Emmett for a girl?

Girl Names
1

We are expecting our first child, and while we don’t yet know the sex of baby, we are already looking for names. We have found a great combination of family names for a boy, but are completely stumped for a girl’s name. I was just lamenting the wealth of family names for boys and complete lack of them for girls when it dawned on me that we could possibly use one of them for girl after all. I know many nameberry readers aren’t big fans of giving girls a traditionally masculine name, but I kind of like these family names for a girl:

[name]Emmett[/name] (I love that it starts with the “em” sound, has an ending that sounds like “ette,” and could easily be shortened to [name]Emme[/name]).

[name]Pierce[/name] (I had always thought of this as a purely masculine name until I met a precious little girl named [name]Pierce[/name].)

[name]Brady[/name] (I am not as crazy about this one, but it is a family name).

What do you think?

2

[name]Emmett[/name]- I don’t see this on a boy at all, due to the [name]Em[/name]- trend, but I don’t really see it on a girl, either. [name]Just[/name] seems like another [name]Emma[/name], [name]Emily[/name] or [name]Amelia[/name].

[name]Pierce[/name]- I could never see this on a girl.

[name]Brady[/name]- In my school, there is a class clown and a very masculine boy named [name]Brady[/name]. I can’t see it on a girl.

However, I do like [name]Ezra[/name] for a girl better on a boy, and I think [name]Luca[/name], [name]Jordan[/name] and [name]Micah[/name] might work as well on a girl as a boy. But I understand how you want to go with family names.

Have you considered going with a diminuitive or variation of a family member’s name? If you have a grandma [name]Mary[/name], what about [name]Molly[/name], [name]Mitzi[/name], [name]May[/name], [name]Maura[/name], [name]Mariam[/name], [name]Mimi[/name], [name]Maria[/name] or even [name]Polly[/name]? If you have an aunt [name]Linda[/name], then the -inda names like [name]Selinda[/name], [name]Solinda[/name], [name]Melinda[/name], [name]Calinda[/name], [name]Belinda[/name] or even [name]Lucinda[/name], [name]Aurinda[/name], [name]Brenda[/name], [name]Amarinda[/name], [name]Cinda[/name], [name]Jacinda[/name], [name]Zarinda[/name] and [name]Mirinda[/name] could be used.

[name]Even[/name] most names that would make many a parent looking for a stylish name scream like [name]Dorothy[/name], [name]Eunice[/name], [name]Florence[/name], [name]Hortense[/name] and such can be altered. Instead of [name]Dorothy[/name], take the original version and use the short form [name]Thea[/name] to get names like [name]Theadora[/name], [name]Althea[/name] or [name]Alethea[/name]. [name]Eunice[/name] can be modified into [name]Yuna[/name] or even [name]Luna[/name], while [name]Florence[/name] can be a [name]Flora[/name], [name]Florentina[/name] or [name]Fiorenza[/name]. [name]Even[/name] [name]Hortense[/name] can become modern, with the meaning ‘of the garden’ and plant name would work, from [name]Magnolia[/name] to [name]Rose[/name].

[name]Just[/name] some thoughts.

3

[name]Emmett[/name] - I do not support this on girls. It’s a boys name, [name]Emma[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name], [name]Emily[/name] can all be shortened to [name]Emme[/name]. [name]Just[/name] because there’s an ette sound doesn’t mean it’s automatically meant for girls. I think that it should be left alone because I’m sure there are some parents who like more “feminine” sounding names for boys, and if girls start wearing them eventually it’ll be a social taboo for them to be used on boys. It’s the unfortunate reality a la [name]Ashley[/name].

[name]Pierce[/name] - Same as above. It’s a boys name, and not even a flattering image imo. And I have a cousin named [name]Pierce[/name]. I can think of far too many unpleaseant and inappropriate jokes an innuendos with this name on a girl that will come about in middle school and high school.

[name]Brady[/name]- I don’t like this either.

Boys names on girls isn’t just a trend, it can cause a lot of issues, sends out the wrong message and can cause trouble through out life when people see her as a boy on paper before meeting her.
Girls names are girls names for a reason, and ditto with boys names. There are plenty of unisex names that can be used.

