Hmm this may not be “correct” but I don’t think I would try to raise a baby without giving them a backup/default gender so Id go with he or she pronouns. Sounds very confusing. They can decide that later. Id probably give the name I had already picked out and maybe try to link it to a more unisex nickname if possible.
This is a good question! [name_f]My[/name_f] favourite names are quite gendered so this is a hard one. I think I’d go for [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] or [name_u]Robin[/name_u] [name_u]Valentine[/name_u]. Both first names are unisex and still my style.
I’d use they/them pronouns until they were old enough to choose for themselves.
Probably [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_u]Yael[/name_u] or [name_u]Aviv[/name_u]. Few names both work here and feel neutral (and fit my style). For a middle name maybe [name_u]Storm[/name_u]/Sturm or a form of [name_u]Aurel[/name_u] to get a family surname in there, as I’d like to use family middles but don’t have anything unisex to choose from.
Pronouns are harder. Either dey/dem as a more pronounceable version of they/them, or hen (with [name_m]German[/name_m] grammar applied). [name_u]Or[/name_u] just avoid pronouns by using the name a lot…
I’m realizing now that I don’t have many gender neutral names I like! So maybe… [name_u]Hyacinth[/name_u] [name_u]Lee[/name_u] ([name_u]Lee[/name_u] is a family name). I would raise them as they/them until they’re old enough to make their own choice about their gender identity.
I actually keep an intersex list, although I don’t have it in my UC because there aren’t any that I’m completely sold on. Currently I’m liking [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_f]Wildflower[/name_f], [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], or [name_u]Kit[/name_u] [name_u]Robin[/name_u].
I’d use they/them pronouns until they were old enough to say how they identify.
Well, usually intersex babies still lean strongly towards one sex or the other, so I’d probably use pronouns that correspond with which sex they most closely match up with. That said, I would probably still use a unisex name, but with a non-unisex middle.
This is an interesting question! I think I’d have to do more research into what intersex people and psychologists recommend or wish their parents had done before I could come to a decision. It wouldn’t change how I’d raise them or what toys/clothes/books/etc that I’d buy for them because I don’t think any of those things have a gender. Yes, I’d probably gravitate towards different clothing sections when my children are young—I love baby clothes and gender neutral clothes are never as cute as the boy/girl clothes, imo. But I want gender to be a fluid thing in my house so as soon as my son wants a dress or my daughter wants to stop wearing floral patterns, I’d be 100% ready to update their closet with their current style. This also goes for pronouns. If my kids ever decide they want to use different pronouns, I will be supportive. However, I want them to know that gender does exist (because saying otherwise invalidates trans identities), it’s just not limiting and can be as fluid as they want it to be for themselves. That’s why, until they can say otherwise, I will use pronouns consistent with their sex assigned at birth and dress them in feminine/masculine clothes, because I don’t think doing so will stop or discourage them from developing a gender identity that isn’t consistent with their assignment at birth.
But I guess this is different because there isn’t a binary sex to assign at birth. I don’t know if I would use set pronouns—that is, if I’d use they/them or if I’d use she/him/they and just switch. It would also be difficult to name them because, while I love unisex names, I usually have a gender that I prefer. [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] and [name_u]Parker[/name_u] work for all but I’d feel weird addressing a son of mine with either name. [name_u]Evren[/name_u] works for all but I’d feel weird addressing a daughter of mine with the name. I have unisex names in my UC because I thought it would be fun but I don’t think I like any of them as much as I like the names in my top girls/boys 10 or else they’d be on those lists.
After much consideration, I think I’d use alternating pronouns and encourage others to do the same or use they/them until the child can choose for themselves. For the name, I think I’d pick Zenith [name_u]Amour[/name_u] but I’d probably give them the opportunity to change the middle if/when they decide on their gender.
That makes perfect sense! Thinking about the odds of having an intersex baby I thought the most likely form is Klinefelter’s (literally XXY chromosomes), and since those people usually look male (to the point where many don’t realize themselves, or only when they try to have children of their own), I’m not so sure if I’d have such a child registered as “diverse gender”, and I’d probably use he/him.
It’s a tough decision what to do name-wise in that case, not using the boy name chosen in advance feels wrong if he’s otherwise “officially” male, but using it feels like sorting him into whatever binary sex is closer without considering thirds. Does any of this make sense?
Anyway I wanted to say that [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] is
Truly they would be named what any other baby of mine would be named, and raised in a compassionate and supportive environment in which they’d know they could be whoever & identify as whoever they felt --and they could also change, and redefine, and I’d be there to adapt and love them through it. If I named them [name_f]Joycie[/name_f] Kittiwake, a name I feel like fits anyone, they could disagree and wish to change it. The problem I’d struggle with is teaching my child how they should or shouldn’t identify subconsciously – i.e. having a set of names fit for the occasion like an already “other” category. It’s not a guarantee an intersex baby will grow up to identify as intersex, as any baby can grow up to not identify as male/female. The assumption that intersex = unisex makes me a little uncomfortable, I think. But I think the implications here are like super broad and I’m in the habit of overanalyzing.
On the subject of pronouns-- I’d probably consult with an expert social worker or mental health professional that specializes in identity formation and supporting individuals of diverse gender!
Hmm this is an interesting question! I took a psych human sexuality class in college and LOVED learning about the 8 (or maybe it was 7) different sexes (I took the class 6 years ago, so I’m rusty).
If all external genitalia and reproductive organs are not causing any harm or complications, then I would probably go with a name from my “unisex” list. If surgery is medically necessary (for example, a testicle is present but not fully formed and causing problems, thus leaving one healthy ovary), then I would go with the boy or girl name that matches their body, post-surgery.
Either way, I would have regular and private conversations with my child about their options. At any time they want to go by different pronouns or a different name, I would 100% respect that and require all the people in my child’s life to respect it.
My top names I love on ALL genders are:
Cas
[name_u]Ember[/name_u]
Equinox
[name_u]Fable[/name_u]
[name_u]Kieran[/name_u]
[name_m]Merlin[/name_m]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Salem[/name_u]
[name_m]Truett[/name_m]
I’m currently leaning towards [name_u]Ember[/name_u]
I probably wouldn’t do a middle name. I may add one when they are older, but that will mostly be their decision.
I would give an intersex baby a neutral name, probably nature or celestial as that’s my style. I would use they/them pronouns until they expressed a preference and would have lots of conversations about sex and gender, just as I do with my current child. If/when they wish to change pronouns/name that choice would be respected. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I would support this and defend their choice as much as required.
In terms of any body changes, the only surgery they would have before they are able to choose and give informed consent would be absolutely medically necessary ones.
I also totally recommend the book Raising Them by Dr Kyl Myers. They, with their husband, are raising their child from birth with they/them pronouns and not disclosing their child’s biological sex. It’s super interesting and raises some very valid points
I’d use [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] ‘[name_u]Lenny[/name_u]’. It’s one of the only gender neutral names that I favor and can actually picture on my child. I’d probably go for [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] [name_u]Penrose[/name_u] or [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] [name_u]June[/name_u]. Would use they/them.