View Message

Marlowe...for a boy?
I'm having a love affair with unisex, surnames as first or middle names. Do you think Marlowe is usable as a boys middle name? I put the e on the end so it's a bit like a tribute to Christopher Marlowe - does that make it a bit more usable as a masculine name?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

I think it's a great name for a boy. I love it for a girls and a boys name. I've used it in one of my published books.
vote up1
Yes, yes, and yes. I've only ever been able to see Marlowe (in any form) as a boys' name alone, (even with the e) partly because of Christopher Marlowe, and the fact it just sounds completely masculine to me. Plus where I live it's not popular for either gender, but just a touch more for boys. I definitely think it's usable for a boy, and very handsome too.
vote up2
Yes! It's great on a boy, buch better than for a girl.
vote up1
I totally associate it with the character on The Wire but I don't image you'll run into that too often.It's alright as a middle name, I would assume it was a family surname used to honor. I don't like it in the first name spot, it feels strange in my mouth. Like I'm exaggerating syllables.
vote up1
Yes, I think it works.
I usually don't like boys' names for girls, but strangely enough I like Marlowe for a girl. But it works for a boy, too. It hasn't become an almost totally female name, like Allison and Shirley.
vote up1
You and 3/4 of the entire United States are having this love affair.I think Marlowe is usable as a boy's middle name.I don't think the E on the end makes much difference as far as it being masculine or feminine, since it's so much a surname. Anyway it still sounds the same as Marlo, which is unisex and a personal name. To me Marlo would be a way cooler middle name, because it's neither a this-sounds-so-kewl someone-else's-surname name, nor a pretentious reference to British lit. But, do what you will - my opinion is only my opinion, based on my own personal naming-values, and I wouldn't bother judging if I met someone with the name.

This message was edited 5/31/2016, 9:33 AM

vote up1
Marlowe IS a boy's name. So yes, that is completely fine. Marlowe used on a female makes absolutely no sense
vote up1
I don't know that it needs an e, but I think Marlow or Marlowe are great for a boy. And as a middle name, I wouldn't bat an eye.
vote up1
Sure, I don't see why not.That said, I think Christopher "Kit" is a much nicer Marlowe tribute.
vote up1