm:

I like Marley.  It was my childhood friend's name growing up.  It's only been associated with a dog very recently.

I do agree. That is my biggest frustration. I liked the name long before the movie became popular.

It's really my own association of the name with the dog that bothers me the most.

I am going to have to put more thought into this obviously. And, it's okay! I have a lot of time. I'm not pregnant right now anyways! lol

guilletskichuk

Thank you so much for your responses, everyone! I really appreciate all of the time and consideration you've put into generating your answers.

As you can tell, this name has a lot more meaning to me than any of the other names on my list. That is especially why I wanted opinions on it.

Thanks again! 

Now...to work on getting that BFP once again. 

kms34

Even before the book and movie I thought it was a dog name.  I think of someone who loves Bob Marley but has enough sense to NOT name a baby that so they name their dog Marley.

For a baby name it's trendy, cutesy and very childish.

sunnyday016

I think of Scrooge & Bob Marley. I just don't think it's a pretty or feminine name, and I like pretty & fem names for girls.

apc1929

I think even before the book and movie a lot of people would associate that name with a pet... I had a Lab named this.  That said it wouldn't hold me back if I loved it and especially if it were in honor of your mom.  Hey I LOVE  Sadie and every time it comes up on this board people say its a dog name but that wouldn't hold me back from using it in the future..

BostonGayGal

I really like it. It passes the pronunciation test. But I wasn't sure whether it was for a boy or girl at first. But I like it.

SarahPLiz

plunderb:

I don't think of the dog ? I think of Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol. Scrooge! Scrooge!

Marlene is lovely, but I think Marley is not nearly as attractive. It's not really cute or elegant ? it's just kind of harsh. It makes me think of Harley. Or gnarly. In any event, a good name for a dog or a pirate, but NMS for a little girl. Go with Marlene!

This. It also makes me think of Marlboro ciggies, but mostly Jacob Marley.  

Moneypenny424

TripMomma:

I like the name, I think of the actress Marlee Matlin first, but I also have not seen the movie or read the book.

I also think of Marlee Matlin and a character on a soap opera in the 80s (Another World, maybe?), then I think of Bob Marley.  I actually don't mind this name and love the suggestion to use it as a NN for Marlene/Marlena.

Becky19

It's a dog name.

g00dg0llymsm0lly

There's nothing wrong with it, but it has strong associations with a dog and a pot smoking hippie.

kim1989

when I saw the name I did definately think of the Marley and Me film straight away

hello_nyx

I like the sound of Marley. I had a "big sister" in Kindergarten who was named Marlee.

..But ever since high school, I cannot get past the negative connotation I got from all the stoner kids naming their pets Marley "drug slang"..Marley Green, Marley Blaze, Marley Kilo, just to name a few.Yes, those are real cat's names (and Kilo the pitt bull).. yikes!

Ivana_Stolichnaya

 

I instantly thought of the book/movie