Gender Bending a Name

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?

What do you consider a gender neutral name?

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
Yes, in the majority of cases. Not all names, though. In some languages a name has a grammatical gender, which is (almost) impossible to mess with. In English name gender is all cultural, so it can be gradually changed.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
I like to be able to tell what sex the bearer is from their name, so I guess I would like it if all names were one or the other. But that’s not going to happen in the English-speaking world and gender neutral names don’t really bother me, just not something I would do myself. I think using names of the opposite gender is not kind to the child, though.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u].

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
When I can’t tell whether it’s a boy or a girl, like I am genuinely not expecting one or the other.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
No. Names can be made masculine or feminine by altering them (usually masculine to feminine), e.g. [name_m]Charles[/name_m] to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], but if you don’t change the form you didn’t change the gender.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
I don’t think that either practice is desirable. The short answer as to why it is commonly considered culturally acceptable to use boy names on girls but not the other way round is: systemic sexism in our society.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
Not really anything particular in English, just cultural associations and historical usage. Of course there are various suffixes that are traditionally feminine and traditionally masculine, but there are usually exceptions to these ‘rules’.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
This woman is entitled to her opinions, but she’s putting a very odd spin on things. She gave her daughter a boy’s name.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?
I don’t like the names, to me they are both surnames and not good first names, but of course I wouldn’t think anything negative about the boy because I didn’t like his name! It’s not my style, but I wouldn’t think anything of his parents either. There are worse names out there and I can’t see that they’ve chosen names that would cause their son any sort of hardship.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
[name_m]Jesus[/name_m] [name_m]Christ[/name_m]! No! Why on earth would anyone think any of those things?

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?
I don’t know. I guess they don’t like the name [name_f]Abigail[/name_f]. [name_u]Asa[/name_u] is a girl’s name in many cultures, so I don’t think it’s a great example. It would definitely be one of the names that would qualify as gender neutral for me.

  1. Yes, names (generally) express gender. Gender is constructed, not innate. That doesn’t make it invalid, it just means that little boys are not actually born with biological love of trucks. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it may seem that way sometimes. We recognize specific colors, themes, and names as expressing one gender or another. These things change over time- pink used to be a masculine color, now it is considered feminine.

  2. It depends. Maybe the parents are into challenging gender norms, so they want to name their daughter [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] or their son [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]. The thing that annoys me is when the parents name the baby [name_u]Jameson[/name_u] or similar and then expect everyone to magically know that the newborn is a girl.

  3. I consider most nature names (names like [name_u]River[/name_u], Kestrel, [name_u]Sky[/name_u], that kind of thing) to be truly gender neutral. Most place names I consider gender neutral as well ([name_u]London[/name_u] I would say is gender neutral, [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] is not.)

  4. I would not name my daughter [name_u]Emmet[/name_u] and I would not name my son [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. But if a person is okay with baby girl [name_u]Emmet[/name_u], i do think they ought to be okay with baby boy [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].

  5. I believe that people are not okay with girls names on boys b.c people believe that having a boys name will help their daughter to succeed in life, while having a girls name will hurt their son’s chances of success and happiness. This is b.c society generally considers masculinity as superior to femininity. Think of how we celebrate little girls being “tomboys.” What do we call boys who act like girls? Sissies. And it is not a compliment.

  6. [name_m]Both[/name_m] the sound, the spelling, and the popularity of the name for one gender or the other.

  7. ok, I agree with you, but a celebrity (can’t think who) did recently name her son [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]. The middle name also seemed feminine to me, but I can’t think of it. And isn’t their a YA novel out with a male character named [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]? [name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] was a goddess? Correct me if I am wrong, please. And that is insane about [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. That is a great name for a boy, though! I love both of your son’s names and I hope you get your sticky baby soon.

  8. [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] sounds like a boys name to me. If I heard that on a little girl, I would think her parents gave her a boys name. I know [name_u]Madison[/name_u] is allegedly a girls name now, even though it still sounds like a boys name, but really, [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] is, too?

  9. So, no, I wouldn’t perceive him as being a mamas boy or think less of him.

  10. Well, [name_u]Asa[/name_u] and [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] are completely different names. They sound very different. I wouldn’t name a girl [name_u]Asa[/name_u], but it seems legitimate that the family might like the name because of the sound or something and not just b.c it is Biblical. I might suggest [name_f]Ava[/name_f] for them, or [name_u]Isa[/name_u], or something that sounded closer to [name_u]Asa[/name_u] but wasn’t a traditionally male name.

