[name_m]Hi[/name_m] gang,
I’ve been struggling for boy names. Hubby really likes [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] but I would love a modern twist on it. I came up with [name_f]Josey[/name_f] and I actually love it…but if it reads too feminine, I obviously don’t want to subject my kid to a life of torment. I know there have been some male Joseys, but it’s super rare. Thoughts??
I don’t know. I’m hesitant. My first reaction to seeing [name_f]Josey[/name_f] in the boys’ forum was to think of the [name_m]Clint[/name_m] [name_m]Eastwood[/name_m] movie, The Outlaw [name_f]Josey[/name_f] [name_m]Wales[/name_m], which I haven’t actually seen. So, I know the name can have some credibility as a boy’s name, even maybe a cowboy or outdoors or rough-and-tumble vibe? But… [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is a girl’s name. On the other hand, I’m of the opinion that a nickname can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. Most baby nicknames end in the long E sound, and that gets dropped over time as a kid gets older. So, [name_f]Josey[/name_f] could morph into Joze or [name_m]Jose[/name_m] (long E, not the Spanish name) or [name_m]Joe[/name_m] over time, or even [name_u]Joss[/name_u]. Or he could choose to keep going by [name_f]Josey[/name_f], or he might revert to the full [name_m]Joseph[/name_m]. I guess overall I’d say it’s doable.
I really like [name_f]Josey[/name_f] for a boy, and [name_m]Jos[/name_m]/[name_u]Joss[/name_u] would be a fantastic short form too! It’s soft but also rugged and cool. Thumbs up from me.
I like it. It could also be short for [name_m]Joshua[/name_m], [name_m]Jonas[/name_m] or [name_m]Josiah[/name_m]. Maybe even [name_m]John[/name_m].
I like it.
Hmmm…I actually like it! [name_u]Josie[/name_u] is really well-known as a girl’s name, but I don’t think that would be an issue, once people would meet him. After all, my husband has an Uncle [name_u]Jodi[/name_u] (his parents like the “[name_m]Joe[/name_m]” sound but didn’t want [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], from what I was told)…so it doesn’t seem too weird to me.
Doesn’t sound feminine at all, then again not many names are, most are unisex.
I think naming him [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] with the nn [name_f]Josey[/name_f] would be really cool! I think [name_f]Josey[/name_f] is nice for a boy.
I have a girl [name_u]Josie[/name_u] ([name_f]Josephine[/name_f]), and I think it could work for a boy too. I think the spelling “[name_f]Josey[/name_f]” makes it look more masculine, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for a [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] or [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I would go for it!
I like it. And if he finds it feminine then he can chose a different nickname for himself.
Jozy Altidore is a well-known American soccer player and he wears the name really well!
I have a boyfriend named [name_f]Josey[/name_f] and he was bullied in high school for his name. He’s a really cool guy and I love his name - but be prepared for people to potentially bully him for his name as it’s generally used for girls.
He rarely gets called [name_f]Josey[/name_f] these days - he goes by [name_m]Joe[/name_m] with friends. I’ve only ever heard him called [name_f]Josey[/name_f] by his grandmother and cousin, or if he’s giving his name to the bank or something.
Seems more unisex or male than female although gender doesn’t really matter at his point.
My Southwest Border environment nudges me to see the Spanish [name_m]Jose[/name_m] (Ho-[name_m]SAY[/name_m]) here. Which is solidly in the male column. Make of that what you will, it’s just an observation. [name_m]Jose[/name_m] may be a little too Spanish for English speaking communities’ use. But it might not stay that way forever!
I like it, too, I think it just depends on the area you live in–whether people will tease/berate him or not. In my area, people wouldn’t so I would go for it.
My son is friends with a boy named [name_m]Josiah[/name_m] who has that nn (also sometimes Jossy). All of the kids call him that happily. No issues as far as I know.
I guess I’m the oddball out. I think it’s too close to [name_u]Josie[/name_u] and too femme.
I like the previous suggestion of Jozy. The Z makes it feel fresh. And the harder z makes it feel more masculine than a softer S sound. What about [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] nn Jozy?
I didn’t read through all the replies, but I wonder if anyone has suggested [name_m]Yossi[/name_m]? It’s a nickname for [name_m]Yosef[/name_m], which is a variant of [name_m]Joseph[/name_m]. It’s adorable and definitely a male name.
[name_m]Josiah[/name_m] called [name_f]Josey[/name_f] would be fine.