Mom Named Mary Goes Viral for Also Naming Her 4 Daughters Mary Following a Deep-Rooted Family Tradition (Exclusive)
- - Mom Named Mary Goes Viral for Also Naming Her 4 Daughters Mary Following a Deep-Rooted Family Tradition (Exclusive)
Kayla GrantJanuary 30, 2026 at 5:30 AM
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Mary Heffernan and her family.
Tiana Sheridan
A California mom is going viral for the unique tradition she shares with her daughters
Mary Heffernan tells PEOPLE she's "honored to carry the name" Mary, which is connected to "many generations of strong, confident, inspiring women" on both sides of the family
It was that pride in their ancestry that prompted the proud parents to decide to continue the tradition with their four daughters, naming each of them a different iteration of Mary
A mom is going viral for the unique connection she shares with her four daughters.
For Mary Heffernan, 47, and her husband Brian Heffernan, 53, the name "Mary" holds significance and deep meaning. Mary tells PEOPLE she's "honored to carry the name" connected to "many generations of strong, confident, inspiring women" on both sides of her family.
It was that pride in their ancestry that prompted the California couple to continue the tradition with their four daughters, naming each of them a different iteration of Mary.
"Mary is a strong name that carries strength, humility and steadiness, qualities I value deeply as a mother and as a woman," says Mary, reflecting on the name her and her daughters share. "When we named our first daughter Mary, it felt timeless and special to carry on the name of one of our grandmothers."
"When we had our second, we honored another grandmother," she explains. "We honestly didn't think we'd have four daughters, but fortunately we had a lot more strong Marys to name them after! The name Mary had become a thread in our family and unifies our family culture, something I much appreciate, raising teenagers in today's world."
Mary tells PEOPLE that each of her daughters — MaryFrances, MaryMarjorie, MaryJane, and MaryTeresa — may be named Mary; however, they each have their own full name and nickname to reflect their own identity and their "very different personalities."
"MaryFrances, [or] Francie, [is] named after family and rooted in tradition. She’s steady, thoughtful and has an old-soul presence," says the doting mom. "MaryMarjorie, [or] Maisie, [is] softer, joyful and full of heart. Her name fits her spirit perfectly."
"MaryJane, [or] JJ, [is] strong, determined and a natural leader. Josephine felt like the right balance of grit and grace," she continues. "MaryTeresa, [or] Tessa, [is] spirited, curious and bold. Her name reflects independence and warmth."
To avoid confusion in their household, the family tends to use each other's nicknames when they are communicating with one another.
"It’s rarely confusing in daily life," Mary tells PEOPLE, before jokingly adding the only time their names get a little tricky is "when we try to clear TSA as a family!"
Mary Heffernan and her family.
Ben Christensen / Yearly Co
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For the proud girl mom, the tradition she shares with her daughters only serves as a reminder of where true individuality comes from.
"It’s a reminder that individuality doesn’t come from a name. It comes from rooted family tradition and the strong women who came before them," Mary explains. "They share something meaningful, but they’ve each grown into completely different young women. I love that the tradition connects them without defining them."
Asked if her daughters have any plans to continue the tradition with their kids, Mary tells PEOPLE that she's leaving that decision "entirely up to them."
"If they do, I’ll be honored," she says. "If they don’t, I’ll respect it just as much and have a feeling they might carry on family names in one way or another!"
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