Thank you for the thought-provoking questions! I probably spent way more time on this than I should have. :slight_smile:

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
I think that most names are typically associated with one gender or another in the US, and other English-speaking countries. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it wasn’t always so, names become a “boy” or “girl” name depending on what is most common in society. The names themselves do not inherently have a gender, it’s just in people’s minds.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
I think it would be nice to have a society in which all names are gender neutral, but that just isn’t where we are right now. The way things stand, a boy named [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is going to be teased, and people he meets are going to be confused. I also think that using traditionally male names on girls can create the same confusion, even though it’s much more common. So yes, I do think that names that are strongly associated with a particular gender should be used only for that gender.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
Most nature names, like [name_u]River[/name_u]. However, there are natural objects that are considered more “masculine” or “feminine.” A boy named [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] is going to have the same troubles as a boy named [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
I feel like there can’t really be a set rule for this, because things change over time, or suddenly rocket into popularity, like [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_u]Morgan[/name_u], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Taylor[/name_u], etc. However, if things are about even between the two genders, like [name_u]Taylor[/name_u] and [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] are for people my age, I would say yes, that name is (currently) gender neutral.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
Any name can be used on anyone, but I don’t think it’s a good idea in our current society, for either a masculine name on a girl or a feminine name on a boy.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
Because being male is the default in our society, therefore masculine things are normal for everyone (or should I say “all mankind”?). A girl can go fishing, wear jeans, and build a fort. A boy cannot play with Barbies or paint his toenails. Girls are inferior, so why would a male want to do something that’s “for girls?” On the other hand, it’s natural for a girl to want to be more like the superior male. People pick up on this from a very, very young age and know that while girl things, including names, are not okay for boys, boys things are okay, or even good, for girls.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
This also changes over time. Names like [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] or [name_u]Stacy[/name_u] (or your example, [name_u]Bailey[/name_u]) used to be fine for boys, but now the -ey, -ie, etc endings are assumed to be girls’ by default, or gender-neutral at best, with some notable exceptions like [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] and [name_m]Jeffrey[/name_m] (although judging from the numbers those two are definitely past their prime, at least for now, and most people go by [name_m]Brad[/name_m] or [name_m]Jeff[/name_m] anyway). Names ending in -a are also typically feminine, and even ones that aren’t may be assumed to be feminine by some people (ex your examples of [name_u]Asa[/name_u] of [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]). I think tradition, popularity, and sometimes meaning make a name masculine or feminine, not the sound.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
She’s probably just making assumptions based on the “-ah” ending; lots of people don’t know much about names’ histories and assume that the way things are now is how it’s always been. Our society is obsessed with delineating between girls and boys, and many people are very uncomfortable with ambiguity in gender (that’s why you must have a blue or pink outfit for your baby at all times, so that strangers know whether to say “he” or “she” when discussing your offspring). I think that because girls are encroaching on traditionally masculine names, there’s a backlash of people feeling like they have to choose a super masculine name for a boy, so you can be super sure that yes, he is a boy. This just leads to even more names seeming to be more feminine and getting “lost” to girls.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?
I might think that the parents were not up on name trends, or that they didn’t care that these names are now predominantly seen on girls, but since these are both traditionally masculine names, there’s nothing wrong with this name in itself. However I suspect that many people would be laughing behind their hands, or openly as the case may be.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
I don’t think that the child’s personality would be influenced by his name, although I do think that parents may choose names that reflect their values, and therefore also how they will raise their children. Ex parents who name their child [name_m]Gunner[/name_m] might encourage (or tolerate) more aggressive behavior than the average parent; parents with a daughter named [name_f]Faith[/name_f] may be more religious and encourage it in their child. Parents who name their child a very feminine or very masculine name might encourage associated traits in their child. Obviously this wouldn’t hold true every time and would be a terrible way to make predictions about someone’s personality and behavior. And I wouldn’t think less of anyone for their name, since they didn’t choose it themselves.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?

I think sometimes choosing a traditionally male name for a girl is a question of people trying to find a unique but still recognizable name, or on the other hand, of following the trend of boys’ names for girls. In large part because of the internet, there’s such a fine line between cool and too trendy, and between too common and too weird, that I think people have trouble trying to navigate it and find a “perfect” name.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender? - Not necessarily. Names today are becoming more unisex i.e. [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_u]Sidney[/name_u], [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m], [name_u]Frankie[/name_u], etc…

Should a name only be used on a certain gender? - Again, not necessarily. I feel that it depends on the parents taste in names.

