Boys names on girls?

I’d just like to know some general opinions on boys names on girls. I like it (sometimes), I’m quite conflicted actually because I just love really girly names but at the same time there are a couple boys names I adore on girls.

Some of my faves are:
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u]
[name_u]Cody[/name_u]
[name_m]Cole[/name_m]
[name_u]Chandler[/name_u]
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u]
[name_u]James[/name_u]

Now if you take a glance at my signature you’ll see these names are not like my usual style at all lol but one can have guilty pleasures :stuck_out_tongue:

I don’t think it matters. Etymology and historical usage doesn’t matter to me at all. If I like something, it goes on my list. Gender is far too fluid to be contained within names. I know a lot of people on nameberry have issues with it, that’s part of why I left the naming community for so long - backwards, out dated attitudes. I’ll admit 85% of my “girls” list is traditionally “girl” names, but thats purely based on sound, I have quite a few “soft”, “unisex” and even kind of girly names on my boys list. (([name_m]Caelen[/name_m], for example). I think people are way too uptight about it, personally. I love [name_u]Cody[/name_u] as a nickname for a girl (I like it as a nickname on anybody), [name_u]Arlo[/name_u] and [name_u]Dylan[/name_u] are super cute, too.

My biggest pet peeve…[name_u]EVER[/name_u]

My question is, would you name your son [name_f]Rose[/name_f]? :wink:

I really like Harlow on a girl but not Arlo. I don’t like the others, especially James or Cole. Sorry!

I don’t know if you want to hear our opinions on boy’s names on girl in general or just on your list.

To be honest, I much prefer the names from your signatures. I actually love most of them! :slight_smile:


As I see that other people giving their advice about boy’s names on girls, I will give mine too. I’m going to copy and paste one of my recent message and rebuild it because I don’t have time to type everything. I’m trying to express my feeling as much as possible toward boy’s names on a girl (and not unisex names).

Okay, so: I understand the appeal of a boy name on a girl, I really do. But:

  • I would not choose a boy name with an old / a strong historical background because we should respect their story, etymology and meaning. For example, Remy is a popular french name for boys, as a French, I absolutely don’t see it on a girl. If you pick a name from a different culture, you should respect that culture and the gender for which the name was historically given. Names are words in other languages afterall. Other example, Elijah/Eli is a blibical name, we should respect the bible and the religion the name is from. I do understand people like Remi/Remy for a girl, but it’s not respectful to use it for a girl in my opinion. Sometimes it’s even wrong, for exemple using Beau for a girl isn’t right because in the French language Beau is a common masculine word. When someone tells you “Tu as une beau maison” you answer, “No, you should say: Tu as une belle maison, because beau is masculine and belle feminine”.

  • I would not choose a classic or popular boy name (James, Cole, Cody, etc), because it’s not always easy to wear. Not to mention that the women I know about (and who have a boy name, for example Elijah or Timothee), hate to have a popular boy name because they get letters or phone calls for “Mister” and they have to correct people and hear comments all the time. Exactly what could happen to a Cole, Chandler, James or Cody, because they are/were/become overly popular for boys. She would have to explain for the next 80 years that she is a girl. However, we can still use them as a middle name. It seems like this list is more your GP names, and I think that middle names are great for GP names :slight_smile: You still get to use it.

  • Also, another thing that I don’t like: a boy name on a girl is against feminism. People are teaching their daughters that it’s okay and cool to have a boy name, it makes them stronger, boyish and cooler. But the reverse is not true. Nobody uses Rose, Jane, or Adelaide on a boy, and once a name passes into the girl side, nobody uses for a boy anymore. Having a girl name makes you “weak”, effiminated and your kid get even more teased, which is sad. Once again = being masculine is a quality, but not feminine :frowning: I’m against gender stereotypes, so I seriously don’t mind about using soft names for a boy, like Avery, Sage, Ellis or strong names for a girl like Maxine, Roxanne, Demeter, as long as we respect their history (most of the old names do have a gender according to their historical background, just like “he, she, her, his” are related to a gender), but I would not give my daughter a boy’s name as a first name because I want her to know that she is a woman (we can’t pretend there is not 2 sexes), she has a name that is related to her sex, and that’s okay. She is strong, and will be successful in life.