4

I can see [name]Emmett[/name] on a girl, I can’t see [name]Pierce[/name] on one and I don’t care for [name]Brady[/name] for either gender, seems very trendy to me.

5

Nope, can’t see any of them on a girl.

If you wouldn’t name your boy [name]Phoebe[/name], you shouldn’t name your girl [name]Emmett[/name]

6

You obviously want a boy…

7

This. What about doing variations or maybe moving them in the middle?

For example:
[name]Claire[/name] [name]Emmett[/name] or [name]Anna[/name] [name]Pierce[/name]. Much more acceptable.

Other variations:
[name]Emmett[/name] = [name]Emma[/name], [name]Emily[/name], [name]Emilia[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name]
[name]Pierce[/name] = [name]Piera[/name], [name]Pierina[/name], [name]Pierette[/name], [name]Circe[/name]
[name]Brady[/name] = [name]Sadie[/name], [name]Bailey[/name]

Also, are there any female family members you can honor? I find it hard to believe they are all male…

8

I just can’t get behind [name]Emmett[/name] or [name]Pierce[/name] for a girl. [name]Even[/name] if the [name]Emme[/name] beginning and “ette” ending are more feminine, this is very strongly a boys name. I can tell you from experience with my dad (who has a very masculine name in Spanish, but in English it looks like [name]Hazel[/name]) that the ENDLESS “I am a man” gets really old, really fast and he’s been dealing with it since he came to the US, more than 40 years ago. The opposite holds true. Your daughter would ALWAYS have to correct people… “I am a girl”, especially in our technological society, where we don’t always SEE people… just their online presence. I’m a teacher, and the “m/f” is listed on our class rosters, but way after their names and student IDs, etc. There have been several students that I have to double check and still wonder until I meet them in person. There are so many beautiful names that end in “ette” or start with “[name]Emme[/name]…” that are very feminine.

I hope I don’t seem rude… I am really not trying to be… just want to be helpful :slight_smile:

9

Sorry, I do not like [name]Emmett[/name] for a girl. What about [name]Emerson[/name]? I think that’s similar while being a little bit more girly.

10

My name is [name]Renee[/name] and traveling through Central [name]America[/name] was so challenging because noone could hear my name as it is traditionally a boys name in the Latin American countries - I eventually just started calling myself [name]Reina[/name] - because it was easier than having to say my name half a dozen times and make the common association of La [name]Rana[/name] [name]Renee[/name], which is the [name]Kermit[/name] the Frogs name in Spanish.

Give her a girls name :slight_smile:
That being said an acquaintance of mine just named her second daughter [name]James[/name]. Her first daughter is named [name]Ella[/name]. Her decision to name her [name]James[/name] was based on it being a family name and they were going to use it whether they had a boy or a girl :frowning:
me no likey - they don’t even call her jamie…

11

In a vacuum with no other social influences, I could get behind [name]Emmett[/name] on a girl. I’d heard rumors (can’t remember where I heard it, so I can’t really back it up) that [name]Emmett[/name] was an old diminutive of [name]Emma[/name] for a girl, before it swapped over to the boys, or before it was rediscovered for boys, or something. I can’t exactly recall. But my point is that I’d heard rumors of it being legitimately feminine. And to me, [name]Emmett[/name] does sound like a diminutive of [name]Emma[/name]. [name]Emmett[/name] nn [name]Emma[/name]/[name]Emmy[/name] on a girl would be adorable, I think. And I pretty strongly dislike unisex names (and I like [name]Emmett[/name] for a boy). I think there is much worse you could do as far as masculine/unisex names go. I wouldn’t do it, because people obviously see it as a boys’ name, and after Twilight, it’s a bit more in the spotlight because that was such a well-known series. And I wouldn’t want to have to put up with the “Oh, you’re a girl?!” comments. But I do think it could work as a MN, I like the suggestion of [name]Claire[/name] [name]Emmett[/name].