What do you consider a gender neutral name? In today’s world anything that is trendy can be gender neutral.

When do you consider a name gender neutral? Again, I feel it is the opinion of the parents, and their culture.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy? Yes, it could be but I wouldn’t personally use it.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy? I don’t see why you can’t as long as the child is raised to be strong enough to hold onto it.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out? [name_f]IMO[/name_f], sound, such as ie, y, i, son, man, etc.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son. - [name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_u]Jamee[/name_u] (spelled with 2 e’s, but pronounced ie.) I grew up and went to school with 2 boy [name_u]Jamie[/name_u]'s. I had no problem with it at all. I loved my name.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents? I would think, what a cute name! [name_f]My[/name_f] best friend has a new boy puppy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], and [name_u]Billy[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] is one of my favorite movie characters. [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I hear the name [name_u]Madison[/name_u] I think masculine.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why? - No! He will make the name his own!

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it? Again, it is the freedom of the family to name their little child a name that they love. I actually do know a little girl named [name_u]Asa[/name_u] and her grandparents are from [name_m]Isreal[/name_m]. I love the name on a little girl, but I would personally love [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] on a little girl too.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
I think we give gender to names. There is nothing innately gendered to a name. However, if a name is used predominately by one gender, I, and most people consider it a name for that gender.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
I used to think no but I’ve changed my mind as I’ve gotten older. I am against the continual loss of boys’ names.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
Anything that is consistently used pretty well by both genders, so [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] and [name_u]River[/name_u] maybe. It’s tricky though because many names people give as being gender neutral are in fact transitioning from boy to girl.

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
Yeah, pretty much but it has to hold over time and that doesn’t happen often.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
You can name your child anything you want but it’s not culturally acceptable.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
Because things that are deemed masculine are good and things that are deemed feminine are not, or at least only acceptable on women.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
It changes over time and from culture to culture. I think that lately we’ve been more obsessed with categorizing sounds as masculine or feminine. If you look at long standing traditional names, there wasn’t as much as a distinction. [name_m]Just[/name_m] like it wasn’t always that babies wore pink and blue. They all wore white dresses, or at least uncolored gowns really. There wasn’t a need for a baby to be identified it’s sex and it’s not because it was a less gendered time. Gendering a baby wasn’t really a concern for people because most of the time they weren’t around strangers and people knew their gender and could treat them accordingly.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
This is what makes me angry. People deciding that something sounds feminine or masculine and deciding they can assign gender like that. I’ve heard a number of people say that [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] sounds like a girls’ name, despite it being used exclusively as a boys name and being decently popular as long as there have been records kept in the US. According the them then, any boy names that is dubbed “soft” or can shorten to a popular girl’s nickname is fair game to steal, pretty much saying that if I want to name my son [name_u]Elliot[/name_u], it’s a “sissy” name.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?
Nothing, although now that I’ve looked it up I see it’s a popular girls’ name. I live in an area where people tend to give more traditional names so I don’t always know what surnames are trending for which gender. [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] looked like a boy name to me initially but I think that about most surname names anyway. I would then think maybe [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] is a family name or something, since that’s a tradition for some people.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
No, but I thought [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] sounded like a boys’ name anyway. I don’t much like the term ‘mama’s boy’ anyway, especially considering how differently portrayed ‘daddy’s girl’ is.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?

Well basically, we as a society feel the need to to assign gender to sounds in names now, I think partially because of the popularity of surnames so that assigning is bleeding over into traditional names. Also, people are ok with girls taking on ‘masculine’ traits but not boys showing ‘feminine’ traits.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
I feel that most names do express a certain gender. When most people hear the name “[name_f]Anna[/name_f]” they think of a certain gender. Although, when a name starts to be used by more of one gender then it may start to “shift”, especially when a name that has been seen as a male name starts to move toward the female side.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
I understand having some general neutral names, although it isn’t my style. Personally, I prefer seeing a name and knowing the sex of the person behind it. For example, If I saw that I was going to see a Dr. [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] ___, I would assume I was seeing a male doctor and I wouldn’t be happy to see a female doctor coming in the room. Gender neutral names can increase confusion.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
[name_u]River[/name_u]

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
When it’s very equal or a nature based name (with the exception of flowers and most gems-[name_f]Sapphire[/name_f] and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] doesn’t scream male). Some place names are gender neutral as well (like [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u]).

