A mother from California has defended her decision to name all four of her daughters Mary, continuing a longstanding family tradition. Mary Heffernan, 47, and her husband Brian named their first daughter Mary Frances, and when subsequent children were all girls, they stuck with the name Mary for each.
In a Facebook post, Mary explained that each daughter goes by a middle name or nickname to avoid confusion. The firstborn, Mary Frances Borchard, goes by Francie, named after Brian's grandmother. The second, Mary Marjorie, is called Maisie, after Mary's grandmother and great-aunt. The third, Mary Jane, goes by Janie, named after Mary's paternal grandmother. The youngest, Mary Teresa Katherine, is called Tessa, after several family members.
Mary told The Daily Mail: 'Our family doesn't need outside approval. The girls love their names, and that's what matters. Mary is a strong name. To me, it represents humility, steadiness and strength.' The family runs a cattle ranch and business called The Five Marys, and have faced online scrutiny over the naming choice.
