She seems to get attention wherever she goes, especially during the holidays. There are songs repeating her name, and her name (correctly spelled) was the title of a 2002 movie starring and directed by John Schneider.

Since her name change, no one has come right out and asked her if she is kidding when she tells them her name. There have been other circumstances, however, in which she has felt the need to explain.

"I changed my name in my work (computer) system," she said. "The head guy changed it back because he thought it was a joke.

"When I make an appointment somewhere, it is kind of awkward," she said. "I just tell them this isn't a prank call."

Christmas has been working at Ancestry.com for three years. Through her work in that company, she has found that there are between 20 and 100 other Mary Christmases in the United States.

The last name of Christmas has its origins in Wales, she said.

"It was given to people that were born on Christmas Day," she said. "Somewhere back there someone of my husband's ancestors was born on Christmas. It is not a super common name."

Yet she is not the first in the family to have an interesting combination of first and last names.

She said her husband's grandmother was named Joy Christmas, and one time when she was shopping at JCPenney in Provo, she was held at the counter because the store clerk thought her name was phony.

Christmas has a positive attitude about the reaction to her name.

"I think it is an opportunity for me to have a better sense of humor," she said. "More than anything it has been fun. It has been a lot of other things, too. For many people, it seems to make them happy. 'You are my favorite,' they tell me. 'I think of your name and it makes me happy.' "

Her husband, Brian, says the best part of her name is that he has Mary Christmas all year long, not just during the holidays.

And yes, when she greets others she still tells them "merry Christmas."