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
It can, but just because it happens wouldn’t mean it is now a “boy” name. I don’t think people would take the name [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] on a boy very well.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
Personally, I feel that if you are fine with putting a masculine name on a girl you should be fine with a feminine name on a boy. Although, I feel boys have a lot more to lose than girls when they have a name of the opposite sex. Boys are taught not to have anything feminine, while girls have been pushed to be able to do anything boys can do.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
Part of it is what has been used before as a feminine or masculine name. [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] has been used as a female name for a long time, and [name_u]James[/name_u] has been a male name. Of course that changes, but it seems that a lot of the names that were initially given to girls that sounded more masculine were the surnames. Some sounds have also begun to be associated with female names (like the “e” sound).

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] because she sees it as a female name doesn’t make it so. This is part of why, even though I want a son, I am afraid of having one.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?
I wouldn’t really think much. I think of Baileys Irish Cream. If [name_u]Madison[/name_u] was the first name, I would be expecting a female just because of how common it is on girls, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see a boy.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
No. [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] still reminds me of the drink. I’ve also never met a female [name_u]Bailey[/name_u].

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?
Because it has become more acceptable by many for a girl to carry a name considered to be a “boy’s” name. Maybe they want to go with a trend or want to honor someone in their family.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender? Historically, yes - that’s why male and female versions of names existed - [name_m]Charles[/name_m] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], for example. But different names can have different genders in different cultures - I believe [name_f]Maria[/name_f] is commonly used on boys in certain Catholic countries, or at least was in the past - and so with the merging of cultures the gender lines have also merged.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender? It depends on the name. [name_m]Charles[/name_m] and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], for example, have no reason to be used on the opposite gender given their historical use on one gender and the existence of an alternative which will also lead to the nickname [name_u]Charlie[/name_u]. But other names are fair game for either gender - surname names, nature names, place names - as they haven’t got a gender as such.

What do you consider a gender neutral name? Most place names, nature names and surnames. [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u], [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] are gender neutral to me. [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], although they technically fit into those categories, aren’t as they have centuries of use on one specific gender as a first name.

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally? Not exactly equally, but within a reasonable proportion so that, associations aside, you would not automatically assume one gender over the other upon hearing the name.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy? I don’t think names like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] should be used for girls anyway when there is a feminine form in existence, but if names are going to be used for the opposite gender, it ought to work both ways.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy? A previous poster summed this up perfectly in that it is socially acceptable for females to aspire to stereotypically masculine qualities but not the other way round.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out? I think it’s a combination of both, but I think people should be able to use softer sounding names for boys ([name_m]Elijah[/name_m], [name_u]Luca[/name_u]) and harder sounding names for girls ([name_u]Sloane[/name_u], [name_f]Edith[/name_f]) without it being seen as using a more feminine or masculine name than is common for the gender. Names for both genders are on a spectrum - the most masculine names being the [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], [name_m]Gunner[/name_m] types that emphasise macho behaviour and the most feminine being the frilly [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] sort of names that conjure thoughts of pink dresses and pigtails. It’s at the opposite ends of the spectrums where gender-bending occurs as people try to stretch it further.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son. [name_f]Peaches[/name_f] Geldof used Astala and [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f] for her sons, I can’t remember their middle names but it does happen the other way, albeit very rarely. Most people though don’t have a clue about the origin of names and just hear or see it and think ‘oh that’s nice’. With the -iah ending being more common on girl’s names I guess this woman just didn’t bother to research it properly, otherwise she’d see [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] is a biblical male name with centuries of usage on boys.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents? [name_m]Both[/name_m] names seem a little bit dated but other than that [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] is more boy to me anyway. I’d think maybe one or both were family names as the use of two surname names seems a little disjointed to me.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
Most little boys (talking kids of around 3-7 here) I’ve met are mama’s boys in that they’re fond of their mothers, but I think that comes with the age rather than anything else, and it’s rather cute seeing them want to buy her a present with the £2 of pocket money that they have. But that’s nothing to do with their name, it’s to do with their age (old enough to know and understand things but not old enough to be independent in any way) and personality.


