Nearly 5 years ago we were expecting and didn’t find out the sex of the baby until birth but I floated the idea of [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] for a girl. The world did not seem ready lol. As it turned out our baby was a boy and we named him [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]. This time around we know we are expecting a girl and are still really loving the name [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]. What do you think of [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]/Greyson for a girl? Has the climate changed on using this name for a girl?
Things we’ve considered:
It’s widely considered a “boys name” which honestly doesn’t mean much to me. I’ve historically liked boys names for girls.
Alternate spellings - If we use this name we just want to own that it’s a controversial choice and not make up spellings to make it look more feminine.
The name [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. I hate it. Seems too [name_u]Christian[/name_u] for my taste, on par with [name_f]Faith[/name_f] or [name_f]Nevaeh[/name_f]. Fine for some but definitely not my style.
All of our other top choices ([name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]) are super feminine but we keep coming back to this name. We would most likely use [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] as the middle name no matter which name we choose because I adore it but husband just thinks it’s ok.
I think [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]/Greyson would be fantastic for a girl! Also that it would inevitably be shortened to [name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_f]Gracie[/name_f] which might be a deal breaker given your feelings about that.
I think if you hate the name [name_f]Grace[/name_f], you probably shouldn’t go [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] for a girl.
I think a lot of people would want to call her [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Gracie[/name_f].
I also agree with the other berries that [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] sounds very masculine. If I saw [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] on a roster list (as a teacher, for example) I would assume the person was a boy. I think it would set her up for a lot of confusion and embarrassment if people always assume she’s a boy.
If you end up not going with Grayson, maybe Greer?
Grayson is quite nice and seems like the one for you. I think [name_u]Gray[/name_u] is a more instinctive nickname as opposed to [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
The nicknames are definitely something to consider although we worried about that with our son and it’s actually been very little of an issue. We don’t care for [name_u]Theo[/name_u] and called him [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] as a baby which nearly everyone seemed to respect. Now that he’s a big, grown 4 year old he’s decided he prefers [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and will let people know on his own that he’d like to be called by his whole first name.
For me [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]/Grayson is very masculine choice and I would assume is the name of for a son with [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] as your oldest child’s name. Essentially stylistically the names clash. However you could have [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] that would be pretty and stylistically these names work better with [name_m]Theodore[/name_m].
It’s not my favorite but I have nothing against boy names for girls, it’s just a personal preference. I will caution that I think people might try to feminize it using [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Gracie[/name_f]. I don’t know how likely that is but I always advise that if an obvious nickname would bother you (if your daughter came to you at age 11 and said she wanted to be called [name_f]Grace[/name_f] from then on, would you cringe every time you said her name?) then you should keep looking.
That’s a great suggestion. [name_f]My[/name_f] son’s middle name is [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] so another -son name as a middle name would look good stylistically. We’ll see if I can talk the husband into going for [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] though. We’re worried about horrible nicknames with that one- like [name_u]Clem[/name_u] which is why we originally wanted to use it as a middle name because no one shortens middle names. To me [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is whimsical but [name_u]Clem[/name_u] sounds like something got stuck in your throat.
@amoser ah that would be so cute both children have a -son middle name I think that would be lovely! [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is beautiful but I think she would get [name_u]Clem[/name_u] but you could push [name_u]Clemmie[/name_u]/Clemmy which I think is a sweet nickname.
I do like gender neutral however as a general rule I don’t like “son” names for girls. It just doesn’t make sense. In saying that [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] is a lovely name and that is ultimately up to you.
I like the combo [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]! How about [name_f]Emmie[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]?
Grayson is too masculine for a girl, I think. Her whole life will be having to correct people and will inevitably cause confusion. I don’t want to poo-poo on a name you love, but just be aware this will happen. [name_u]Gray[/name_u]/Grey itself could work as a standalone name. [name_u]Grey[/name_u] DeLisle comes to mind!
I work at a hospital and I’m seeing more and more masculine names on girls. Two that come to mind right now are [name_u]Campbell[/name_u] and [name_u]Baylor[/name_u]. In checking the US top 1,000 for 2019, here’s some other traditional boy names on the female list:
[name_u]Emerson[/name_u]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]
[name_u]Hayden[/name_u]
[name_u]Remington[/name_u]
[name_u]Lennon[/name_u]
[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]
[name_u]Sutton[/name_u]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_u]Monroe[/name_u]
The world is definitely ready for a female [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]!
I really wanted this name for a while, but like you, I wasn’t sure on the spelling. Personally, the A or E doesn’t make much difference to me. I think the ending is what made me uncertain. I slightly prefer [name_m]Graysen[/name_m] / [name_m]Greysen[/name_m] but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I also like the name [name_u]Jensen[/name_u] over [name_m]Jenson[/name_m]…
I also dislike all the names you mentioned disliking, and I don’t get the “[name_f]Grace[/name_f]” vibe from [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]!
It could work, but with a more feminine twist. For instance, I know a little girl and her middle name is [name_f]Gracyn[/name_f] which I find quite lovely and an alternative spelling for [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]/Greyson.
I love [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] for a girl! But I prefer it a little more “girly” so I’d spell it differently. Gracin, [name_f]Gracyn[/name_f] or Graisyn maybe
I think it is great for a girl! I know a little girl named gray and I think that is a more intuitive nickname that [name_f]Grace[/name_f] for this name. Go with your gut!
Hmmm [name_u]Grayson[/name_u]/ [name_u]Greyson[/name_u] I am at a definite NO for.
I think [name_f]Grace[/name_f] more or less seems like the obvious default. Which if you’re not liking Inwouldnt take the coin flip chance that others use it or at 4 your daughter wishes to use it.
I think if you’re seeing it as “controversial” then maybe the world just isn’t ready. I wouldn’t go passing on controversial to your daughhter… maybe test the waters and do the “Starbucks Coffee Order test” and just start using that as your name when your out in public and see if that controversy is really there
I do like the suggestion of [name_f]Gracyn[/name_f] above. The spelling can make a positive difference and ease the edge on the controversy. Kind of like how [name_u]Eliott[/name_u] or [name_u]Mason[/name_u] can leave people scratching their heads but [name_f]Elliette[/name_f] and Maysun make sense.
I would probably not use [name_u]Grayson[/name_u] if I hated the name [name_f]Grace[/name_f], because of the chance that people will shorten her name, but I can’t say for sure how many people will do that.
