"Boy" names on girls

Girl Names
1

Cycling through all of my lists I have concluded that my taste in names lean more towards unisex and some few go as far as being generally all male. A lot of the names that I like are, for example;

// * are my favorites //

• Artemis*
• Azriel
• Blaise*
• Elliot
• Murphy
• Mason
• Jasper*
• Zephyr*

To skip my rant, please scroll to the question at the very bottom in bold.

I’ve never had a problem with boy names given to girls but some people on here clearly are. I remember once asking what others thought of the name Mason for a girl and I honest to god legitimately got responses telling me that I’d be a horrible person if I “saddled” a girl with that name and that she would be “endlessly” teased for the rest of her life. Like… what? I get not being a fan and not liking a name but to go as far as call someone horrible for what they like is completely uncalled for.

But more interestingly is that I find nearly all of the hate for boy names on girls mostly online in forums like these. Just yesterday I asked others around my town irl, people that I didn’t even know, about what they’d think if they met a girl named Jasper and all of them either 1. Did not care, 2. Questioned if it was a boy name but otherwise still didn’t care, or 3. Even complimented and said they liked that name for a girl.

I then called up a few people and friends who had unisex or male names and asked them about teasing and how having a more masculine given name effected them in day to day life. Nearly all of them said that while most people initially mistook them for a male it really wasn’t a big deal. More along the lines of “oh, you’re a girl, okay, moving on” and that’s it and that it could even be a good conversation starter sometimes.

Names are just that. Names. Words associated with a certain person used to identify that said person.

I would also like to point out that the names Alison, Ashley, Blair, Carol, Claire, Courtney, Darcy, Evelyn, Hilary, Jocelyn, Kelsey, Lauren, and many more were almost all exclusively male names at one point.

I’m not looking to name a kid any of these names. I looking for a name for myself and these are the kind of names that I just so happen to like. I don’t like being made to feel bad for liking them. “Out of all the beautiful girl names you could have chosen you chose ___?” I got that response once. I honestly could not believe the audacity… the names that I choose are beautiful to me. I think some people make it out to be a bigger deal than it really is, especially on here. Compared to some of the celebrity baby names you see today, (Gravity, North, Chicago, Blue Ivy, Kulture, Moon Unit, Arrow, Apple, Navy, etc; - all girls) a normal boy/unisex name on a girl is hardly anything to write home about.

And so there, that’s my opinion. If you read this far and are still with me, thank you. Apologies for the rant, I’ve just gotten so many negative replies with some of these names that I feel like I have to either apologize or justify why I like them to avoid people judging me.

Do any of you know any more names that you’d think I would like based on the list above?

2

Brigton
Bellamy
Blaine
Channing
Rooney
Leighton
Darby
Ashby
Percy
Quincy
Tanner
Remiel “Remy”
Darcy
Blair
Ellis
Marlow
Sloan
Langston
Beckett
Breckin
Indy
Phoenix
Nova
Nash
Delaney
Campbell
Arden
Cassidy
Micah
Aspen
Bode
Emery
Lennox
Kendall
Shane
Albie
Linden
Ainsley
Kelby
Kirby
Asa
Kieran
Kai
Landry
Tiernan
Lennon
Lucian “Lux”
Raleigh
Rowan
Sutton
Sterling
Storm
Tatum
Kip
Kit
Tate
Sonnet “Sonny”
Poet
Merrit
Marvel
Revel
Sascha
Tristan/Dorian
August
Austen
Brennan
Chandler
Parker
Cohen
Dakota
Florian
Fox
Harland
Hadley
Harris
Joss
Jude

3

I think I actually prefer [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] on a girl!

[name_m]Favorite[/name_m] BNOG/unisex names

[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]- I would consider for my own daughter if it wasn’t so popular

[name_f]Noa[/name_f]- obviously [name_u]Noah[/name_u] is very popular but the sweet feminine [name_f]Noa[/name_f] is adorable

[name_m]Alistair[/name_m]- could definitely see on a girl

[name_u]Lennon[/name_u]- I love this name for girls and it’s still beautiful for a boy.

[name_u]Davi[/name_u] (dah-vee)- very similar to [name_m]David[/name_m] but this is on my short list for girls

[name_u]Bo[/name_u]- short and sweet!

[name_m]Orin[/name_m]/[name_m]Oren[/name_m]- prefer this on a girl again.

[name_m]Isadore[/name_m]- To me it’s more elegant than [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]. I see this on either a girl or boy.

[name_u]Marion[/name_u]- vintage vibes

Sivan (sih-vahn)- Again I like this for a girl.

Let me know and I can suggest more!