A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?
Maybe [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] isn’t their taste - it could be too long, or they don’t like the nicknames [name_u]Abby[/name_u] or [name_f]Gail[/name_f], or it has bad associations for them. But [name_u]Asa[/name_u] is very similar to other popular girls’ names, like [name_f]Ava[/name_f], that they could have thought it was a girl’s name without researching it.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
I grew up in Germany. In [name_m]German[/name_m] everything has a gender designation (well somethings like a house are gender neutral but other things like a table are masculine, butter is feminine, etc). Therefore, to me most names to have gender associations. But, I do realize that other languages have different gender association for the same objects (off the top of my head the only I can think of is Death as in [name_m]German[/name_m] it’s masculine but in [name_m]French[/name_m] it’s feminine - makes for very interesting translated metaphors sometimes). For me a name would retain the gender it originally had in it’s original language.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
There are many countries that predefine what gender a name is and insist that a child is given a name that clearly indicates its gender. Unless it’s a virtue name, I tend to be more attracted to gender defined names. I do think some names grow the gap more easily than others though.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
Mostly word or object/nature names. For example: [name_u]Haven[/name_u], [name_f]Jubilee[/name_f], [name_u]Wren[/name_u], and [name_u]Lyric[/name_u]

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy? It can be… there are many men who have the mn [name_f]Maria[/name_f] for example. I wouldn’t do it, I don’t think it would be easy especially if it’s as common as [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] is in most western societies, but I do think that if you a feminine name from a culture you are part of and it infrequently used - I don’t see why not.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy? See above.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out? I think it’s a bit of everything, the cultural association, the feel of the name, the look and in particular the sound. An -etta or -ella name will always feel feminine to me while and -er name will always strike me as more masculine. (Also see first question about gender by culture).

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son. I would have answered that it is a traditional biblical male name and left it at that.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents? I’d only be more excited if I meet a little boy [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] - both of these names are considered feminine now though they both have masculine roots and were once fully male names. (I will never use [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] as it sounds horrendous when my [name_m]German[/name_m] family says it, but if I were considering it, it would be for a boy only).

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why? [name_m]Just[/name_m] because people use names on the opposite gender doesn’t change the feel or meaning of a name.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it? Maybe the love the sounds of [name_u]Asa[/name_u] and dislike [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] - however, if she means any biblical feminine name then I would suggest that maybe these parents like to think of themselves as forward thinking and on trend - gender-benders are on trend - esp for traditional male names. They might feel that a traditional female biblical name is too traditional or stuffy for them. That couple that decided to name their little girl [name_u]Asa[/name_u], might also have been considering [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Ada[/name_f], or [name_f]Aria[/name_f] all of which would be much closer in look and feel to [name_u]Asa[/name_u] but are (in western culture) decidedly feminine. I think that without asking what other names they were considering you are throwing them out before testing their baby’s bathwater.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
Since unisex names are few in Germany, yes, to me most names have a gender.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
Yes and No. If a name is traditionally male, then, in my opinion, it should be used on a boy and vice versa.
However, some names have different roots, both as a male and female name or are word name, so NO to these.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
A name without traditional male or female roots or a name that is used equally in my language, country or the country I’m talking about.

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
Yes.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
Neither should be used on the other gender but if [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] can be used on a girl, [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] can be used on a boy.
Neither would be possible here, though.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
I hate either.
I’m looking at you, people who use [name_u]Elliott[/name_u] for their girls.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
[name_m]Both[/name_m] but mostly the traditional use.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
I’d say that [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] is a boys name, she could check is she wanted and be done with it.
Otherwise I would get into a heated argument.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?

Sweet name. I’d think of his parents as traditional people.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
No, why would it?

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?

Some names have different roots. I’m not sure about [name_u]Asa[/name_u], but when I came on here for the first time, I’ve only ever known of female Ezras / Esras, a turkish girls name.
Aside from that, some people don’t seem to think much about the names they give their children. Why else would there be Keaylinns, Brynkleighs and Fadens?

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender? - Sometimes, yes. It depends on the name. As other posters have said, in many cultures, names are either one gender or the other. There is also the historic trend of some names being used for one gender or the other.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender? - Again, sometimes yes. There are some names that I wouldn’t dream of using for one gender, but others might, and that is their choice.

What do you consider a gender neutral name? - [name_u]Payton[/name_u], [name_u]Parker[/name_u], [name_u]Riley[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_u]Taylor[/name_u], [name_u]Skylar[/name_u]. Certain “trait” and “place” names like [name_u]Justice[/name_u], [name_f]Honor[/name_f], [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u], Germany. Also some nature names; I would sooner choose [name_f]Willow[/name_f] for a girl and [name_u]Hunter[/name_u] for a boy than the other way around, but I think [name_u]River[/name_u] is fine for either gender.

