I’m REALLY surprised to hear that you think [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] was really popular as that’s not been my experience at all! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you mind if I ask where you’re from? I’d have thought it’d be popular in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] if anywhere but never really has been and it’s about the only name I haven’t heard pop up in [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u] or Manhattan. Maybe 100 years ago tho! As for [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]'s sister, I don’t think we’d have trouble. Nowadays [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is kind of old world and historic, a little bit quirky/underused, I’d way rather we use the same vibe for her sister than to be boring enough to choose another gender neutral name. A lot of names on our list would fit - [name_f]Liberty[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Mathilde[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] ([name_f]Cleo[/name_f]) etc. I actually think [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] and [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] work together pretty well since imo they’re both very 20s.
Funnily enough [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] is another gender neutral name I really like! It’s not something I’d name Possibly-[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] but I have a friend with the name and it’s so cool on her. Those are the vibes [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] gives off to me and I was actually named after a silent film star so it’d be cool to keep that going. I think the ‘its a mans name omg!!’ thing is kind of moot too since I know 3 girls named [name_u]Everett[/name_u], a [name_m]Finnley[/name_m], and soooo many Lennons, Rays, Denvers, Parkers, etc etc. that idk if her peers in school will really ‘get’ that surname names were originally gendered.
We go back and forth on [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]/[name_u]Wallis[/name_u] too actually.
In my opinion, [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is exclusively masculine at this point in time - I know two little boys named [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] for their respective grandfathers. Like previous posters have said, I too would never ever question the gender of “[name_u]Wallace[/name_u]” and would automatically assume it’s a boy. If you like the surname vibe, I’d go for names that are typically used on girls like [name_u]Kennedy[/name_u], [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], [name_f]McKenna[/name_f], etc, but I realize you like the [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] association. What about [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Willow[/name_f], or [name_f]Alice[/name_f]? I just don’t see [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] as gender-neutral or usable in the US for a little girl. Sorry!
FYI [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] [name_m]Simpson[/name_m]'s real first name was [name_f]Bessie[/name_f].
Well, up until the 70s it has always ranked in at least the 300s, and has been in or near the top 100 for many years. It never ranked in the top 1000 for girls.
And saying it has a 1920s vibe is true but for boys rather than for girls really. It’d be like saying Dorothy being used in a boy is reminiscent of the 20s.
If you want to use it do go ahead, in a country of girl Elliots and Jameses she may not stick out as much as elsewhere but be prepared that she will be confused for a boy more often that not when people only read her name.
Personally, I often like boy names on girls. I’m a big fan of unisex names. I love [name_u]Spencer[/name_u] for a girl for instance.
That being said, I really don’t like [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] for a girl. Additionally, there aren’t any great nicknames for it if she feels it’s too masculine—[name_u]Wally[/name_u] and [name_m]Ace[/name_m] are both traditional boy’s nicknames.
Could you try [name_u]Hollis[/name_u]?
As soon as I saw Wallace I immediately thought of Simpson. It’s the connotation with the sound of the name not the spelling that matters. It will be heard more than read. Exactly why unique spellings don’t really individualize the names.
In the latest season of Netflix the crown there is an entire episode devoted to the Duke and Wallis’ Nazi connections and at the end there is a real photo of Hitler kissing Simpson’s hand.
I would avoid it.
I agree completely!!
If you like honoring your Scottish heritage, perhaps some of these heroic Scottish women’s names might spark your interest:
There’s some overlap among the lists.
As someone who loves her Scottish heritage (even if it is just a wee bit), I enjoyed reading about these historical Scottish women, most of whom I’d never heard of. If I were to pick a name from the links above, [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] would be my choice…the historical [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] was quite the strong-willed & clever woman!
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is a beautiful choice for a girl in my opinion- although I tend to gravitate toward the not so fragile names. It’s one of those few names that sounds strong - but best carried by a girl. I too chewed [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] around- for a boy name - and even messed with the spelling… [name_u]Wallis[/name_u], [name_m]Wallas[/name_m], etc but didn’t stick. I too love the [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] undertones. Some suggestions for middle name:
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Annette[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
One thing I wanted to throw out there with the name [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f], it’s a beauty but she might end up a [name_f]Roz[/name_f]…
Haha it’s funny you should say that because he’s apparently in my family tree too! I come from the area he was born so it’s kinda something people roll their eyes at when you say because everyone claims to be a descendant lol. I hope this doesn’t offend you but I totally think of [name_u]Lennon[/name_u] as a girl’s name and a [name_u]Lennon[/name_u] [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] would say ‘girl!’ to me for sure. But to you it’s very much boy and I think kids today probably wouldn’t leap to either gender because they’re used to girls named [name_u]Ray[/name_u]/[name_u]Everett[/name_u]/[name_u]Parker[/name_u] etc.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] would make you think ‘girl’?
I don’t think [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]/[name_u]Wallis[/name_u] is suitable for a little girl at all. To, me [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is a fat, old man’s name. [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] has the unpleasant [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] [name_m]Simpson[/name_m] connotation. You have said you’re not crazy about gender-neutral names, but [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is all male.