I have to admit that I don’t understand why people propose and choose boy’s names if feminine alternatives/spellings actually exist (Elliette or Eliette the feminine spelling of Elliott, Romy/Remilly for Remy, Augusta/Augustine for August, Zephyra or Zephyrine for Zephyr, Erin for Aaron, Esra the feminine spelling of Ezra, Harlow for Arlo, etc).

Other than that, I have nothing against unisex names. When a name is new, I actually don’t mind what gender it’s used for. I like Wren, Solaris, Atlantis, Sage, River for boys and girls.

Exactly. If yes, then fine, but if not why bother? Surnames and nature names are fair game for either gender for me, but if someone named their daughter [name_u]James[/name_u] then thinks it’s ridiculous to name their son [name_f]Jessica[/name_f]…I find that hypocritical and quite obnoxious TBH.

ETA my name is currently in the 30s on the boys list. I’ve noticed over the past couple of years my annoyances have increased. Today I sold something on Craigslist and the buyer couldn’t find me at the meeting up locale because she was looking for a guy. Same thing happened last week when I was the buyer.

Someone in my company that I regularly email but never talked to on the phone before sent me an email today saying “thank you sir.” How do you professionally correct someone? I think about 75% of my national colleagues think I’m a man. This is not an advantage, it’s awkward.

When I answer the phone saying “(insert male name here) speaking,” people ask for (insert male name here) because it didn’t register that it’s me. Every, single time. I’m not exaggerating.

I used to be neutral about it, but now that I’ve been in a professional environment for a little while, I’m f*cking over it. Don’t do it.

Well said.

I agree that I wouldn’t do it. my mom’s name is [name_u]Ray[/name_u] and everyone thinks she is a man. she gets calls and mail for “Mr. [name_u]Ray[/name_u]” all the time and she hates it. My Aunt [name_u]Ronny[/name_u] has the same problem. it doesn’t help that my Uncle’s name is [name_u]Jesse[/name_u] and my stepdad is [name_f]Winfred[/name_f]. ([name_u]Ronny[/name_u] and [name_u]Jesse[/name_u], [name_u]Ray[/name_u] and [name_f]Winfred[/name_f].)

I think that in a way, it works. But to an extent. My name is [name_u]Shelby[/name_u] - once upon a time a boys name as well. My sisters are [name_f]Ansley[/name_f] and [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] - both uni-sex names but frequently girl names. Here is MY opinion on your favorite boy names for girls.

[name_u]Arlo[/name_u] - I haven’t ever met a child/adult named this, but my first thought is boy. BUT, I love the girl name, [name_f]Harlow[/name_f]. It has a feminine twist.

[name_u]Cody[/name_u] - I actually [name_f]DO[/name_f] like this… but with a full name and that as a nickname. My favorite is [name_u]Dakota[/name_u]… nn [name_m]Koty[/name_m]/Kota.

[name_m]Cole[/name_m] - Cute in a way, but to me, too boyish.

[name_u]Chandler[/name_u] - I do find this a strong guy name… but I think it could totally be a girls name.

[name_u]Dylan[/name_u] - [name_m]WAY[/name_m] over the top masculine for me.

[name_u]James[/name_u] - This. I have mixed feelings. To me, it has the same feeling the name [name_u]Blake[/name_u] lets off. So sweet, yet strong. I like it as a middle name.

Generally the names that cross genders or are used as unisex are names that I don’t like style wise, so I don’t have any on my list. That said, I don’t have an inherent problem with this naming practice. I don’t like the idea of using unisex names because “having a less feminine name will give her an edge” but if the parents’ taste, the names they like, happens to be unisex names, that is fine. There’s a distinction there for me.

Honestly, in the end, the community cannot police other families’ choices. That’s not their responsibility. If an expectant parent asks for input on the name, they can give it, otherwise, going on a tirade about how the name is terrible is immature. I have seen people get too bent out of shape on this issue. I wish it wasn’t such a divisive thing, but I guess, my best advice is, never let other people’s opinions overrule what you and your partner feel is right for your child. It can help influence, but that should be as far as it goes.