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally? - I guess after its lost its initial “gender assignment” or its new to me, so I have to make my own gender rules about it in my mind. I grew up knowing many Jordans and Taylors that were of both genders, so those have always been gender neutral to me. However, if I meet someone one of gender with a name that I would otherwise consider belonging to the other, that would cause me to consider its gender neutrality. This has happened with girls I have known that were named [name_u]Kyle[/name_u], [name_u]Devin[/name_u], and [name_u]Blake[/name_u]. All nice people, but I still consider those names as male.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy? - I personally don’t think that [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] should be used on a girl, nor that [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy. But it is the parents’ decision. Parents considering such names should do their homework and be prepared to teach their children how to handle any situation where their name is questioned.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy? - As it has been pointed out by previous posters, society as it stands currently, promotes girls being more masculine, but not boys being feminine (though I believe we are slowly coming around to the idea of boys being able to openly express themselves as they choose). There was also a mention of the whole point of masculine and feminine versions of a name existing in the first place, such as [name_m]Joseph[/name_m] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. Some names have also done a complete 180 over time. [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] used to be a boy name, but nowadays, hardly anyone would even think of naming their boy [name_u]Ashley[/name_u].

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out? - I think both are involved, but more likely it is the historical precedent behind the name. In many cultures, a lot of feminine names end in A or contain a vowel sound, while boy names end in O or end in a consonant. Ex, [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]/[name_m]William[/name_m], [name_m]Victor[/name_m]/[name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_m]Juan[/name_m]/[name_f]Juanita[/name_f], [name_m]Alberto[/name_m]/[name_f]Alberta[/name_f].

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son. - To each their own. Personally, if I wanted the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u], my first inclination would be [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/a. I once met a girl named [name_u]Genesis[/name_u], which is apparently common for a girl in some places.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents? - While neither of those names are to my personal taste, I certainly wouldn’t think anything negative about him or his parents. [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] always sounds like “bale of hay” to me and I’m not fond of -son names.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why? - [name_m]Just[/name_m] because of his name? Of course not. Most little boys are openly fond of their mother, just as many girls are “Daddy’s girls” and are fond of their fathers. I suppose the long EE sound could be misconstrued as “feminine”, but I feel that’s just trying to find something to say about it.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it? - I would chalk it up to personal taste. Maybe they don’t like the sound of [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] or any of its possible nicknames. I know a boy named [name_u]Asa[/name_u], and it suits him. But before meeting him, I would have considered it an unusual name to begin with. Plus, to me it sounds like its in reference to playing cards ie. “ace of diamonds, ace of hearts, etc”.

What did you say to the woman in response to her calling your son’s name feminine? [name_m]How[/name_m] someone could consider the very masculine name [name_m]Isiah[/name_m] feminine I’ll never understand. [name_m]How[/name_m] could she not know [name_m]Isiah[/name_m] is a boys name!?

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?
Not all names have genders. All names have ‘original’ genders, like [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] was ‘originally’ a boy’s name but changed to a girl’s name throughout time. I think this proves that not all names always have applicable genders, although most have accepted genders.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?
It honestly depends on the name. I would prefer to know if a child is a boy or girl based on their name, but mainly so I wouldn’t offend anyone. However, a traditional name such as [name_m]Henry[/name_m] or [name_u]James[/name_u] I would not want to see on a girl, the same way I would not want to see a boy named [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] or [name_f]Rose[/name_f].

What do you consider a gender neutral name?
[name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Riley[/name_u]

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?
When I’ve met one or two of each gender with the name, and when it’s widely acceptable as a unisex names. It also helps that when can’t really ‘picture’ someone with this name because I’m unsure of gender.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy?
No. [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] are two different names. [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] or [name_u]Elliot[/name_u] could be used on a boy, but not [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f].

