There’s been quite a lot of talk about girls “stealing” boys names and most of it is quite negative. But what do people think about boys taking them back?
[name]One[/name] of my favourite boys names is [name]Sydney[/name] - I prefer this spelling over [name]Sidney[/name] as I think it looks fresher and I generally like it more despite people thinking it’s more a girl - would it work? Or would everyone think he’s a girl? My combo is [name]Sydney[/name] [name]Alexander[/name].
Others on my first name list are [name]Cassidy[/name] “[name]Cass[/name]”, [name]Devon[/name], and [name]Phoenix[/name]. My combos are: [name]Cassidy[/name] [name]Keith[/name] "[name]Cass[/name]. [name]Phoenix[/name] [name]Theodore[/name]. And I’m still working on a mn for [name]Devon[/name].
For middle names I’ve got [name]Quinn[/name] and [name]Tempest[/name]. I know [name]Tempest[/name] is actually a girls name but I saw it in a book and from the moment I clapped eyes on it I loved it for a boy and only a boy - my combo is [name]Edmund[/name] [name]Tempest[/name].
So what do you think? Would they work? Or would I be setting my boys up for a life time of teasing?
Well, I never liked the name [name]Sydney[/name], anyway, so either way, I just don’t like it. I think [name]Phoenix[/name] is more unisex. It could work on either one.
I know [name]Devon[/name] is unisex, but I think of it more as a boy’s name anyway. [name]Tempest[/name] is definitely the most problematic used on a boy.
Well I know two boys named [name]Mackenzie[/name] and they have gotten a little “teasing” but nothing too difficult during childhood. They are both big guys, so maybe that had something to do with it, but the teasing was never bad. [name]One[/name] of the two loves his name now; I’m not sure about the other.
I think [name]Sydney[/name] looks girly but [name]Sidney[/name] is most definitely a masculine name. I think you should go with that. But, on the other hand, [name]Sydney[/name] is the place name so that might be a plus. I think either way is nice for a boy though. People will come to recognize it as a boy’s name and I don’t think it’ll be too much of a burden to have as a name.
[name]Cassidy[/name]…hmmm…the only [name]Cassidy[/name]'s I know are girls, one being one of my best friends, so I can’t see this on a boy right away. BUt the more I think about it, it really seems gender neutral. I would worry about the nickname [name]Cassie[/name], but my friend has managed to avoid that and she’s a girl!
I think [name]Devon[/name] is still more popular for boys so I don’t see any problem there at all. I have been wondering if it’s ok for a girl.
[name]Phoenix[/name] looks more masculine than feminine to me as well.
[name]Quinn[/name] is cute on a girl, but I think of it as a boy’s name as well.
[name]Tempest[/name], however, is the only one I can’t see for a boy. It just seems…well, sexy.
other names that can go back to boys: [name]Ashley[/name] and [name]Morgan[/name]
I think we British nameberries get too influenced sometimes by what’s happening in [name]America[/name]. Most of these names are male here, the only exceptions are [name]Cassidy[/name] and [name]Sydney[/name], but [name]Sidney[/name] is used more for boys.
Stats for you (B/G):
[name]Sydney[/name] (24/159)
[name]Sidney[/name] (185/12)
[name]Cassidy[/name] (4/64)
[name]Devon[/name] (134/43)
[name]Phoenix[/name] (124/53)
[name]Quinn[/name] (184/46)
[name]Tempest[/name] (below three for both)
I like the name [name]Sidney[/name] for a boy and [name]Sydney[/name] for a girl. When I hear the name [name]Sidney[/name], I think of [name]Sidney[/name] [name]Crosby[/name].
[name]Cassidy[/name] is all girl to me.
I know more male Devons than females so it seems masculine to me.
[name]Phoenix[/name] works both ways for me.
[name]Quinn[/name] also works both ways for me.
Not sure about [name]Tempest[/name].
I know a male [name]Cassidy[/name] & a few male Devins one is 3. I know a male [name]Baily[/name].
I love [name]Sidney[/name] & [name]Morgan[/name] on a boy.
I’ve known males named [name]Whitney[/name], [name]Tracy[/name], [name]Gene[/name], ect.
I don’t think it’s a crazy awful teasable thing to name a boy [name]Loren[/name] or [name]Ashley[/name]. These days kids are around so much more name diversity that I don’t think they’re as thrown off by unique names. Plus it’s not likely a female [name]Lauren[/name] or [name]Ashley[/name] will be in class…[name]Cassidy[/name] or [name]Harper[/name] might be more of a problem
[name]One[/name] of my very good friends has a [name]Sidney[/name]. People honestly do think he is a girl, but they also thought that with his 3 older brothers because they had long hair, lol. I think many kids are going to know girl [name]Sydney[/name]'s but also there is a show called “[name]Sid[/name] the [name]Science[/name] Kid” that I feel is popular enough to have the name be more masculine or atleast bump it into the unisex crowd for when he is in school.
