[Opinions] Marion / Marian
I've been thinking about the name Marion / Marian lately, and I was wondering what everyone else thinks. Do you consider Marion and Marian both to be unisex, or do you think one is more feminine or masculine than the other?
I think of Marion as being feminine and Marian as being masculine, though I can see how somebody would think differently. WDYT?
Shannon
I think of Marion as being feminine and Marian as being masculine, though I can see how somebody would think differently. WDYT?
Shannon
Replies
I think of Marion as a female name and Marian as a male name, but it's flexible.
They're both borderline unisex to me, since I've seen each on both sexes, but Marian suits a man marginally better, in my opinion. Marianne is the girl name; and Marion on a man suggests either a respelling of Marian, or a surname.
I can deal with either name on either sex.. neither is particularly "masculine" or "feminine" seeming to me.
- chazda
They're both borderline unisex to me, since I've seen each on both sexes, but Marian suits a man marginally better, in my opinion. Marianne is the girl name; and Marion on a man suggests either a respelling of Marian, or a surname.
I can deal with either name on either sex.. neither is particularly "masculine" or "feminine" seeming to me.
- chazda
It's all feminine to me, but I also think it's kinda dated. It reminds me of the mom on Happy Days.
Marion is technically unisex, but it's been traditionally used for boys for ages. Marion Morrison is the most famous case; he's better known as John Wayne.
Additionally, the -on ending looks more masculine to me than the -an ending.
So, I prefer Marion for boys (as a masculine form of Mary) and Marian for girls.
True, Marie and Maria are used in French-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, respectively, as male names--usually as mns, paired with 100% masculine fns--, but here in NA that practice is uncommon. Marion is a more familiar, perhaps more accepted alternative if you want honour a Mary by naming your son after her... or if you just like the name.
Both Marian and Marion are dated, yes, but that doesn't bother me at all. I think many dated names sound very refreshing amongst the sea of today's popular names.
Miranda
Additionally, the -on ending looks more masculine to me than the -an ending.
So, I prefer Marion for boys (as a masculine form of Mary) and Marian for girls.
True, Marie and Maria are used in French-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, respectively, as male names--usually as mns, paired with 100% masculine fns--, but here in NA that practice is uncommon. Marion is a more familiar, perhaps more accepted alternative if you want honour a Mary by naming your son after her... or if you just like the name.
Both Marian and Marion are dated, yes, but that doesn't bother me at all. I think many dated names sound very refreshing amongst the sea of today's popular names.
Miranda
ditto. MIranda said it better than I could :)
They're both legitimately unisex names. I like Marion for a girl.
Well I'm english & generally I consider Marion & Marian to be female however I could come to see either as a unisex name, certainly alot better than some names that are used as unisex ones. Personally I would prefer Marion for a boy & Marianne for a girl, as Marian looks slightly incomlete to me. I don't really like Marion or Marian much but I do like Marianna (& nn Mia or Anna).
Evy
Evy
Both are very masculine to me. I love the name.