Faith for a boy?

okay.
so I saw [name_f]Faith[/name_f] in a forum when someone misgendered my character (don’t worry ur fine) and I realized

[name_f]Faith[/name_f] might be unisex
mind blown

heres the thing: I’ve never known a person named [name_f]Faith[/name_f]. So if you have, this name may have a very feminine connatation. but I don’t see why it couldn’t be unisex?? like it’s a virtue name AND a word name so I kinda really like it for a boy.
maybe in dystopian universes only. thoughts?

I only know a girl named [name_f]Faith[/name_f] and girl fictional characters named [name_f]Faith[/name_f]. But sure it could work on a boy, why not. [name_u]Justice[/name_u] is already unisex.

Being a noun, I could potentially get behind it in a middle name spot…but as a name it does have a feminine history that has to be remembered and considered.

[name_f]Honesty[/name_f], I do not think a man or teenage boy would feel comfortable being named [name_f]Faith[/name_f]. I personally do not see it as unisex and I think as a whole most would not. I have known a handful, all females (varying ages).

You can see where [name_f]Faith[/name_f] ranks around the world here (scroll to the bottom of the link):

Popular, as a girls name, in several countries.

[name_f]Faith[/name_f] is all girl to me, just as [name_m]Christian[/name_m] is all boy to me. But then again they are noun names, so they very well could be unisex.

Being a noun does not make a name unisex.

idk it’s just an idea, plus i would only use it in a dystopian/futuristic character. im sorry i offended anyone. i understand that this name, though sounding unisex, has a very feminine history that many people believe in.

It is absolutely fine to use [name_f]Faith[/name_f] for a fictional male character. I have seen [name_f]Faith[/name_f] used as a man’s name in historic records, but it’s safe to say that [name_f]Faith[/name_f] leans firmly feminine today. Doesn’t mean it can’t be used on a boy, though. I’d imagine that it does see some masculine use as a middle name in devout [name_m]Christian[/name_m] circles.

It is (and has been in the past) generally used for girls. And admittedly, to me it does have a feminine sound - like [name_f]Faye[/name_f] with the -ith ending of names [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], [name_f]Judith[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f], etc.

But I’m also one of those people who thinks that every name can be unisex. And especially if you’re writing futuristic science fiction, there is no reason you have to conform to modern gender norms. It seems like people today care a lot about the gendered history of names, but maybe in your future world, they don’t.

Yes, I definitely agree. I have known several Faiths over the years, and not one of them was a boy/man. I just don’t think it would be a good choice for a son. Like, at all. Would you name your son, say, [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] or [name_f]Lily[/name_f]? Those are nouns, too, but I don’t think any boy would appreciate it. [name_f]Faith[/name_f] (and [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], etc.) is the same, imo. (Usually, I say use the name you love no matter what…but I cannot say that this time. I don’t mean to offend, but just don’t. Keep it as a gp:) )

I can see what you mean…it’s a word name…so technically it has no gender. However I personally see it as quite floaty and feminine. I can’t imagine it being used on a boy…yet. Maybe one day.

I know several girls (and female characters) named [name_f]Faith[/name_f], but no males. [name_f]Faith[/name_f] as a word name is inherently unisex so yes you could use it for a boy. To me, it’s on the “almost certainly girl” side of unisex though. But hey, people are naming their daughter’s [name_u]James[/name_u] and [name_u]Max[/name_u] so why not give your son [name_f]Faith[/name_f]?

I know several girls with the name - it was very popular in my area about 10-15 years ago. While I personally wouldn’t use it for a boy (it’s just not my style), I can’t see why you couldn’t.

Also, I believe if you check the SSA data beyond the top 1000, you’ll find that several parents have named their sons [name_f]Faith[/name_f] in the past few years.

Most modern noun names, such as Sailor, Harbor, Cove, Grey, etc. do not have extensive history of use for one gender or the other, therefore making them unisex. Virtue names have extensive history on both genders - it was commonplace in the Puritan/Georgian era to use them on either gender. Boys were named Faith, Hope, Grace, Remember, etc. and girls were names Justice, Service, Silence, etc. In Victorian times, records have shown boys being given names like Violet, Daisy, Rose and Lily as well as girls.

Most modern noun names, such as [name_u]Sailor[/name_u], [name_u]Harbor[/name_u], [name_m]Cove[/name_m], [name_u]Grey[/name_u], etc. do not have extensive history of use for one gender or the other, therefore making them unisex. [name_f]Virtue[/name_f] names have extensive history on both genders - it was commonplace in the Puritan/Georgian era to use them on either gender. Boys were named [name_f]Faith[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Remember[/name_f], etc. and girls were names [name_u]Justice[/name_u], Service, [name_f]Silence[/name_f], etc. In Victorian times, records have shown boys being given names like [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] as well as girls.

It leans feminine to me, but it’s not unworkable. I think especially as a middle name to a masculine first name it would work, i.e. [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] [name_f]Faith[/name_f] Lastname, [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] [name_f]Faith[/name_f] Lastname, [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] [name_f]Faith[/name_f] Lastname.

I would also suggest the names [name_m]Fate[/name_m] and [name_m]Fane[/name_m]. [name_m]Fate[/name_m] is another word for destiny and fane is an archaic word for a shrine or temple, so I think they’re similar in meaning and sound. :slight_smile:

As a name for an actual person, [name_f]Faith[/name_f] is all girl to me, but then it is my mums middle name and my best friends first name. However in the context that you are talking of, I.e. A futuristic dystopian story I think that [name_f]Faith[/name_f] on a male could really work. In the end it’s your story and you can do what you like!

(not directing this all to [name_u]Haley[/name_u])

Time has evolved.

I have said in the past that it might not be fair, and some people might not like it, but a woman/girl will get by easier with a masculine name than a man/boy with a feminine name…in today’s times, and that is where we are living. Ask a man or teenage boy how they would feel being called [name_f]Faith[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f] in the world we live in now. Ask how they would feel if they met a male one.

So, no, I do not believe a noun automatically makes for a unisex name…maybe more so in the past…but we do not live in the past.

I honestly am going to avoid these types of posts from now on. Often times, not saying this one, I think they are started to just start something anyway. I just hope that parents-to-be will think about the person receiving the name. It is that person’s, they are little for a fraction of their 7/8 decades of life, name…not theirs.

I met a male [name_f]Hope[/name_f] once and what’s the difference really? I think it’s fine, especially for a fictional character.

I think virtue names can be unisex, and I like using girl names on boys.

It’s acceptable for girls to be given boys’ names but not for boys to be given girls’ names these days–something I don’t understand. It’s a double-standard. I think [name_f]Faith[/name_f] could be considered unisex as it’s a word/virtue name, but it has such a strong history as being used as a girl’s name that I think it would be better in the middle name spot. But as it’s a potential name for a character I don’t see why it would be a problem.