[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] are our top two girls names currently. However, DH and I both fell in love with [name_f]Greer[/name_f] the first time we heard it and have loved it ever since, as well. I have two concerns:
[name_f]Greer[/name_f] doesn’t seem to “go” with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] or [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] stylistically and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is DH’s favorite.
I’m afraid people will assume [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is a boy’s name. (“afraid” perhaps is the wrong word, but I do wonder how likely it is for someone to assume it is a boy’s name)
The first time I heard [name_f]Greer[/name_f] was on a TV show and the character was a girl, so it has always sounded like a girl’s name to me. Plus, there’s the [name_f]Grier[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m] connection and also [name_u]Kelsey[/name_u] Grammar’s daughter. A close family friend automatically assumed it was a boy’s name, though. We have gone back and forth on whether or not to use it for the above reasons. We have also considered using [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u], so we still get [name_f]Greer[/name_f] in there (and [name_u]Arden[/name_u]–another unisex sounding name we like) without the confusion.
What do you think? Is [name_f]Greer[/name_f] too masculine? Does it work ok with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] or [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] as a sibset? Should it keep it as a middle?
I’ve never actually heard of [name_f]Greer[/name_f] as a boy’s name, so I don’t think it being too masculine will be an issue you’ll run into every day. I personally think the sound and style is too off from fitting with [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], but I love your idea of [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u].
The first time I heard the name was on the TV series [name_u]Reign[/name_u], so I definitely associate it with a girl. It’s quite a rare name as far as I’m concerned but I keep reading about it on this forum!
If you both like it I’d say go for it!
[name_f]Greer[/name_f] automatically reminds me of the feminist [name_u]Germaine[/name_u] [name_f]Greer[/name_f], so is instantly a more girly name to me. It’s a strong, spunky name and I love it for its strength and vitality.
I think [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] flows better than [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f], but I love the name [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]. Ooh [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] & [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u] could work nicely together! Haha sorry to be difficult and contrary ”
I really like the name [name_f]Greer[/name_f], it’s on my list for our baby girl due in [name_f]April[/name_f]. My personal hesitation is that I prefer two syllables or more, for me a one syllable name seems like not enough name…so we are also considering using it for a middle (along with [name_u]Blair[/name_u] which is similar). I love [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] as a combo. Not a fan of [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], but it does go nicely with [name_f]Greer[/name_f] as well. I don’t think [name_f]Greer[/name_f] necessarily makes a good sibset with [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] or [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], but it all depends on how important it would be for you to have children’s names be the same style. If you love all three names, perhaps it shouldn’t matter that much
@ihuges: [name_u]Reign[/name_u] was where I first heard the name as well. haha
@lolaybimba: I don’t mind you being contrary. haha You did it nicely. I actually don’t mind [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u] instead of the other way around. Both ways sound fine to me. =]
@grnberyl: We do love all three names, but I am a bit anal about names having the same style. lol I’m trying to get over it for the sake of the name [name_f]Greer[/name_f], but I am having a very hard time. Most of our boy names are more similar in style to [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], as well, but go better with [name_f]Greer[/name_f] in general than the girl names do.
@boyandgirl: Yea, [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is a little like the word ‘rural’ sometimes, so I get where you’re coming from. It’s definitely not everyone’s style. I appreciate the feedback, though.
[name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u]! I automatically think of [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m], which is such a great connection. I probably prefer [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] or [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] for a first name but [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is pretty rad.
I’ve literally never encountered a man named [name_f]Greer[/name_f]. I love it personally. [name_f]Greer[/name_f] has sustenance to it, unlike [name_f]Grace[/name_f]/[name_f]Rose[/name_f]/[name_f]Mae[/name_f]/any other filler middle. I do think it’s not that matchy with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], but those aren’t overly fussy girl’s names either. It’s just the length. I think it would work in the end if you love it though.
I love the name [name_f]Greer[/name_f], and it’s definitely feminine to me. I think of [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m].
I also love [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] and would happily put [name_f]Greer[/name_f] as a middle name with either. Putting all 3 together as siblings is the harder question though. In some ways perhaps not ideal, but then they are all interesting, not overly-used and strong girl’s names that have a shared thoughtful quality about them, and I’m thinking they would be fine together. I’m having a bit each way here I know, but I think if I met 3 sisters with these names I would like it.
I’m enjoying hearing some love for [name_f]Greer[/name_f], even if it maybe doesn’t go with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] so well. It’s been a toss up between liking it and not among our family and friends. I know it ultimately matters what we think, though. =]
This may be a silly question, and hypothetical at this point, but do any of you think a girl might be jealous of her siblings for having such girly names when she has a less feminine sounding name? I personally think [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is a rocking name and would love to have it myself, but I also think [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] are pretty awesome in their own rights…just more feminine/softer sounding.