4

I have absolutely no problem with it. I love the name [name_u]Parker[/name_u] for a girl, and multiple people I’ve asked only see it as a boy name. Forums for [name_u]Parker[/name_u] on a girl had the same feedback as [name_u]Mason[/name_u]. I have a unisex name which was basically split 50/50 (for a girl or for a boy) when I was born, and so is [name_u]Parker[/name_u] right now. No one has ever told me that they assumed I was a boy, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t. It doesn’t and wouldn’t bother me even if they did. When I was little I did get upset that boys I knew also had my name, but I was young and it doesn’t bother me at all now. It’s 2019 and so many baby girls have unisex or masculine names. I think it’s fine. If you love the name then go ahead and use it!

5

I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]! I think it is a perfect name for a girl too.

6

“Boy” names on girls aren’t really my thing (as you can tell by my signature, lol) but I do like rather feminine names on my boys so I can understand the appeal in a way. I do especially love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_m]Azriel[/name_m] and [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] from your list, leaning on [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] a little more. I think [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] could work quite well on a female too! [name_u]Murphy[/name_u] I have a bit of a hard time picturing on anyone as a first name, personally. [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] I love a lot but can’t quite imagine it on a woman… but that’s just me. If I ever met a lady with a more masculine name I wouldn’t bat an eye. I think [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] is your best option here but any of them could work for you if you truly want them to.

7

I generally don’t like “boy” names on girls. That’s just a matter of style though, I don’t care if others do. I actually think most names on your list are more unisex territory…I adore [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I’ll add

[name_m]Ivan[/name_m]- I met a Croatian that went by this and thought it was cool. I recently found out that it’s from [name_f]Ivana[/name_f]- [name_m]Ivan[/name_m] wouldn’t have flown over in her country, but while she was in the states she was just [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]

[name_m]Magnus[/name_m]- someone on NB asked this awhile back and got chewed out by some, that’s their opinion but I think it’s pretty cool. If they went with, I hope they own it, call her [name_m]Magnus[/name_m]- and don’t shorten it to [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]

I think my problem with unisex names is that I like a lot of “girl” names on boys. I’ve had a lady with daughters named [name_m]Ryane[/name_m], [name_u]Stevie[/name_u] and [name_u]Austyn[/name_u] (changing the spelling doesn’t change what it is in my opinion) flip out because I like [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_u]June[/name_u] for a boy.

8
  • [name_u]Remi[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Ellington[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Arden[/name_u]
  • [name_u]Collins[/name_u]
  • [name_m]Grayson[/name_m]
  • [name_u]Carter[/name_u]

I really like [name_u]Remi[/name_u] and [name_u]Elliott[/name_u] personally.

9

and

  • [name_u]Emmett[/name_u]
10

I honestly appreciated your explanation, even though I’m sorry you felt like you had to justify your preferences. I would never be so rude in expressing my opinion as some of the responses you have gotten in the past, but my private thoughts on boys’ names for girls have always been informed by my experience. I am female, and my given name was Sh@wn. I have hated my name all my life. I got mercilessly teased as a child. I was sent to the principal’s office on the first day of 7th grade because my teacher said I was in the wrong seat and accused me of lying to her. All my mail is addressed to Mr. In the past, I have totally made these expectations work in my favor, like when I applied for a male-coded job and the interviewer was surprised by my gender, or when I used my name on a pass to get into the boys’ dorm at a college that did not allow mixed genders to hang out unsupervised. But I am a cisgender woman who frequently prefers the stereotypically feminine things, and I would much rather have had an elaborate, girly sort of name. I changed it as an adult, and my father still hasn’t forgiven me for that.

BUT since you are looking for a name for yourself rather than a kiddo, all this is moot, because you already know and love your style! (And even if you were asking for unisex or boys’ names for a baby girl, I would not give this backstory and opinion unless it was specifically requested - at most, I would suggest pairing it with a frillier middle name in case she wants a more gendered name as she gets older).

I love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] from your list, and despite [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] Fowl, I don’t see this name as being male because it comes from the goddess of the hunt. [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], though male in origin, has always felt soft and ethereal to me, so I can totally see it on a girl. [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_u]Murphy[/name_u], and [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] are not my taste, and while I prefer [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] on a boy, all nature names are technically unisex in my opinion. [name_u]Blaise[/name_u] is another that is soft enough I can see it on a girl. [name_m]Azriel[/name_m] is super fun and unusual - are you a fan of the His Dark Materials series?

