I have a little 1 year old daughter named [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and I’ve recently been criticized by the in-laws for giving my girl a “traditionally boy name.” What they have said is true but it is also true for names like [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], [name_u]Harper[/name_u], and [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. What are your thoughts?
Additional Info:
*Her name was going to be [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
*[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] has a twin sister named [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] “[name_f]Tess[/name_f]” [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
*I also have 4 older girls ([name_f]Claudia[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], and [name_f]Lucille[/name_f])
I love this name and definitely think of it as a girl’s name. Absolutely lovely paired with [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] “[name_f]Tess[/name_f]” and your other girls’ names. It’s a timeless classic but not commonly used, and as a bonus most people will know how to spell it without asking since there aren’t really any spelling variations for it(while I adore [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], it has so many spelling variations).
Girls- I have never met a male [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], but know of many females by this name.
“Since the mid-1920s it has been used more often for girls than for boys in English-speaking countries, though it is still a masculine name in [name_m]Wales[/name_m].” (behindthename.com)
I associate it more with girls. I know it used to be a male name at some point, but I have never met a male [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] and only female ones. I think you’re fine. I hope the in-laws give you a break at some point.
By the way I love your daughters’ names, all of them.
I’d take their complaint with a grain of salt. Next time the topic comes up I’d politely but firmly shut them down with a comment like “That may be, but this pretty girl [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] is changing that notion” or “Look at her little face, the name [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] is all girl now for our family”.
I’ve never heard of [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] as a boy name until this post. My main associations are Sex & the City and [name_u]Grey[/name_u]’s Anatomy.
I love all your girls names!
I 100% think of [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] as a girls name, I hadn’t realised it was unisex.
And also, who cares, unisex is great. I wouldn’t take it as a negative thing.
I associate it with girls more, especially since [name_u]Grey[/name_u]'s Anatomy. But I prefer it on a boy. I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to use it on a boy though. But I’d love to see a little boy called [name_u]Meredith[/name_u].
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] hasn’t been primarily a boy’s name for a century. The comment seems odd to me and bad manners.
Many name now mainly girls names use to be male - [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Tracy[/name_u], [name_f]Florence[/name_f] , [name_u]Stacy[/name_u] , [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] even more you would never think of.
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] is a lovely and strong name for a girl.
While I’m aware that [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] was once considered a male name, I have never met or even heard of one male [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]! It’s firmly in the female category for me. I’m also a huge Greys fan so associate it with [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] [name_u]Grey[/name_u] and think it’s a wonderful, strong name
All girl! And fits well with your other daughters’ names. Although [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] is one of my faves, [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] and [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] sound too rhymy.