I prefer softer or “feminine” boy names. In the South they’re much more accepted than in the rest of the US. Being in the UK, I’m sure you’ll be fine.
I’ve only known one [name]Sidney[/name], a boy so the name is masculine. I also think of [name]Sidney[/name] Poitier I’m not crazy about the 2 Y’s but it’s a place name so I guess it’s alright
I like [name]Cassidy[/name]. It’s rugged; I think of [name]Butch[/name] [name]Cassidy[/name]. Not a fan of this name for a girl. I love [name]Cass[/name] as a stand alone name but I worry that people will assume his name is [name]Caspar[/name] or [name]Cassidy[/name]
Although unisex, [name]Phoenix[/name] has always leaned more masculine to me
[name]Tempest[/name] is just a word so I don’t consider it a girl name
Some of my favorite boy names have been co-opted by girls: [name]Ashley[/name] and [name]Morgan[/name]. As much as I love them for boys, I don’t think you could really get away with that today. Maaaybe [name]Morgan[/name] in [name]England[/name], but not in the US.
I also love the name [name]Dorian[/name] - but my husband keeps saying, “What about [name]Dorian[/name] for a girl?” And I’m like, NO it’s a very nice boy’s name!!
As to the specific question of “what about boys taking the names back?”, I would love to see that. Morgan, Avery, Cassidy, and Quinn are some of my favorite boys names. However I could never see the name Tempest on a boy. As a middle, fine-anything goes for middle names in my opinion-but as a first name I would think “poor boy”.
Yes! I love [name]Sidney[/name] on a boy, and I agree that the [name]Sydney[/name] spelling looks more feminine, but I think that’s just because we’ve been brainwashed by the folks who add ys to boys’ names and give them to their daughters, whereas [name]Sydney[/name] is actually a valid spelling of the name, not a feminization. When I hear [name]Sidney[/name]/[name]Sydney[/name], I think of the character in A Tale of Two Cities (I believe his name is actually spelled with a y), and I love it. [name]Devon[/name] and [name]Phoenix[/name] are all boy to me, as is [name]Quinn[/name]. The only ones I think might be asking for trouble are [name]Cassidy[/name] (though Caz might be a cool, masculine nn) and [name]Tempest[/name]. I know a LOT of little female Cassidys, and as much as I would love to say “Yes! Take it back for the boys!”, I would worry he would be teased, which is so sad to me. [name]Tempest[/name], as pp said, sounds provocative in a very female sense, but that’s not something kids would pick up on. To be honest, I’d bet other little boys would think that’s a pretty kick-butt name.
I would also [name]LOVE[/name] to meet a little boy named [name]Ashley[/name] or [name]Tracy[/name] – I have such a name crush on those names for boys, but DH would never let me use either, I’m pretty sure. They’re still on my list though! [name]Morgan[/name] also is all boy to me.
I think they’re all awesome for boys!! [name]LOVE[/name] them. All of the names mentioned in this thread “go boy” in my mind, more than girl. If i were to meet/read of a [name]Cassidy[/name] I might think it was initially referring to a girl, but wouldn’t give it a second thought or hesitation if it was a boy’s name.
[name]Tempest[/name] is the only one i don’t care for, but for either sex. It does sound… sexy or too aggressive for my taste.
I adore softer names for boys. For example, [name]Morgan[/name] is wonderful for boys, gentle but quietly strong…
I seem to live in a very open-minded area when it comes to naming. I could see boys being named and know several parents who have considered/considering [name]Ashley[/name] and I know several boys named [name]Morgan[/name], as well as [name]Sidney[/name], and even names like [name]Val[/name], [name]Brook[/name], [name]Briar[/name] and [name]Angel[/name]
So I’m all for boys reclaiming their names! The only one I would think twice about is [name]Cassidy[/name], but it wouldn’t be shocking to meet a boy named [name]Cassidy[/name]
[name]One[/name] of my best friends since I was a child is a male [name]Lauren[/name]. He rocks it, the whole alternate, laid back, Aussie, surfer dude thing!
I’ve never met a male [name]Cassidy[/name], but I think is super cool! I’m not to sure about [name]Cassidy[/name] [name]Keith[/name] though, unless it’s a family name then is perfectly fine.
And [name]Edmund[/name] [name]Tempest[/name], is funky! [name]Tempest[/name] brings life and colour to [name]Edmund[/name]… I think [name]Teddy[/name] [name]Tempest[/name] is a funny, in a good way, cute nn.
[QUOTE=taz;1750955]I know a male [name]Baily[/name]. I’ve just finished working in a school with 5/6 year olds and there were three [name]Bailey[/name]'s in the year, all of them boys! I’ve got to say I was quite surprised
I know many people don’t like it but the repeating K sounds appeal to me.