Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like Marian isn't really a name - seems like a misspelling of Mary/ianne or Mairin/Marin?

Of course Marian is a name. It's pronounced "Merry-un," which is distinct from Mary Anne or Marin ("Mair-in"). It's less common, but still lovely.

I think Marian would be more distinct, OP. Great name!

Ok, You are right. I looked it up, it is a name. Interestingly, its the female form of Marius! (Les Mis anyone?) And a common male name in Slovak/Czech.

Apologies.

I'm biased because my sister is "Marianne," but it just sounds and looks better than Marion. Less likely to be mispronounced and more feminine.

Anonymous wrote:I'm Catholic so to me, Marian relates to the Virgin Mary. Personally I would use Marianne or Marion unless that doesn't bother you

+1 Marian is an adjective to me.

I love Marian and vote for that. I do think it will get mispronounced as Mary-Ann, but it's really lovely and I'd charge ahead anyhow

Anonymous wrote:I really think these are very distinct names. Like I would pronounce Marianne like "Mary Anne" - emphasis on both Ma- and Anne. And I would pronounce Marian like the anglicized version of Marian Cotillard's name -- all one word with the emphasis on the Ma- only.

I personally prefer Marian because I associate Marianne with women of my mother's generation -- I have a former coworker and a Kindergarten teacher with that name and it doesn't sound like a child's name to me. I also always think of Marianne the Librarian, which isn't necessarily a bad reference, but also feels old fashioned and a bit stodgy.

Marian feels a bit fresher to me.

+1 These aren't alternate spellings, they're totally different names. I prefer Marianne (actually I prefer Maryanne) but I like more old fashioned names, so I guess I agree with PP that Marian feels fresher.

I'm Catholic so to me, Marian relates to the Virgin Mary. Personally I would use Marianne or Marion unless that doesn't bother you

Anonymous wrote:Don’t they have different pronunciations? Marion has the emphasis on the first syllable and Marianne, the emphasis is on the last.

This.

OP, do you like a more romantic (Marianne) or crisper (Marion) name sound?

I love the name Marianne, so that is my vote. It just looks so pretty on the page. And this is irrational, because they are probably pronounced the same, but i think it sounds better than Marian.

i think of marianne faithfull who is glamorous and beautiful. when i hear marian i think of maid marian from robin hood, the disney version with foxes.

Don’t they have different pronunciations? Marion has the emphasis on the first syllable and Marianne, the emphasis is on the last.

I really think these are very distinct names. Like I would pronounce Marianne like "Mary Anne" - emphasis on both Ma- and Anne. And I would pronounce Marian like the anglicized version of Marian Cotillard's name -- all one word with the emphasis on the Ma- only.

I personally prefer Marian because I associate Marianne with women of my mother's generation -- I have a former coworker and a Kindergarten teacher with that name and it doesn't sound like a child's name to me. I also always think of Marianne the Librarian, which isn't necessarily a bad reference, but also feels old fashioned and a bit stodgy.

Marian feels a bit fresher to me.

Anonymous wrote:I feel like Marian isn't really a name - seems like a misspelling of Mary/ianne or Mairin/Marin?

Of course Marian is a name. It's pronounced "Merry-un," which is distinct from Mary Anne or Marin ("Mair-in"). It's less common, but still lovely.

I think Marian would be more distinct, OP. Great name!

I like Marian better. It's a different name, and I prefer the sound of Marian over Marianne.

I feel like Marian isn't really a name - seems like a misspelling of Mary/ianne or Mairin/Marin?

I prefer Marianne. Sounds better, and Marian will get misspelled as "Marion" constantly (or misheard as "Marilyn")

Opinions on which to choose for a baby girl?