I guess that I have always have liked unisex names ever since I was a little girl & named my favorite doll [name]Toni[/name]. All of our 3 LO’s have a unisex name. So, of course, I want to also give this (4th) baby a unisex name as well! We still have 2 weeks until our Ultrasound, but if it’s a girl I would really love to name her [name]Parker[/name]!!! According to SSA from 2000 to 2009 the (female) name [name]Parker[/name] has jumped 368 ranks!!! I really see this name growing more & more in popularity for the girls. I understand that her name would need a super feminine MN, but I am still skeptical because I’m afraid of what people’s reactions will be. I understand that what people think shouldn’t matter … but don’t we all kind of want people to compliment our child’s names?
[name]Seven[/name] years ago when I was pregnant with my ODD & announced we would be naming her [name]Riley[/name] … PEOPLE FREAKED OUT LOL!!! I had a lot of people tell me that I was strapping a boy’s name on a little girl However, even though I had some criticism I also had many compliments on her name as well.
I’m not sure what I’m looking from from this thread … maybe this is just a vent to clear out my thoughts … whatever it may be … thanks for listening =)
[name]Don[/name]'t be afraid! [name]Parker[/name] is a beautiful name for a little girl. I don’t know if you like to read (or have anytime to read with 3 kids and 1 on the way!) but I just finished reading [name]Nora[/name] [name]Roberts[/name] Bridal Quartet series and the main character was an accomplished, polished, classy, elegant woman named [name]Parker[/name], if your having any doubts or you just want some reassurance that [name]Parker[/name] is right for a little girl I recommend reading these books, you will be easily convinced that [name]Parker[/name] is perfect for a girl. Congrats on your newest addition!
I don’t think that your other children’s name are overwhelmingly unisex sounding (assuming [name]Lucas[/name] [name]Sawyer[/name] is a boy! I don’t think that name could possibly sound girlish). [name]Riley[/name] has been used a lot in my area for girls recently and I have never heard it on a boy. [name]Brynn[/name] as well is all girl to me. However, I don’t even see [name]Parker[/name] as a unisex name, I can only envision it on a boy. I didn’t even know it was being used as a girls name, so I would definitely assume that [name]Parker[/name] was a male. [name]Just[/name] wanted to share that opinion with you.
Sorry but [name]Parker[/name] is a boy’s name for me. [name]Even[/name] if you paired it with a more feminine middle name, it would still scream “masculine”. Take for example your daughter’s names which are unisex - [name]Riley[/name] and [name]Brynn[/name]. The “ee” ending in [name]Riley[/name] and the soft “in” sound of [name]Brynn[/name] offsets any masculine feel to the names. Most of the names that end in “er” like [name]Archer[/name], [name]Carter[/name], [name]Cooper[/name], [name]Mercer[/name], [name]Miller[/name], [name]Porter[/name], [name]Tucker[/name], [name]Walker[/name] are just too rugged for girls. If you want to choose an “er” name may I suggest [name]Harper[/name] or [name]Piper[/name] instead of [name]Parker[/name]. In the end, of course, the final choice is yours.
The problem I have with [name]Parker[/name] is that unlike [name]Riley[/name] and [name]Brynn[/name] I don’t look at it and see an established unisex name. It would never cross my mind to question whether or not [name]Parker[/name] was a boy or girl, I would just assume it was a boy. Yes, it has entered the girls camp going on ten years now, but it has been there for boys quite longer. It’s actually in the top 100 for boys, while [name]Riley[/name] (and variations) seem to be even between genders, and [name]Brynn[/name] doesn’t even enter the radar for boys. I just think that the name is not gender neutral enough to be a clear sister to [name]Riley[/name] and [name]Brynn[/name].
Personally, I don’t like [name]Parker[/name] or virtually any “unisex” name. But this is your child. If you love this name, go ahead and use it, but there absolutely will be gender confusion, as I’m sure you know. You have to decide how much this matters to you. I have a unisex name and don’t like it (an article I came across sort of explains why I feel the way I do, but my name is quite a bit more recognizably feminine than this woman’s. The link is: youcantcallitit.com - youcantcallitit Resources and Information.) but again, one kid may hate being called [name]Isabella[/name] while another may hate [name]Parker[/name]-you never know. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this is YOUR child, so you choose a name you love, just be aware of the consequences.
However, even though I had some criticism I also had many compliments on her name as well.