My husband and I were recently asked by his mother to honor her father, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], with one of our children. Since he was very close to his grandfather, we agreed that we would consider it. We don’t like many B names, but decided we liked the thought of [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] as the middle name for a boy. ([name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is our current pick)
But then we were thinking of girls name, in case we have no sons. [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] was the first name to come to mind, but neither of us is very keen on it, even in the middle spot. [name_f]Brynne[/name_f] we are both lukewarm on (as in, we’d use it if we had to). I liked [name_f]Bettina[/name_f], but he thinks it’s too out there. He suggested [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] as a middle name for a girl (and he called [name_f]Bettina[/name_f] out there :rolleyes:). I definitely think [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] works on a boy, but I’m not so sure about a girl.
[name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m], who most people associate with the name, was fairly androgynous, but we’re not sure if [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is reasonable for a girl.
[name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] and [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] are the two names we are considering pairing it with. [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is another consideration. ([name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Eila[/name_f], our top pick for a girl, will honor my niece who passed away).
[name_m]Just[/name_m] not sure how it would play out on a little girl. We’re fairly classic when it comes to first names, but we’re willing to get a little more daring when it comes to middles.
I don’t think [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] works very well on a girl but maybe if I knew one it would change my mind! I instinctively think of it as a last name so maybe as a middle name for a girl it’s not so bad since many people have surnames (mother’s maiden name, etc) as their middle names.
I think it works well as a middle name! In my opinion, a middle name is where the daring should go. If nothing else it’s a conversation starter! But yeah, I like it. It’s very tomboy, but the -ie ending also makes it feel feminine. I think it could work!
I like [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] (I pronounce in [name_u]Boo[/name_u]-ee, bot [name_m]Bow[/name_m]-ee btw) as a middle name with a classic, feminine first name. Moving around combos from you list I like: [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m], [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m], and [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m].
I think [name_m]Bowie[/name_m]‘s fine on a girl, especially since it’s in the middle spot. Surnames are quite popular as first names for girls at the moment, and [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] has meaning for you. There are some celebrity daughters listed on the girls’ nameberry page for [name_m]Bowie[/name_m], too.
A consideration: [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is quite similar to [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_m]Bow[/name_m], which might be a positive or negative (or neither) for you.
I really like [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Eila[/name_f]! I think [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is cute, but much prefer your other options. I would save [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] for a possible future [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]!
[name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is pretty out there, but I think it could work for a middle name. I can imagine you’d get a lot of “were you named after [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m]?” comments though whenever people hear it- though it’d happen a lot less than if it was her first name.
If you’re looking for other B names, what about [name_f]Briar[/name_f], [name_f]Bryony[/name_f], [name_f]Bronte[/name_f], [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], [name_u]Brooke[/name_u], or [name_f]Bianca[/name_f]? You could also honour a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] by using [name_u]Jamie[/name_u], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f] or [name_f]Mina[/name_f] from the “jamin” part of the name.
[name_m]Bowie[/name_m] looks really feminine. It’s only because of [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] that it has gone to the boys. I know the cutest twin girls named [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f]. It’s so cute on a girl!
I think it could work as a middle name for a girl. I agree with someone else- [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] is adorable. Another option- I know someone who named her daughter [name_m]Bower[/name_m] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]. Also adorable, and similar to [name_m]Bowie[/name_m]- so you could try [name_m]Bower[/name_m] in the middle name spot if you are still torn over [name_m]Bowie[/name_m].
For me it would depend on pronunciation. I like [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] ([name_m]Bow[/name_m]-ee, as in [name_m]David[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m]) as a middle name for a girl, but am not fond of [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] ([name_u]Boo[/name_u]-ee, as in bowie knife or [name_m]Jim[/name_m] [name_m]Bowie[/name_m]).
That being said, I personally don’t see the connection between [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] at all, but if it works for y’all I’d say go for it.
We’re Jewish, so the tradition is to just use the first initial of the person being honored. (For example, [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Eila[/name_f] will renamed after his grandmother, [name_f]May[/name_f] and my niece [name_f]Ella[/name_f].) It’s nice because it gives some flexibility with naming. Using a different name with the same meaning is also acceptable, but not done as often.
I wouldn’t consider [name_m]Bowie[/name_m] as a first name for either sex, it’s too daring for us. But as a middle name I’m willing to consider it. We’d use it for a son first, but in the event that my husband gets his wish and we have all girls, we still want to be able to honor his grandfather!
