Now I’m not usually a fan of girls names on boys, but I was thinking about names and how they have gender expectations and why so many people put boys names on daughters and I get it.
But is [name_f]Emily[/name_f] too frilly for a boy? I don’t think so, in fact I don’t really consider it as super feminine.
What do you guys think. Honest answers please.
If girls can be named [name_u]Riley[/name_u], [name_u]Rory[/name_u], [name_u]Addison[/name_u], and [name_u]Kennedy[/name_u], then a boy can be named [name_f]Emily[/name_f].
I don’t think [name_f]Emily[/name_f] works on a boy at all. It reminds me of [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] for a boy. Unfortunately, the connotation is to expect a female with both of those names, and while I am all about changing sterotypes, I just don’t think [name_f]Emily[/name_f] is at that point yet.
I don’t think I’d use it unless it became one of those unisex names that work good on both.
I was just wondering, but Thanks!
I can see it working
I double dog dare you.
No way !!!
I think it might be difficult to pull off, but not impossible.
The problem here is that [name_f]Emily[/name_f]'s suuuuuch a popular name for girls, it would be incredibly confusing. Something like [name_f]Maren[/name_f], [name_f]Dorrit[/name_f] or [name_f]Hester[/name_f] for a boy? Maybe. But [name_f]Emily[/name_f]'s just not going to work realistically, much as I, and I’m sure a large part of the NB community, appreciate the sentiment.
I have to agree. This to me is the equivalent of using [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] for a girl (which I realize a few people are doing, but I wish they wouldn’t). I’d love to see more feminine names cross into unisex territory, but [name_f]Emily[/name_f] seems a bit of a stretch given its current popularity for girls.
Strictly speaking, [name_f]Emily[/name_f], while being soft and sweet, does sound phonetically as if it could be a boy’s name.
I’m all for calling boys [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] and [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], or even Esmé, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] or [name_f]Celestine[/name_f] if you really want to do something daring (bearing in mind that it is the child who is going to have to suffer mix-ups), but [name_f]Emily[/name_f], as a girl’s name that has always been a girl’s name, would be nearly impossible for a boy to carry. He would constantly get people assuming he was a girl, and strange comments on being introduced. All through his life he would get marked on forms as female, and there would be misunderstandings right, left and centre.
I agree that it’s no worse than calling a girl [name_u]Rory[/name_u] or [name_u]James[/name_u], but those are problematic too.
Have you considered Émile, the [name_m]French[/name_m] masculine form of [name_f]Emily[/name_f]?
Yes, Emily is a feminine name. If you wanted to do it as some sort of statement, I would get ready for your son to be pretty pissed off with you. I know it is silly that many people seem to consider the reverse to be fine (giving a girl a boy’s name) and I think the double standard is indicative of an undercurrent of misogyny in society. However, personally my preferred response to that would be if people would stop giving girls boys’ names (I know it’s never going to happen), not say “Well in for a penny in for a pound, let’s name our son Emily”.
For better or worse, most names are heavily gendered and everyone in Western countries, without exception, would expect an Emily to be a girl. That would be extremely wearing for anyone who did not identify as a girl. Now, there’s no guarantee that a baby boy would end up identifying as a boy, but it is very likely that he would. I know, I know, it’s all arbitrary whether a certain set of letters and sounds is defined as ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’ but in real life I think you do have to draw a line somewhere between social ideals and practicality.
Try Emil, Émile, Emilio, etc. I love all those names for their soft, gentle quality, but they are names that you would expect to see on a boy.
To me, [name_f]Emily[/name_f] is completely feminine. I know there are so many names nowadays that are unisex, but I just don’t think [name_f]Emily[/name_f] is one of them, or ever going to be.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] no! It doesn’t work on a boy. He would get teased so much (my partner is already scared that a name like Eliad/Eliel/[name_m]Elio[/name_m] brings issues beaucause of the “[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]” sound, so [name_f]Emily[/name_f]… :/). People would always expect a girl/woman and that can bring issues too (letters, emails, phone calls, feminine gown for graduation, etc. It’s probably tiring to correct people and justify you are a boy every single time).
It’s historically a girl name. Why would we change the origin of the name? It’s just like [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_u]Elliott[/name_u], [name_m]Emrys[/name_m] or [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] on girls, I just don’t get it. There are not new names with no history and associated gender. They have a background, they are popular or known for one gender.