Nah SO thinks [name_u]Hollis[/name_u] is ‘disgusting’ and tbh…well it’s not my taste. I don’t think she’d really need a nickname considering it’s 2 syllables but [name_f]Lacie[/name_f], Lissy, sissy, isa, lia, cece, Li-li, (which is a nickname I loved for [name_f]Elise[/name_f]) etc. would all work. I don’t think it’s limited to ‘wal’ and ‘ace’ - how do you get ‘peggy’ from margaret? It’s not like it’s Hunter, Parker or Waverly where there’s nowhere to go in terms of it being a very masculine name with no available nicknames.
Idk I guess I think if Americans can decide that the TOTALLY 100% masculine ‘[name_f]Brynn[/name_f]’ can be used as a girl’s name (because there’s a ‘y’ in it? idk) [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is fair game.
Haha yeah it’s definitely not for everyone. Personally I’d sue for emancipation if my parents named me [name_f]Taffeta[/name_f], but someone in the world has to be able to pull it of. different strokes right?
My thoughts exactly!
If the name speaks to you, I say go for it.
For middle ideas, how about:
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f]
I think it’s absolutely appalling (sorry, but you did ask for honesty). While not a huge fan of gender-neutral names, I’m not against them in all situatiions, but if I met a girl called [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] I would feel very, very sorry for her. I would not be rude to her or your faces, but it is definitely something that would stick with me and that I would mention as an atrocious girls’ name in most subsequent naming conversations with friends.
I think part of the problem is that it is a stodgy old man name (not a problem on a boy in my books) which is just starting to make a resurgence. The connotations I get from [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] are similar to [name_m]Winston[/name_m] – an old man with side whiskers and jowls, gouty and well into his cups. Added that the obvious nickname, [name_u]Wally[/name_u], is one letter off from a slang word for male anatomy and I really pity the girl who has to go through life with this. And I think it would still be doable for a beautiful, slender, [name_f]Amazonian[/name_f] kind of girl, but we don’t get to decide these things for our children and I think it would be an extra cross to bear for a shy, perhaps unattractive girl (or, you know, a teenager who is particularly awkard).
There are a plethora of beautiful Scottish names, and beautiful names in general out there.
Hmm, it doesn’t appeal to me but I think if it’s special to you, go for it!
I detest boys names on girls. That being said, [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] feels less offensive to me. It has that “I’m going to name my little girl a name that stands out” vibe. It’s very common here in the South. I would never use it, personally, but it’s at least better than the typical masculine name used by the masses.
I can see the 20s vibe of [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]/[name_u]Wallis[/name_u] on a girl, especially if paired with a hypothetical sister named [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f] or [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. Definite flapper vibe, or maybe upper-crust Victorian [name_f]England[/name_f].
That being said, it’s just not a name often used in the States for girls. [name_m]Even[/name_m] the more commonly used [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] on a girl are still really rare and far, far more common on a boy. I’m very hesitant to give a name that has to be constantly explained, defended, or spelled. That’s just a burden on a kid, and can make them feel second-class. My most recent experience with that was a little girl in my daughter’s fourth grade class who sighed and spelled her name for me when I hadn’t even asked (Luxxon).
That being said, if you feel it’s the right name, go for it. I’ve definitely gotten some intuition at times about my yet-to-be-born babies and their personalities, and that has influenced my naming choices. So use [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] if you feel it’s the right one. On the flip side of that, I’ve also learned that you don’t have to love a name to use it, it doesn’t have to be your favorite style to be the right one, and there are considerations other than how we feel about a name that are important to remember.
If you are just really digging [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] for your girl, go for it, but do it with your eyes open to the fact that there will be potential for teasing and other negative consequences that your daughter will have to deal with.
This is a tough one. Though I wouldn’t personally choose [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] for a girl I think it works perfectly well. Being from the UK I do automatically think of [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] and Gromit, which I love, but of cause that’s another male association. I know a little girl called [name_m]Miller[/name_m], a surname reserved for boys and it was really cute on her, so I don’t see how [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] is much different. I personally think people are choosing all sorts of names now and the rules are less clear overall. Other than expecting people to pass comment or question her gender on paper, I can’t see what’s so wrong with [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]/[name_u]Wallis[/name_u].
I really like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] or [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] as a middle! Other ideas:
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_u]Wallace[/name_u] [name_f]Sybil[/name_f]
I wouldn’t use it because I dislike masculine names on girls–it’s just a personal preference, there’s nothing wrong with doing so. I’d also be afraid that she’d end up with the nickname [name_u]Wally[/name_u]. And I don’t mean to offend anyone here, but I’ve also met a lot of kids lately named things like [name_u]Winslow[/name_u] or [name_u]Hudson[/name_u]. Those aren’t family names, just names that the parents liked. To me, such names come off as a little pretentious, like the parents are trying to imitate stuffy WASP families where last names on ancestors are commonly used as first names. I realize you’re not doing that, and think it’s great that you want to honor [name_m]William[/name_m] [name_u]Wallace[/name_u]. That said, I wouldn’t use [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] for a girl.
It makes me immediately think of the [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] [name_m]Simpson[/name_m] connection so I can’t say I’m on board. You will also have problems with having to spell it out [name_u]Wallis[/name_u] or [name_u]Wallace[/name_u] etc. I much prefer [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] so I’m guessing I’m not much help to you.