I love the names [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] and [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] on boys- but lately I love the thought of a little girl called [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] or [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]/[name_u]Alijah[/name_u] - I think these names are both very soft and have a feminine feel- would it really be that much of a stretch? I think pairing the names with very feminine middle names would sound nice- I love [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
They are both all boy to me. I don’t like them for girls at all, sorry. [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] I can see for a girl more than [name_m]Elijah[/name_m], but I’d prefer [name_u]Ezri[/name_u] or maybe the softer spelling [name_m]Esra[/name_m] for a girl, if at all. Maybe [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] for a girl instead of [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]…or something pronounced like the Lijah part of [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]? Not sure if that exists.
Of course, I’m not really into unisex names period, so my opinion shouldn’t carry too much weight.
ooh I like the suggestion of [name_m]Esra[/name_m]!
I am not against unisex names on either gender but these two names are both masculine to me, especially [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]. What also needs to be remembered is that middle names are quite often not heard. So giving a very feminine middle name with a unisex name or a boys’ name on a girl will not help others know the gender of the person.
some names you might like -
[name_u]Arden[/name_u]
[name_u]Auden[/name_u]
[name_u]Kendall[/name_u]
[name_u]Marley[/name_u]
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]
[name_u]Ellison[/name_u]
[name_u]Hollis[/name_u]
[name_u]Arley[/name_u]
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u]
[name_u]Ashby[/name_u]
[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]
Coming from a Jewish background I think [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] & [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] are all boy and I really dislike these names on girls. Suggestion [name_f]Selah[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] & [name_f]Noa[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]? These names are legitimate feminine choices but have a slight masculine sound especially [name_f]Noa[/name_f].
They are all boy to me.
No, no, no! [name_m]Just[/name_m] because they sound feminine doesn’t mean they are, I adore both names on boys and they should not make the transition to girls. They are boy names with history and it’s just a big no.
I genuinely don’t understand the issue so many people have with choosing names of an opposite gender? What if my child ends up gay/trans/or just a tomboy and prefers a masculine sound? And if she’s a girly girl what’s wrong with giving her a name with strong historical ties to a man instead of a women? I too come from a jewish background and don’t really see the issue with giving my daughter the name [name_m]Ezra[/name_m], especially when there are little girls being named after ridiculous objects like cars and food. Gender is a societal construct really when you think about it. And I do agree that it could upset a child to give them a name that feels wrong to the gender they identify with- (ie a girly girl named [name_m]Butch[/name_m]) but that’s why I like the name [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] because it has a very feminine sound to it- idk I just don’t see the big deal with names crossing gender barriers- If anyone feels differently please feel free to explain why bc I am genuinely interested in this- I may start a thread about it actually
I think [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] works better as a girl’s name than [name_m]Ezra[/name_m].
I agree with pretty much everything you said there, and I think [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] (I like [name_m]Esra[/name_m] even better) could work on a girl. [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] could work too, I suppose, but it’s too masculine to me. Kind of like naming your kid [name_u]Michael[/name_u]. Sure, it’s possible, but it sounds so manly!
To the person who said “no, these are boys’ names with a history and they shouldn’t become girls’ names”…well, many names go from girls’ names to boys’ names ([name_f]Shirley[/name_f] and [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u], anyone?), so that’s a non-argument to me. The only reasons I have for not liking some boys’ names on girls are 1. they tend to sound a little trendy and/or tacky (I don’t have that problem with [name_m]Ezra[/name_m], though) and 2. some parents say “I want my girl to sound strong.” Um…so you can’t sound strong with a girls’ name? That’s really my only issue.
Bottom line: use what you want.
I think my problem is that 1. no one ever thinks about girls names on boys, 2. it’s really not fun for a girl to be called a boy, especially when they’re teenagers, even if the person didn’t know any better, 3. it seems to be mostly Americans who do this (which isn’t really a problem) but it still makes me wonder why? Is femininity that bad to them?
I don’t mind Unisex names, though, and with unisex I mean names that are either more popular for the opposite gender or ones that have been used evenly for years, where you couldn’t make an assumption about if the person was a boy or girl just from look at their name (so no, [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Micheal[/name_m], [name_u]Elliott[/name_u], [name_m]Elijah[/name_m], etc. are not unisex names).
However, [name_m]Esra[/name_m] is a Turkish girls name, so you’re safe there. [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_u]Elia[/name_u] could be categorized as a girls name as a diminutive of [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] is as male to me, though as [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] is female.
I think [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] is soft, but I love it for the boys. I see the appeal, but, [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] on a girl is not my thing.
I almost like [name_m]Ezra[/name_m] on a girl, [name_u]Ezri[/name_u] is also an option you might like.
What about [name_u]Micah[/name_u]? I like [name_u]Micah[/name_u] for boys and girls equally.
Also, [name_m]Adriel[/name_m] might appeal to you.
Basically what bookish said. I don’t mind some gender neutral names or some names that are switching genders but I’m not a huge fan of current trends…in anything…call me a rebel I guess. So when I hear traditional male names suddenly switched to female, I immediately assume (I know, I shouldn’t assume, but it’s human nature to do so) that the person is trying to hop on the bandwagon and be trendy. Plus, it bothers me, just as bookish said, that a parent is like, I want my daughter to be strong and independent and they think the only way to that end is by giving them a male name. You’re right, gender is a construction, but you’re not going to break that construction down and start changing people’s minds just by giving girls traditionally male names…actions speak louder than words and all that jazz.
All that said: [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]/[name_m]Esra[/name_m] is not awful on a girl. I think it could be quite charming. [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]…I’ve never been in love with for a boy, so I’m not really keen on it for a girl either. I think it’s just the sound of it.
I could picture [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]/[name_m]Esra[/name_m] on a girl and it would be quite cute. However, like previous comments has mentioned, it would mean a lifetime of people assuming that she was a boy just from her name. That being said I don’t mind unisex names and think that the soft sound of [name_m]Ezra[/name_m]/[name_m]Esra[/name_m] could work for both sexes. I’m not as big on [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] though.
While I don’t absolutely [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] either of the names for a girl, I think [name_u]Alijah[/name_u] could be pretty. Not sure if you know [name_f]Kendra[/name_f] and [name_m]Hank[/name_m] Baskett named their daughter [name_u]Alijah[/name_u]. You could also use [name_u]Ali[/name_u] as a nickname. I’d pair it with a girly middle name.
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m] is a boy’s name for me and only a boy’s name.
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m]…well, it sounds like a girl’s name, and is very similar to a few, but I still prefer it on a boy.
[name_u]Alijah[/name_u] could work on a girl, but it’s not my style.
If you like Bible-ish names on girls, what about [name_f]Noa[/name_f]? It’s like [name_f]Noa[/name_f], but without the -h. Popular in Spain, and it’s very pretty!
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m] I could see on a girl, but def not [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]/[name_u]Alijah[/name_u]!
[name_f]Noemi[/name_f] could be nicknamed [name_f]Noa[/name_f]/[name_m]Noe[/name_m], and naomi is also in the bible, I believe. I am not religious, but I love biblical names.
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f] nn Esri or [name_m]Esra[/name_m]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f] R___ nn Esri or [name_m]Esra[/name_m]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f] sounds similar to [name_m]Elijah[/name_m]… wonder if that appeals to you at all. Totally different vibes though.
Why would you do this?