[name]Brady[/name] is a MASSIVE gp for me on a girl, I think it sounds adorable, but would I ever use it? No. [name]Brady[/name]'s in the top 100 for boys. It’s a common name, and my guess is that every family has heard, come across, or met a little [name]Brady[/name] that’s a boy. I still like it, but I wouldn’t use it. I think using [name]Brady[/name] on a girl is even worse than [name]Emmett[/name] because [name]Brady[/name]'s so common (and it really doesn’t have any feminine history).

[name]Imo[/name], [name]Pierce[/name] is too harsh/strong/masculine to work for a girl, I don’t think it sounds girly at all.

If you want to use a family name, have you looked into variations? Like [name]Annabel[/name] for [name]Anne[/name]/[name]Annie[/name], [name]Olive[/name] for [name]Oliver[/name], [name]Georgiana[/name] for [name]George[/name], etc.? Or even similar meanings, like [name]Shoshana[/name] for a [name]Lillie[/name]?

12

If you spelled it wrong I could see Braidee as a girl.

13

It never ends does it? This whole gender bending business. Keep the boys name on the…boys. [name]How[/name] hard is that?

[name]How[/name] about [name]Emmeline[/name] or [name]Colette[/name] if you are looking for an -ette name?

14

[name]Emmett[/name]: No, I don’t see this working as a girl’s name. It is a familiar boys names that has numerous male influences, most recently one of those vampires (?) on Twilight. It has also risen into the top 250 names for boys. There are so many lovely [name]Em[/name] names that could suit your purpose.

[name]Pierce[/name]: This screams boy.

[name]Brady[/name]: Same as above. Maybe as a middle name?

15

I love [name]Emmett[/name] for a girl. It makes [name]Emme[/name] more unique!

I have never seen [name]Pierce[/name] on a girl, but I can totally picture it!

I’ve considered using [name]Brody[/name] for a girl’s name, but never [name]Brady[/name]…I’m not a fan of it for either sex, but if you are, go for it!

16

[name]Emmett[/name] to me is REALLY masculine. I picture a rugged guy when I hear this name. I know there is a family connection but what about [name]Elliot[/name]? I find this classic boy name much more girl-friendly.

[name]Peirce[/name] is okay, im not particulary fond of it on a boy or a girl.

[name]Brady[/name] just reminds me of the [name]Brady[/name] Bunch but it wouldnt be too terrible on a girl.

[name]Remember[/name] you can always femininize a males name or alter a females name if a family name is really important to you. (i.e [name]Rosalie[/name] instead of [name]Rosemary[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name] instead of [name]Emmett[/name]) There is also middle names if you know what they were and surnames if they’re name-worthy.

17

I’m not sure why everyone is so against using these names for a girl. I personally love unique names and ideas and am totally on board with your name choices! I think my favorite would be [name]Peirce[/name] between the three. I could see such an adorable little girl wearing this name brilliantly! And if you decide you want to feminize it a tad you could do Peircely or Peircelyn? [name]Hope[/name] that helps! Good luck…and don’t let others negative opinions way too heavy on your decision.

18

If you’re using it on a girl, at least spell it Emmete or [name]Emmette[/name] - or Emmatt, which was the original (feminine) spelling of the name back in the Middle Ages, when it was used as short form of [name]Emma[/name].

Nowadays, I wouldn’t use any of these names on a girl unless they were family surnames / had a very deep significance to me / you were willing to name future kids equally “gender confusing names” - [name]Emmett[/name] (g) and [name]James[/name] (b) doesn’t work, neither does [name]Emmett[/name] (g) and [name]Ava[/name] (b).

19

Sorry, those names are all way too masculine for me to get behind them being used on a girl. Then again, I’m not a fan of boy names on girls. I could get behind a masculine middle name with a feminine first name as some others have suggested, especially if it’s in honor of someone.

20

When I think of [name]Emmett[/name], the first thing that pops to mind is [name]Doc[/name] [name]Emmett[/name] [name]Brown[/name] from the Back to the [name]Future[/name] movies. Not to say [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Lloyd[/name] is necessarily a bad association, but I don’t think this makes for a good namesake for a girl. There are plenty of [name]Em[/name]- names for girls out there. Save [name]Emmett[/name] for a son.