Sorry for the negative comment.
I agree with this!
I would like to add that it’s okay to have masculine and feminine names because there are two sexes afterall. We can not pretend it doesn’t exist. It’s not like pink, blue, long hair or all those gender stereotypes. Names define your identity and represent the humans: men and women. It’s like languages: He and She in English, Il and [name_f]Elle[/name_f] in [name_m]French[/name_m], etc. Nobody thinks it’s wrong to use “He” for boys and “She” for girls.
[name_m]Emile[/name_m] is such a great name 
It’s all girl to me. Most names that end in -ly -lee -lie -leigh -ley -li are all girl to me. [name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_f]Kaylie[/name_f], [name_u]Haley[/name_u], [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], [name_f]Marlee[/name_f], [name_f]Carly[/name_f], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Everly[/name_u], [name_u]Brinley[/name_u], [name_u]Allie[/name_u], [name_f]Callie[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_u]Hadley[/name_u], Isley, [name_u]Julie[/name_u], [name_f]Kinsley[/name_f], [name_u]Kingsley[/name_u], [name_f]Kylie[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Miley[/name_f], Maylee, [name_u]Raleigh[/name_u], Naleigh, [name_u]Paisley[/name_u], Rosealie, [name_f]Tinsley[/name_f], etc.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_u]Riley[/name_u] is very girl to me. Though I do know a boy with the name. [name_u]Finley[/name_u] is also girl to me. Same with [name_u]Ollie[/name_u].
I think I group all of these names as feminine because they have the -[name_u]Lee[/name_u] ending that many girls names have but can be spelled differently.
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaylie[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaylee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kali[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaleigh[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaley[/name_f]
Your son would have to live with the name for a lifetime.
Based on my experience knowing men with “girls” names ([name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Carmen[/name_u], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]), your son would not thank you for naming him [name_f]Emily[/name_f]. It is too strongly associated as a feminine name at this point in time.
I am usually a fan of “girlier” names on boys (i.e. [name_f]Jade[/name_f], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_f]Bayleigh[/name_f], [name_f]Moon[/name_f], [name_m]Kalixto[/name_m], [name_f]Sapphire[/name_f]), but I would say no to [name_f]Emily[/name_f] on a boy simply because of how popular it is/was for girls. I’m all about challenging the order, but think of how a child would feel with the name first. As a middle name, I think it could work, but then again, I have met girls named [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]George[/name_m], and [name_u]Gary[/name_u], so why not a boy named [name_f]Emily[/name_f]?
Thanks for the feedback! I wouldn’t use it unless boys having girls names got to be a trend.
I REALLY appreciate the feedback!
However, I’m a 26yr old heterosexual (straight), genetic(x-y chromosome), cisgender adult male, Sorry if my intro offended you and please forgive me if my intro did offend you. But I believe that if the mother wants to name her son [name_f]Emily[/name_f] or any other girls names, the first thing I would come back with is this:
Me: now honey he’ll get teased and become a trouble maker with a girls name.
Wife: I know, dear, but I believe that boys should be able to have girls names w/o threatening their masculinity.
Me: yes, but the world might be ready for a girl with guys names like [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m] and all doesn’t threaten their femininity but with boys its a whole different ballgame.
Wife: yes, I know that freaking, fucking stupid bitch and bastard ass double standard oy I’m getting tired of it.
Me: So am I, but if you’re still set on doing this when the child is born I suggest you change your name to what is commonly a boys name, not a unisex name that sounds boyish, but a masculine name with absolutely no mistaking that its for a male child and I’ll change my name to feminine name to make the child feel more comfortable.
Wife: you’re serious?
Me: yep.
Wife: I suppose the [name_m]French[/name_m] form might be better [name_m]Emilio[/name_m], and all he has to say is that he’s [name_m]French[/name_m] and most of his family just recently moved to the us right after he was born.
Me: that’s my girl.
Now that is what I would do if my wife wanted our son named [name_f]Emily[/name_f], b/c I threatened to make my wife change her name to masculine one and threaten with me changing my name to feminine one and lo and behold she changed her mind and agreed to using a masculine form of the name [name_f]Emily[/name_f]. [name_u]True[/name_u] its fictional script but just a thought of you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.