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?
I think it’s mainly because masculinity is seen as ‘strong’ so it’s OK to give it to either gender, whereas, because of sexism and inequality, femininity is seen as the ‘weaker’ trait of the two. So, while people might want to give their daughters a strong masculine name, no one would want their sons to have a ‘weak, feminine name’.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
Some of it is sound, some of it is looks, but a lot of it is how its been used in history and how it is currently being used. I’ll use [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] as an example- I see it as a boys’ name, because it traditionally is. However, most people would probably surmise a [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] was a boy because of the ‘y’ ending. Names ending in ‘a’, ‘ie’, or ‘y’ are usually considered effeminate.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son.
First of all; [name_f]Peaches[/name_f] Honeyblossom named her son [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f]. Now, I know that that family is an exception, but I’m just saying it does sometimes happen. As for the lady who said that to you, to be frank, she is dead wrong. [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] is a BOYS’ name, not a girls’ name. It has a slightly feminine connotation, I suppose, because of the ‘is’ as in [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], but it is certainly a boys’ name, and she was ill informed.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?
I actually know a family with a girl named [name_m]Kodie[/name_m] [name_u]Ray[/name_u] and a boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Emerson[/name_u]. They’re both lovely kids and I’d never judge anyone on their name… or their parents. At least they aren’t named Prynzezz Sparkell and Rowve Rayngerr.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
Not at all. I don’t understand why on earth anyone would judge a little boy because he has a less masculine name?! That’s sexism, discrimination, and bullying.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?
Well, that’s a preference in names thing. I dislike the name [name_u]Asa[/name_u] on either gender, but love [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] on a girl. The family may be the other way around. It’s not anyone else’s place to tell you what to and what not to name your child, and if you don’t like a certain name, so be it.

All in all, i think there are a lot of names that are inherently masculine OR feminine.
Of course, there are exceptions to EVERYthing, so there are obviously names that can be either.

Personally, i tend to shy away from anything ambiguous for that reason; i dont want anyone to guess or assume what gender my children are. Luckily for me i dont have any strong connection to any gender neutral names. The only one that comes close is [name_u]Jamie[/name_u], which i would use for a girl, not a boy.

Isn’t it strange that we often feel that gender is so essential that there must be no mistaking it, even on babies who don’t even have a gender identity until age 3-4. Before then, what we’re really signaling - with gendered names and coloured clothes etc - is the baby’s genitalia. Which seems pretty irrelevant really.

Unfortunately the singular non-gendered pronoun ‘they’ is not widely known about, so people think they must either use ‘she’ or ‘he’ to talk about a baby, and it’s often considered the height of rudeness to use the wrong one!

Personally I find the whole thing ridiculous and I don’t like the way babies are stereotyped and treated differently based on their sex before they’ve even developed a personality. A lot of the time children are quite restricted by gender expectations and that’s a real shame.

I support giving children any names regardless of the associated gender, and I believe that any teasing or discrimination of a child based on their name should be strongly condemned. The people in the wrong are those who do the teasing, not the parents who gave their child a name that feels right to them.

All the names I love I would give to my child regardless of how their genitals looked at birth. [name_u]Luca[/name_u], [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u], [name_u]Bryn[/name_u], [name_f]Indigo[/name_f], [name_m]Asher[/name_m], [name_u]Sasha[/name_u], [name_u]Sidney[/name_u], [name_u]Casey[/name_u], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] and more.

There are some names, like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m], that have special significance to my partner and his family and I would be happy to use those in the traditionally gendered way, but I’d still use non-gendered middle names and nicknames, eg [name_u]Silver[/name_u] :slight_smile:

Interesting little discovery/injection…

So I replied to this a couple of days ago but then went looked through the US SSA 2012 boys name list.
I looked at all the names below the top 1000 used mark in hopes of finding something new and intriguing.

Among the handful of names I liked, and the gazillion kre8tive spellings I also found these:
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f] (13)
[name_f]Maria[/name_f] (6)
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] (5)
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/y (16/8)
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] (5)
[name_f]Noelle[/name_f] (7)
[name_f]Leah[/name_f] (5)
[name_f]Tori[/name_f] (5)
(I was zooming through them and might have missed a few esp in the (34) - (18) category or just not remembered them at the end to look up again… but still…)

We always talk about boys names on girls but I thought it was interesting to see how many parents not only considered but used girls names on boys.

I also found: Boy and Babyboy… (I wonder if the parents of these kids didn’t really understand English/the form…or if they hadn’t chosen a name yet and decided to just refile later).

It’s quite possible that, for the names above, the wrong gender box was checked off. This is the same reason that some female names show up in the top 1000 in the early years of the SSA list (and male names on the female list).

For Boy and Babyboy, their parents just hadn’t picked out a name to put on the birth certificate. You will also find Girl in the female section.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think that a name has a gender?- I think most names do. Of course, there are names like [name_u]Riley[/name_u] and [name_u]Casey[/name_u] that are unisex, but I think most names have a certain gender.

Should a name only be used on a certain gender?- I think most names should. I’m more traditional when it comes to names, so I think boys should have strong masculine names and girls should have frilly feminine names.