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Ok this is offensive and gross. [name_m]How[/name_m] transphobic and cis-normative. Your feminism needs to be intersectional or it’s useless and harmful. Attitudes like this are harmful towards trans and non-binary folks. You don’t know your childs gender at birth. Gender has nothing to do with genitals. As someone whose married to a non-binary person and has a brother who is trans - this actually makes me sick to read. On top of that, you should be attacking the societies attitude that perpetuates toxic masculinity instead of trying to tell mothers what they should be doing with their kids name.

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Well, since you asked for general opinions… I believe that masculine names being used on girls and the absence of the feminine names being used on boys is a symptom of sexism in society, as others have gone over, the implication is that feminine = weak and undesirable, masculine = strong and ambitious.

However, I can’t say I agree with the choices of phrasing given by some users, namely “we cannot pretend there is not two sexes”. Sex and gender are very complex things with a huge collection of factors. It cannot be nailed down to “there are only two sexes”. The existence of intersex, nonbinary and transgender individuals says otherwise. They exist and have always existed, whether you understand it or not.

Moving on. I tend to see surnames and place names as suiting anyone, so I can see [name_u]Arlo[/name_u] and [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] working for girls. [name_u]Dylan[/name_u], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Cole[/name_m] and [name_u]Cody[/name_u] definitely lean very masculine in my eyes due to their roots. [name_m]Cole[/name_m] and [name_u]Cody[/name_u] are surnames, but as surnames they function as Anglicised forms of older masculine names.

@amberdaydream - thank you for saying that. I get so angry and upset because this subject is a huge deal to my family. It’s something we deal with every single day of our lives and it hurts seeing people just dismiss my family as if they don’t matter or exist, or that their existence somehow has to fit into their small worldview.

I go by sound mostly.
I like [name_u]Harper[/name_u] better for a boy. Also I love [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_u]Taylor[/name_u] for boys.
I like [name_u]Seth[/name_u] for both.
I love [name_m]Kylan[/name_m] / [name_m]Kylen[/name_m] for a girl or a boy.
[name_u]Reid[/name_u] for both.
[name_u]Ashton[/name_u] for a boy.
[name_u]Finley[/name_u] / [name_u]Finlay[/name_u] and [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] are adorable on girls. I do like [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] for a boy.
[name_u]Hollis[/name_u] for a girl is gorgeous.

I have absolutely nothing against transgender people (and I have/will never said that they don’t exist, don’t change my words), because… I have been through these thoughts too. So don’t call me transphobic, don’t attack me, and please (best advice) don’t judge or insult people you don’t know, because you don’t know what they also have to deal with everyday. Calm down, my comment is only about names (that are related to a sex in certain cases, in my opinion and from what I studied, because I did study about names for a semester). Nobody talked about transgender in this thread (and my opinion would have been different if so), so I just gave my opinion on what I think about “a masculine name on a girl”, period. At the end the parents do their own choice. My comment was not meant to be mean (and I don’t think it was), I’m not a native English speaker and I try to express myself as I can. Also, don’t worry, I do my best and I’m active in today’s society (judgmental… once again. You don’t know me so avoid to tell me what I should do).
Your comment is wayyyyy more disrespectful, agressive and judgmental than mine, so please change your attitude before trying to change mine. I’m also sick to read your comment.

@mccharlie - your comment may not have MEANT to be transphobic but it was. Intent vs impact is something you need to consider. What you said in your post IS transphobic. You literally said “we can’t pretend there is not 2 sexes” - that is horrifically offensive, transphobic and dismissive of the lives and experiences of trans, intersex, non-binary+ people. Instead of getting huffy and trying to gaslight me and act like a victim, how about you back up, reevaluate what you said, think about the impact and realize that it wasn’t OK. [name_f]Do[/name_f] better next time.

