I am aware that [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] is a male name. But I have personally never met anyone called [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] before… and to me the name sounds decidedly female. Maybe it’s the ‘tine’ ending - reminds me of [name_f]Christine[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Justine[/name_f] etc
Anyway my question is a simple one. Would you shudder at the thought of someone naming a baby girl ‘[name_m]Augustine[/name_m]’? If yes, can you think of any alternatives (other than [name_f]Augusta[/name_f] which I think places too much emphasis on the hard ‘G’ and sounds too harsh for a little girl)
If it makes any difference I am from [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand, where it would be rare to find even a boy named this…
[name_m]Augustine[/name_m] is the name of two prominent [name_m]MALE[/name_m] saints ([name_m]Augustine[/name_m] of Canterbury and [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] of Hippo). It’s been chosen for either gender but the English pronunciations are different (“aw-[name_u]GUS[/name_u]-tin” for a male or “AW-gus-teen” for a female. There are also [name_m]French[/name_m] and [name_m]German[/name_m] pronunciations for the name). I’ve also seen the [name_f]Augusteen[/name_f] spelling for girls but I don’t find it very pretty at all.
I have always though of it as a boys name, but it does have a sort of feminine vibe to it. I think it would be wonderful to meet a little girl named [name_m]Augustine[/name_m]. Some people might think it is strange, but its your daughter, and I am sure she will be thankful you didn’t give her a name that everyone else has. There was always at least two other girls with the same name in all of my classes and it was really annoying. Also its a unique name but a name everyone has heard before, so I am sure she would not have to spell it for everyone. It is a very sweet name, that I think could grow with her from childhood, into adulthood. It is a proud name that has a little bit of spunk for a little girl. I say go for it!
I know [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] is a male name, but it sounds all girl to me. I know one guy named [name_m]Augustus[/name_m], a much “manlier” form of this name in my opinion.
I like [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] for a girl! I definitely would not shudder meeting a little girl named [name_m]Augustine[/name_m].
If you want even more female emphasis, [name_f]Augustina[/name_f] is another option.
But ultimately, if you like it, go for it!!!
[name_m]How[/name_m] about Augustyn. I think it is a pretty spelling. [name_f]Love[/name_f] it. Also it is going to be a character in an upcoming book by A.L. [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]. The book is called Come to Me Quietly out [name_u]January[/name_u] 7th 2014.
I saw a little girl in a life style mag called [name_f]Albertine[/name_f] and then days later found it in my family trees used as a female middle (in one family of 7 kids the boys were all ____ [name_m]Albert[/name_m] and the girls ____ [name_f]Albertine[/name_f]).
It could be a alternative to [name_m]Augustine[/name_m], with a simalar feel, but actual historical use as a female name?
Ok, admittedly I am very biased on this one. But please no [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] on a girl. It is a boys name (like mentioned previously by a poster it is the name of two saints). I call my son [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] pretty often and really don’t hear the difference in the hard G between this name and [name_f]Augusta[/name_f]. I get that there are names like [name_f]Christine[/name_f] with the same ending. But there is also [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_f]Norah[/name_f]. One is clearly boy (I pray we don’t hear of any female [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]'s) and one female. Also, [name_u]Constantine[/name_u] has the same ending and is all boy. There are so many amazing names out there for girls.
[name_m]Augustine[/name_m] is already a [name_m]French[/name_m] feminine form of Augustinus, so I see no reason why one couldn’t use it as a feminine name. Particularly seeing as how that –ine ending is often used to feminize masculine names of Latin origin ([name_u]Claude[/name_u]/[name_f]Claudine[/name_f], [name_m]Clement[/name_m]/[name_f]Clementine[/name_f], etc.). Although (as [name_u]Mischa[/name_u] pointed out above), the pronunciation makes the difference.
The original Latin name of the well-known (male) theologian [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] of Hippo is Augustinus Hipponensis. In [name_f]France[/name_f] he is know as [name_m]Augustin[/name_m] d’Hippone, in Germany as Augustinus von Hippo, in [name_f]Italy[/name_f] as [name_m]Agostino[/name_m] d’Ippona, in Spain as Agustín de Hipona. All of these non-“ine” versions sound decidedly masculine.
So, I would say, go for it and use [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] as a feminine name if you like. But be sure to pronounce the name with a feminine “een” sound for the ending.
Thanks for all the feedback! I’m glad that some of you like the name for a girl.
I would be pronouncing it AW-gus-teen.
Elo - Your children have beautiful names. Normally I dislike the use of traditionally male names on girls (or visa versa) however [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] just sounds feminine to me personally. [name_u]August[/name_u] (the month) has a lot of meaning for me, but I don’t really like the sound of other feminine forms, like [name_f]Augusta[/name_f] or [name_f]Augustina[/name_f]. I have considered simply [name_u]August[/name_u], but with that I face the same male/female issue.
[name_f]Love[/name_f] it. Also it is going to be a character in an upcoming book by A.L. [name_m]Jackson[/name_m]. The book is called Come to Me Quietly out [name_u]January[/name_u] 7th 2014.