What do you consider a gender neutral name?- names like [name_u]Alex[/name_u] (which could be [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] or [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]) or [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] or [name_u]Riley[/name_u]. I guess most surnames are unisex to me (except the ones that end in -son). Nature names and place names should be pretty gender neutral (ex [name_u]London[/name_u], [name_u]Paris[/name_u], [name_m]Austin[/name_m])

When do you consider a name gender neutral? After it’s been used on each gender equally?- I’ve never really thought about this before, but I guess that is what it is. After a name is used on both boys and girls for a while it seems unisex. Some names I feel shouldn’t be used for boys or girls (ex [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] for a girl, it should be a boys name) but since it has been used on girls for a while, it is easier to accept.

If a name like [name_u]Emmett[/name_u], the masculine form of [name_f]Emma[/name_f], can be used on a girl can [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] be used on a boy? I don’t think that [name_u]Emmett[/name_u] should be used on a girl. Its a boys name to me. If it is the masculine form, it should be for the boys. [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] has been a traditionally girls name for so long (and has been so widely popular) and it has no masculine form, it shouldn’t be used for a boy [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. The child would be teased and embarrassed about his name.

If it is okay to use traditionally masculine names on a girl, why isn’t it acceptable to use traditionally girls names on a boy?- I don’t think it is acceptable to use masculine names for girls or vice versa. I’m not sure what the rest of society thinks, but I think it is ridiculous.

What makes a name more feminine or more masculine? Is it the sound of the name or the way the name looks when written out?
- I think it is the history of usage of the name, the sound of the name, and the way it looks. All three go into it.

You always see celebrities and other people using traditionally masculine names on girls but never do you see it the other way around. A little while ago I met a little girl named [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. Her mother had said that she wanted to name her daughter something with the NN [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and thought [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] was perfect. When I told her that was my son’s name she asked me why I picked such a feminine name for my son. - Obviously, this woman didn’t know that [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] is a traditionally masculine name. [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] is in no way feminine. The woman probably saw the -ah ending and decided it was a girls name. Not sure how she decided that [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] sounds like [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m], they sound completely different. People are trying to be creative by using masculine names for girls, and it is a silly and ridiculous trend [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. To me, a name makes a person, and I would want a traditionally feminine or masculine name based on my gender.

If you met a little boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] what would you think of him or his parents?- [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Madison[/name_u] is an awesome name for a boy. I know a boy named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u], and I think his name rocks. I would’ve probably chosen a more masculine middle since [name_u]Madison[/name_u] is so popular for girls (which is wrong [name_f]IMO[/name_f]) to emphasize that he’s a boy; but I would applaud these parents for choosing such a cool name and going against the [name_u]Madison[/name_u] on a girl trend.

Does that make [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seem less masculine? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think he would be a mama’s boy? Does it make you think less of him? Why?
- I don’t think [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] seems any less masculine. A name is only one part of a person and it depends on the child’s temperament. It doesn’t make me think less of him.

A friend of mine I think said it best. Why is it okay for a family to decide to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], a masculine biblical name but if you ask that same family to name their daughter [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] a feminine biblical name they wouldn’t even consider it?- People are uneducated on names and think all names that end in -a are girls names. I don’t think it is okay to name their daughter [name_u]Asa[/name_u], which is a masculine name. If more people took the time to research the name before giving it, I think a lot of names would be so different or wouldn’t exist (ex Madysyn)

Oh I agree with your point. I just wonder how much of the population has the wrong box ticked. 10%? 20%? More?
As said I only really started looking at 34 uses and below and these are the ones that jumped out at me while speeding through.

About the boy/babyboy thing… my mom and aunt both worked as children’s nurses for a long time and both had instances where they tried to explain to immigrant parents (esp single refugee mothers) who didn’t speak the language that they children’t hadn’t in fact been named by the hospital with names like Male, Female, Boy & Girl. It just always makes me wonder when I see things like that.

Names i consider to be ok for both are [name_u]Riley[/name_u] (with various spellings) [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] (defo both) [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], [name_u]Marlow[/name_u]/e

I’m my opinion I really hate it when girls are named bailey… to me its in no way a feminine sounding name…

[name_f]My[/name_f] son is actually named [name_u]Bailey[/name_u] [name_u]Ashton[/name_u]- 2 names that are considered to be usable for both genders…

[name_u]Peyton[/name_u] to me is female… [name_u]Payton[/name_u] male…

[name_u]Rory[/name_u] is all boy… I think its become more female cos of auroras being nicknamed rory