Other unisex or male-coded names you may like:

[name_u]Sawyer[/name_u]
[name_u]Emerson[/name_u]
[name_u]River[/name_u]
[name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_m]Miles[/name_m]
[name_u]Ellis[/name_u]
[name_u]Spencer[/name_u]
[name_m]Hayes[/name_m]
[name_u]Darcy[/name_u]
[name_m]Brooks[/name_m]
[name_m]Thayer[/name_m]
[name_u]Noah[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Pierce[/name_m]
[name_u]Shiloh[/name_u]
[name_u]Laurence[/name_u]
[name_u]Rhys[/name_u]
[name_m]Ezra[/name_m]
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u]
[name_u]Hollis[/name_u]
[name_u]Sterling[/name_u]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]
[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_u]Fallon[/name_u] / [name_m]Phelan[/name_m]
[name_u]Joss[/name_u]
[name_u]Oakley[/name_u]
[name_m]Bennett[/name_m]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Quincy[/name_u]
[name_u]Sage[/name_u]
[name_u]Jesse[/name_u]
[name_m]Phineas[/name_m]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_u]Dagny[/name_u]
[name_u]Finn[/name_u]
[name_m]Hugh[/name_m]
[name_u]Jace[/name_u]
[name_u]Tobin[/name_u]
[name_u]Seth[/name_u]
[name_m]Ansel[/name_m]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u]
[name_m]Rhett[/name_m]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_u]Drew[/name_u]
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]
[name_u]Shea[/name_u]
[name_u]Valentine[/name_u]
[name_u]Leighton[/name_u]
[name_m]Wesley[/name_m]
[name_u]Everest[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]
[name_m]Julian[/name_m]
Schulyer
[name_u]Devon[/name_u]
[name_m]Timothy[/name_m]
[name_m]Marcel[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]
[name_u]Seren[/name_u]
[name_u]Theo[/name_u]
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]

11

We’re naming our daughter [name_u]Remy[/name_u]. I’m also 100% attracted to solely unisex names and totally get you. I love your options!!!

13

For whatever it’s worth, if this is a name for YOURSELF, I think that changes the rules a little. You are much more capable of predicting how you will handle certain situations than how a potential baby will as an adult. I think this is why people sometimes “play it safe,” so they don’t put their children in awkward situations.

That being said, I’m a woman who goes by a unisex/masculine nickname. Yes, I was teased for it; yes, I hated it as a child; yes, adults have said rude things about it; no, I don’t care anymore and I love my name, especially my full name. :slight_smile:

Coming from that viewpoint, I think [name_u]Elliott[/name_u], [name_u]Murphy[/name_u], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] (which is feminine even though some incorrectly think [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] is a male god?) and [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] would be easier to pull off, and I like them a lot.

Sorry for any repeats:
[name_u]Parker[/name_u]
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u]
[name_u]Ever[/name_u]
[name_u]Vesper[/name_u]
[name_f]Io[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariadne[/name_f]
[name_f]Greer[/name_f]
[name_m]Miller[/name_m]
[name_m]Soren[/name_m]
[name_f]Meryl[/name_f]
[name_f]Beryl[/name_f]
[name_u]Demeter[/name_u]

14

I love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] [name_f]Io[/name_f] [name_u]Rey[/name_u] from your signature. It is so awesome.

Personally I don’t like “boys” names on girls, but in my life and my perspective of the world from it, I think a lot of the world is lacking femininity or things considered feminine like kindness, compassion, gentleness and beauty. And modesty in my opinion as well; I really can’t stand seeing so many women and young girl’s bottoms hanging out of their shorts and I also don’t like leggings. But I work really hard on not judging because I have been judged my whole life. Everyone has an association, preference and expectation of what is right and what male and female things are and what they mean so I work at not troubling myself or even thinking much about what other people are doing. I support people being kind and authentic to who they are, no matter what that is. I also believe that strength, valour, bravery, honesty, courage, beauty, gentleness and compassion are traits that everyone has naturally and should strive to cultivate so we are all balanced and happy. It’s ridiculous that any of those should be considered more feminine or masculine. They just are and they are all good.

Contradictorily, I would love to see names that are considered feminine on boys. I think it is sad that things are so unbalanced and that it is considered great, admirable, strong to give girls masculine names but boys can’t have feminine names. It’s unfair. I think people should do whatever sings to them. I am looking for a gentle, feminine name for myself because I have had so much “masculinity” (more like toxic masculinity) forced upon me and I have always loved “girly” things. I’m fiery though so there are things that I consider too sweet or “frilly”. My husband is looking for a masculine name he loves because he was given a popular feminine name and made it through life with a lot of bruises. But that is what is in our hearts :slight_smile: I want everyone to do what is in their hearts, gender “propriety” or not! :slight_smile: