Yes, [name]Ashley[/name] has feminine sounds a la [name]Aisling[/name] and [name]Kailey[/name]. Which is likely why it was used for girls, not to mention it’s a gender neutral meaning, “ash tree”. [name]Reese[/name] is more male than female to me, but it’s no pretty unisex. So? [name]Just[/name] because one name is used on both genders doesn’t mean that every name should follow suit. [name]Reese[/name] is gender neutral in meaning to, which is likely why is switched over. Plus is shares sounds similar to other girls names, [name]Regina[/name], [name]Denise[/name].
[name]Andrew[/name] means “strong and manly”, which is a male meaning. I wouldn’t be too happy if I found out my parents named me a boy name with a very male meaning, “strong and manly”. [name]Just[/name] makes it look like they wanted a boy THAT much, and that feminine qualities aren’t desirable, and will most likely cause many issues in the future.
[name]Charlotte[/name] means “[name]Free[/name] man”, but it’s female due to etymology. It’s the female form of [name]Charles[/name], so that way people don’t have to name daughters [name]Charles[/name], they have [name]Charlotte[/name] and [name]Caroline[/name] to choose from. [name]Andrew[/name] has female variants because [name]Andrew[/name] is a male name.
The way I see it, if a name is male in meaning, etymology, and has female variants, then it’s obviously male. Not unisex, and not meant to be used on girls.
Also, I don’t like the idea of using Snow, Evening, or like names as first names on girls either.
[name]Ashley[/name] is still a male name in the UK. So is “[name]Reese[/name]” though generally it is spelt [name]Rhys[/name] and therefore correctly.
The poster you quoted means…[name]Andrew[/name] quite literally means manly.
[name]Andrew[/name] is a widely used male name worldwide. [name]North[/name] [name]America[/name] is not the entire world. The world is getting smaller.Something which,no offence, [name]North[/name] Americans seem to forget. A girl called [name]Andrew[/name] would not get on well in most European countries.
I find the “it’s your baby,name it what you want” argument incredibly arrogant. That child has to live with the name,why name it something utterly ridiculous?[/QUOTE]
You raise good points, a lot of people don’t think of how it’ll translate across borders or even state lines.
I think it’s partly because Americans have never had restrictions on naming but I agree, especially about the world getting smaller, with travel, communication, etc these days there’s no telling where or what your child might do in life. This is why I think it’s important to respect another cultures naming rules if you give them one from that culture.
I jumped ahead without reading to give you my opinion: [name]Andrew[/name] would work just fine on a little girl/young woman/adult I think it even has feminine sounds & you’ve logically considered the down sides. My guess is that whatever negative comments you recieved on here would be the majority of the criticism you are going to recieve. People just don’t admit to another person’s face when they dislike a child’s name. I don’t think it’s a big deal to have to tell people “I’m a girl” once in a while. [name]Morgan[/name]'s, [name]Tyler[/name]'s, [name]Jamie[/name]'s & [name]Riley[/name]'s have to do it all the time. I think it would be cool if [name]Andrew[/name] meant enough to you for you to use it reguardless what other people think. I’ve known guys named [name]Courtney[/name], [name]Lauren[/name], & [name]Shannon[/name] and all of them were attractive & confident. I’ve known girls named [name]Tristan[/name], [name]Spencer[/name], & [name]Grayson[/name]. [name]Spencer[/name] & [name]Tristan[/name] are seriously beautiful and really successful. [name]Grayson[/name] is only 2 but she’s a real ham & everybody loves her. Nobody gives her mom any shit about her name. Good luck!
I’m gonna go out on a limb here & say go ahead & name your girl [name]Andrew[/name]! I got a lot of “no you can’t do that!” for thinking about naming my girl [name]Arrow[/name]. Well, we did name our girl [name]Arrow[/name] & [name]Arrow[/name] is beautiful!
A number of peopel go thru life without ever using their actual name. An elderly woman at my church is known as [name]Jane[/name] but that is not first name. My brother-in-law goes my his middle name. My nephew goes by his middle name.
At least with [name]Andrew[/name] you do have the option of her going by [name]Ann[/name] or [name]Drew[/name] or whatever you choose for the middle name. She could go by A. [name]Rose[/name]. People do that all the time. Initial their first name & go by the middle name.
She’s contantly going to have to explain that she’s a female and that its not spelt “[name]Anne[/name]-[name]Drew[/name]”
being an [name]Alexandra[/name], I’ve loved being able to be just [name]Alex[/name] when I choose to and to be a little androgynous on paper, but keep in mind possible difficulties she might encounter in life for having a “boy’s” name. Is she going to be placed in the boys gym/sex-ed class? What about the first day of kindergarden when her name tag is blue + all the other little girls have pink ones? or when she’s passed over for a job because the employer is looking for a more females in the office?
not to mention she opens herself up to teasing re: “[name]Andrew[/name] is androgynous” as soon as the school yard learns the latter word
I never said “it’s your baby, name it what you want,” though I’ll point out that 99% of the time, this is what’s said on this forum, so
I don’t see why this thread should be different. Secondly, you’re calling people arrogant, yet you’re boldly declaring that a name that you, personally, don’t like is “utterly ridiculous.” That declaration seems a bit contradictory, considering.
And yet, some Charlottes go by [name]Charlie[/name], just like some Francescas go by [name]Frankie[/name], just like some Alexandras go by [name]Alex[/name]. These are all male names. And no one said that every name has to follow. All I’m saying is that using a male name on a female isn’t exactly revolutionary. I don’t get the rampant hostility in this thread to the OP. I don’t get why people are actually offended over a name. It isn’t as if we haven’t seen ridiculous names on this forum before.
And you’re the authority on names? Sorry, [name]BLAIR[/name] WALDORF, a TV character, which in today’s world holds a lot of weight in the baby naming community. Being born a boy or girl (biologically) will not automatically dictate your gender or sexual orientation. Some clothes are meant for girls and some are meant for boys. Women, stop wearing pants and heaven forbid if a little boy puts on a dress. [name]Just[/name] because these name make it more comfortable for you to identify a “boy” or “girl” doesn’t mean it’s law. And when people are just smushing letters together and calling it a name, I think [name]Andrew[/name] on a girl is the least of our worries as a society.
OP, if your choice is between [name]Andrew[/name] and [name]Eden[/name] [name]Andrew[/name], I vote for [name]Eden[/name] [name]Andrew[/name]. I have always liked [name]Eden[/name]. And I think [name]Andrew[/name] sounds very good in the middle. And most honoring names are used as middle names so it is the perfect spot for it.
I also wanted to comment on your desire for your daughter’s name to appear manly. I work in marketing, a very cut throat environment. Maybe I am just lucky, but in my company, I really don’t think a woman’s gender holds her back at all. And I honestly think in this day and age, women in corporate [name]America[/name] do NOT need to be manly to get ahead.
I never said anything about being an authority on names. The OP is asking for opinions, and I’m giving mine. [name]Plenty[/name] of others feel the exact opposite to what I do, and it’s in their right to voice their opinions. I still think it’s ridiculous to name a girl such a blatantly male name.
For all we know she’s going to be born a girl who loves frilly things and can’t stand being named [name]Andrew[/name], or the exact opposite and adore the name. We don’t know. I think the smart choice to name her something female because she is being born a female, and give her nickname options so if she wants she can choose something more unisex or tomboyish. Why name her a boys name just because she might be a lesbian or want a sex change? We don’t know that, so go with the default of what she’s born as.
It’s one thing if a boy decides to put on a dress, and something else if you only by a boy dresses to wear. It’s one thing is someone chooses the name [name]Andrew[/name] for herself, and another if she’s just given it from birth. We don’t know how children are going to be until after their born and growing. I think something like being given a totally opposite sex name should be the wearers choice, not anyone elses. Would you sincerely rather have a very male name over a unisex or female name?I know I certainly would not, and I’m not a complete “girly girl” either. I was very much a tomboy growing up.
Naming a girl [name]Andrew[/name] has SO much more to it than my comfort zone, I probably will never meet this little girl in my life so what her mom choose doesn’t affect my life at all. I’m thinking about her life.
You mention gender and sexual orientation, let’s go there. A girl named [name]Andrew[/name]: I bet you she’ll have to deal with people wondering or assuming that she’s a biological male or was at some point. With a name like [name]Andrew[/name], and in this day and age where people are becoming very educated and support of the LGBT community, it’s likely to come up. Personally, I’d find it aggravating to be mistaken for a boy all the time when I’m a female, especially a straight female.
What her mom likes, and what everyone else likes is fine, but what about what SHE might like? Or the trouble SHE might face? That’s where I’m coming from. It has nothing to do with my personal taste in names, and everything to do with the issues naming a girl such a blatantly male name brings.
Going through life being mistakes for one gender or sex when you’re the opposite is NOT fun. I know of a male [name]Eden[/name], and [name]Eden[/name] is a male name in Hebrew. Ask him about all the issues he gets in life from being an [name]Eden[/name]. And he’s a grown man in [name]Law[/name] school with a very tough skin, and not much regard for opinions of others. And even it gets under his skin being named [name]Eden[/name] when it’s legitimate in Hebrew anyways.
[name]Imagine[/name] a 6 year old girl in grade one being teased which will likely happen, or a 13 year old just starting high school getting weird looks and immature comments or a 18 year starting university and being sorted into the male dorms, or a 26 year old woman getting mail addressed as “Mr.[name]Andrew[/name] Lastname” or not being called into interviews because the employers need more females in the workspace to fit quota (I know of places like this).
Life is hard enough, why give a name that’s going to obviously cause issues as life goes on? I understand the honoring, but [name]Andrew[/name] as a first name is hardly the only option, and the OP has stated that.
The difference: The choice of the name bearer.
[name]Charlotte[/name] can choose to go by [name]Charlie[/name] or [name]Lottie[/name], or [name]Ari[/name], or [name]Lola[/name], [name]Francesca[/name] can choose to be [name]Frankie[/name], [name]Annie[/name], [name]Fran[/name], [name]Frannie[/name]. [name]Alexandra[/name] can choose to be [name]Alex[/name], [name]Lexa[/name], [name]Lexy[/name], [name]Andy[/name], [name]Andra[/name].
[name]Andrew[/name] has no choice. It’s given at birth, and even the nicknames are [name]Male[/name]/Unisex; [name]Andy[/name], [name]Drew[/name]. There is no female option. Well there’s Rew/[name]Rue[/name].
It doesn’t need to be revolutionary for other people to think it’s a poor naming choice.
It’s problematic, and not even considering what the future girl would want. Not many girls would want to be named [name]Andrew[/name], the odds are that she won’t either. If she grows up and finds out she was almost named [name]Andrew[/name], and loves the idea, then she can go get a name change if she prefers it. No need to give her a name that will cause issues, eyerolls, groans, and trouble for her. Stick it in the middle and let her decide if she prefers her middle name over her first.
Didn’t the OP say she was going to use [name]Annie[/name] as a nickname? That’s pretty feminine. I’m sorry, but I refuse to accept the “kids will tease her” argument. In a kindergarten class nowadays, a girl named [name]Andrew[/name] would fit in with the [name]Riley[/name]'s, [name]Emerson[/name]'s, [name]Avery[/name]'s, and [name]Aiden[/name]'s of varying genders. My Pediatrician, who is a very educated and cultured lady, has a daughter named [name]Logan[/name]. I get that you don’t like the trend, but it’s happening whether you like it or not. If it’s not your style, then don’t do it. She asked for opinions, give her your opinion and then leave it at that. I don’t understand this constant assault on posters when it comes to this subject. You’re so worried about her future child being picked on, when you’re the one doing the teasing in my opinion.
This whole ‘boys’ names on girls thing’ would be a lot easier, if society were more open to the shoe being on the other foot, i.e. parents could happily use girls’ names on boys.
Lets face it though, we’re happy to bend the rules for one side, but not really the other.
I hope those of you who think naming a girl [name]Andrew[/name] is fine, would be equally fine with someone naming their son [name]Sarah[/name] or [name]Elizabeth[/name]!
I didn’t mean to imply that you had personally said it. I was referring to the the often trotted out line on here generally.
No I don’t think I’m being hypocritical actually. Naming a child is a responsibility with many consequences. I rather lole the name Horatio but wouldn’t use it. By the way I do like Andrew…on a boy/man.
Calling a girl Andrew is as ridiculous as calling a boy Sophie. If the OP had suggested a name like Rowan,I wouldn’t have the same problem. A genuinely unisex name is different to giving a girl a blatant boys name.
If the idea is to honour your father-in-law, I am assuming that you are doing this because you love & respect him and want to pass this connection on to his granddaughter to be, so I would ask 2 questions first:
Have you asked your FIL his feelings about your intention to give his name to a girl?
Have you considered your daughter’s future feelings about what will be a difficult name and if these would affect her feelings towards her namesake?
Your comment “it’s a matter of getting people used to it” to me sounds like you are putting a big burden on your daughter. If you do call her [name]Andrew[/name] you are committing her to a lifetime of misunderstandings, explaining and correcting.
Why not just [name]Drew[/name]? It will still be a fine tribute to your FIL and it is not a ‘frilly’ girly name, if that is your concern.
