The arrival of a newborn can inspire profound emotions and decisions. For 44-year-old Morgana McCabe Allan and her husband Duncan, this was certainly the case when their daughter, Meribelle, was born on December 8, 2018. The couple, from Dalgetty Bay in Fife, initially struggled to find a name that resonated with them, but after three days of contemplation, they landed on a name that perfectly captured the spirit of the season.
Morgana, who has always held a deep affection for Christmas, described the moment of her daughter’s birth as transformational. After a challenging delivery that left her with significant blood loss, the couple felt as though they had received a “Christmas miracle” when they finally met their healthy baby girl. Initially, they had planned to name her either Philippa or Aurora, but those names felt unsuitable once they saw her.
Choosing a Unique Name
After much deliberation, Morgana and Duncan decided on the name Meribelle, a blend of the words “merry” and “bell.” Morgana shared her thoughts with the Mirror in 2023, stating, “When she was born, she just wasn’t a Philippa or an Aurora.” The couple explored numerous names before Meribelle came to them, seemingly out of nowhere.
Morgana explained that the name holds special significance for them. “There’s a fairy story, a Christmas story that my dad used to tell me about a magical fairy. We were kind of throwing around Christmassy ideas, and suddenly, Meribelle just kind of came to us,” she said. According to Morgana, Meribelle means “star of the sea,” which resonates with their family values and interests, particularly their love for sailing.
The festive atmosphere of the hospital, filled with decorations, may have influenced their choice. Morgana recalled, “It just felt like the perfect one. As soon as we thought of it, it was like, that’s the one. Every other name was off the list.”
Mixed Reactions from Family
Upon revealing their daughter’s name to family members, Morgana’s parents reacted positively, expressing joy at the uniqueness of the name. However, Duncan’s parents were not initially as enthusiastic. Morgana recalled their response: “They were like, ‘oh my god, what have you done? You can’t be serious? This is a joke, it’s not April.'” Fortunately, their skepticism did not last long, and they eventually embraced the name.
As Meribelle grew, she began to correct people who mistakenly called her Mary, proudly asserting, “It’s not Mary, it’s Meribelle.” Morgana affectionately noted that Meribelle has a playful nickname, “Merrie Penguin,” inspired by the sounds she made in her sleep as a newborn.
Morgana believes that the name Meribelle embodies joy and happiness. “It’s always felt like the most joyful name. There’s nothing more joyful than your child having a name that literally evokes joy,” she said. Meribelle’s presence has not only brought happiness to the family but has also inspired Morgana to pursue her entrepreneurial ambitions.
After Meribelle’s birth, Morgana launched a business aimed at helping others create joyful lives and successful careers. She emphasized the importance of work-life balance, especially for women, stating, “I didn’t want to have a baby daughter and have no time to see her.”
Duncan’s involvement in their children’s lives has also deepened, as he transitioned from his traditional job to become a more active caregiver. Morgana remarked, “He’s been a major caregiver in her life, instead of, we see daddy at bedtime. That’s been wonderful.”
In looking back at their journey, Morgana reflects on the profound changes Meribelle has brought to their lives. “I never imagined that a few months later our lives would have changed so much. I really do think that’s got so much to do with the energy that she brought into our lives. She is pure joy.”
