A mother of four has shared her thoughts on the criticism surrounding her decision to name each of her daughters Mary.
While many families choose to pass down names through generations, using the identical name for all children might seem excessive to some.
Nonetheless, this mother argues that naming all her daughters Mary is not unusual and is actually a common practice.
Residing on a cattle ranch in California, the family of the five Mary Heffernans, alongside Mary’s husband and the children’s father Brian, has affectionately named their home The Five Marys.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Mary described the name as ‘strong,’ symbolizing ‘humility, steadiness, and strength.’
In response to criticism from social media, Mary mentioned to the Daily Mail that people often have their own opinions, but her family doesn’t require outside ‘approval.’
She added: “I don’t spend much time worrying about it. If anything it makes people remember us and our family cattle brand, [called Five Marys].
“The girls love their names, and that’s what matters.”
Regarding their naming choice, the mother explained that the name is ‘strong,’ and she feels ‘honored to carry the name myself.’ Naming their first daughter Mary seemed a natural way to honor one of their grandmothers and continue the tradition. She also noted: “It felt timeless and meaningful.”
When they were expecting their first child, choosing a baby name was effortless, as Mary’s family had a history of passing down the same name. They extended this tradition to all their children, not just the eldest daughter.
“Once we started, there was no going back,” she shared in a Facebook post last year: “We have a long history of strong Catholic women named Mary on both sides of our family.”
Although they initially planned to name their first daughter Mary, the couple hadn’t anticipated having all girls.
To avoid confusion, each daughter has a unique middle name and nickname.
The eldest, Mary Frances Borchard (Francie), is named in memory of Brian’s late grandmother Bernice Borchard.
The name Frances is derived from Mary’s sister and great-grandfather, signifying the family’s tribute to ‘honoring strong family members from both sides.’
Next is Mary Marjorie (Maisie), named after her maternal grandmother and great-aunt, both named Mary and Marjorie respectively.
The third daughter, Mary Jane (Janie), shares her name with her mother’s paternal grandmother, Mary Jane.
The youngest is named Mary Teresa Katherine, honoring Aunt Tere (Teresa), Aunt Kathy who was her godmother, and her great-aunt Kate, who passed away during her pregnancy with Tess.