[name_f]Greer[/name_f] is 100% girl to me - first heard of it via [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m]. I have theoretically disliked it for a while but that could change - it’s one of those names, like [name_f]Maud[/name_f], where the dislike is often just the other side of the coin.
I think [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] is my favourite of your options. I really like its vintage-y feel, but it has spunk and sweetness and a slight kitten-ish feel too (in a good way). And it’s certainly not common. [name_f]Tabby[/name_f]'s an adorable nickname, but [name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_u]Abi[/name_u], [name_f]Tibby[/name_f] (that’s cute too), and [name_f]Thea[/name_f]/[name_f]Thia[/name_f] would also work.
I know what you mean, about the style contrast between [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and the other two, however I do think that often that can set the names off very nicely. [name_f]Greer[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], for example - I think they go rather well. [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Greer[/name_f], perhaps not so much, but I honestly think that that isn’t much of a problem. And your perception could change. Mine often do!
Hmm, your last question is interesting. I think it would definitely depend on the personality - some girls perhaps would love having a slightly edgier name, others might prefer a more feminine sound. [name_f]IMO[/name_f] what really matters is that she would have her own name, something that you’ve thought about and put lots of time and effort and love into. If you love it, and if you make it clear that you’re in love with her name, I’d say she ought to love it too! And also I think [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_f]Elaine[/name_f] (the combo in your signature) sounds very feminine Another thought is that our perceptions of names are very much influenced by environment and pop culture, among other things, so while it might sound quite masculine to some people, if your hypothetical daughter [name_f]Greer[/name_f] was brought up seeing it as a female name (and perhaps being exposed to some female namesakes like the afore-mentioned [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m]) she may well find it as soft and feminine as [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] and [name_f]Felicity[/name_f].
That is a great point and very true! I agree that our perception of different names is very influenced by environment and culture. I am surrounded by very traditional people who name their kids names like [name_m]David[/name_m] and [name_u]Michael[/name_u] and think that unisex names (like [name_f]Greer[/name_f], in their opinion) are confusing and names like [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] aren’t manly enough. haha So I think that’s where my biggest struggles are coming from. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my second question. =]
Well [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is a masculine name; it’s a variant of [name_m]Gregor[/name_m]/[name_m]Gregory[/name_m]. It’s also a surname name so that makes it male/unisex. [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m]'s name was [name_f]Eileen[/name_f]; [name_f]Greer[/name_f] was her mn & her mother’s maiden name. There’s nothing inherently feminine about [name_f]Greer[/name_f] & it’s uncommon so expect people to be unsure if she’s a boy or girl. If you’re uncomfortable with ambiguity, I wouldn’t use a unisex name. [name_m]Just[/name_m] leave it in the middle spot.
Thank you for your comment. =] I appreciate the feedback. I am aware that [name_f]Greer[/name_f] is a contraction of the name [name_m]Gregor[/name_m] and is a surname, however it is listed as a female name pretty much everywhere you see it and more girls are named [name_f]Greer[/name_f] than boys based on the research I’ve done. I am also aware that [name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Garson[/name_m]'s first name was not [name_f]Greer[/name_f], however it is the name she chose to go by professionally, thereby associating it with her. I am not necessarily uncomfortable with ambiguity. I was attempting to figure out just how ambiguous the name truly is and people actually seem to associate it with females and find it more feminine than masculine based on the responses so far. Sure, there will be some people that think it’s a boy’s name, as I have already encountered, but I was curious to see if that was an outlier opinion or the general opinion (based on what little evidence I can collect from a naming forum and personal acquaintances). Thanks again for your response. =]
Your kids are going to be a sibset for the first years in their lives. But as they grow up, they’ll stop being [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] and [name_f]Greer[/name_f] (for example) to be just [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] or [name_f]Greer[/name_f] (or [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]). I don’t think you should stop using a name you love, just because it isn’t the same style as other names you love.
I don’t see [name_f]Greer[/name_f] as a boys’ name. I’ve always seen it as a girls’ name. And you seem to love it, that’s what matters. Go for it. If you decide to go with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_u]Arden[/name_u] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f], they are beautiful names too.
@alicemarie1, I appreciate your feedback. =] I hadn’t really thought about kids ceasing to be a “sibset” as they grow. I am an only child, so the sibling mindset it foreign to me. That’s a good point to consider. Thank you.
I don’t care for [name_f]Greer[/name_f]- it sounds harsh imo. [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] is very pretty though! I’d go with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Greer[/name_f].
I love the name [name_f]Greer[/name_f], and I think it sounds fine with [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] though it may not appear to be the same style. Since I love [name_f]Greer[/name_f], I would say don’t just use it as a middle, but i’m biased.