I won’t do it, because it is okay as I was talking about genitals and not gender (Sexes = genitals, at least in my language). I only know about a vagina and a penis (and a long time ago, names have been associated to the genitals). There is not one kind of genital (penis) but 2 (penis and vagina) and I want my daughter to know that even though she has a vagina and a feminine name, she is strong. She doesn’t need a masculine name to make her stronger (which I find sexist, as nobody uses Rose for a boy, that’s it). Now if I talk about genders, there are way more than 2, that seems obvious. You are not in my head, you don’t know what I meant, so stop. My comment was NOT transphobic. I wish I could express myself better, I’m sorry that I can’t, so keep your wickedness for yourself. Anyways, time to be a little more open-minded and listen to other’s opinion, especially when they tell you they are not transphobic. Thanks for giving your opinion. Bye!

It never ceases to amaze me how controversial this subject is on nameberry.

I like all the ones you listed, except [name_u]James[/name_u], and only because a girl named [name_u]James[/name_u] might have a really hard time being mistaken for a male all the time (like ziggy’s experience above). [name_u]James[/name_u] is just too common. I think lesser-used names would probably be easier to pull off.

I also like:

[name_m]Felix[/name_m]
[name_u]Elliott[/name_u]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u] (which originated as unisex and still is, though more often used for boys today).
[name_u]Ira[/name_u]
[name_u]Spencer[/name_u]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]
Fion

I know girls named [name_u]Brett[/name_u], [name_u]Blake[/name_u], [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Joey[/name_u], [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] and [name_u]Devin[/name_u]

I swore I would not involve myself with these types of threads again but I wanted to make one comment that I have not seen made. When parents-to-be are naming their child, the child is in utero or a newborn. At that time we do not know who the child will become. We know whether they have a penis or a vagina and we name accordingly. So arguing over different sexual and gender orientations does not fit the subject matter.

Okay not done.

Related to boys names on girls/girls names on boys, I think parents NEED to think about the wearer, the owner, of the name. They are the ones that have to live with the name. In these types of threads I see a lot of me, me, me but not much, or any, thought about the person receiving the name. Maybe a dismissive, yeah, yeah I know the receiver is the one wearing the name. There needs to be an honest to goodness, deep thought about what a boy/man wearing a girls name, a girl/woman wearing a boys name, truly will mean for this person for their LIFETIME. 70/80+ years. I know one thing that will happen, people will assume the opposite gender (I have personally known people who have dealt with this) and the child/adult will be placed in ackward and embarrassing situations.

Sorry OP but I have to pop in and let you know that today I met someone new, and like usual, the conversation went like this:

me: [name_m]Hi[/name_m] I’m ____
him: What? Was that ____ (a female name that sounds like mine that my parents should have just given me)
me: No it’s ____
him: Oh, I know a guy named that, how did you end up with ____?
me in my head: here we f*cking go.
and so on, and so forth.

So it’s rather unlike my best friend [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] who gets to introduce herself and move on, it’s quite literally a daily occurrence if you work in client-facing role. I only am jumping back in to let you know because this happens just about every time I introduce myself, and also because this thread is getting heated. As far as the sexism goes, I agree, but I just need to point out how minuscule annoyances grow and fester and become major pain-in-the-you-know-whats.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you listen to people named [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] or [name_f]Karen[/name_f] who love boys names on girls, or someone like myself who is becoming increasingly exasperated with their boy name? And I’m a feminist, have no grievances towards any community, be it transgenders, non-binary, etc.

And obviously I see that your choices are guilty pleasures and I love your signature, I guess this is more for anyone who stumbles on this.

I’m also quite cranky about it these days, maybe I’ll fall back into a more neutral zone on my name sometime. But I will never like it again. And to whoever said people are too uptight about it, go around introducing yourself as [name_m]Robert[/name_m] and see how long you last.

Names are merely words of our own invention, and gender assignment changes over time, so I don’t think using “boys” names on girls is the atrocious sin that many dedicated name enthusiasts do. Especially since our culture is becoming much more open to the idea that gender is fluid and changeable.

I tend to like feminine names in terms of sound, but there are a few boys names I think are adorable on girls, including [name_u]Dylan[/name_u] and [name_u]Carson[/name_u].