I’m always on the lookout for new to me names (aren’t we all?).
Was watching my beloved Inspector Morse mysteries and his female coroner was named Dr. [name_m]Grayling[/name_m] [name_m]Russell[/name_m] (whose father was a fisherman). Nameberry lists [name_m]Grayling[/name_m] as a male name, as indeed most fish names seem more male to most.
When I looked it up online, I saw that indeed it is a freshwater fish of the salmon family (very attractive in the google images), as well as a kind of butterfly and a place name.
I know that male [name_u]Gray[/name_u] names are more popular these days ([name_u]Gray[/name_u], [name_u]Grey[/name_u], [name_m]Grayson[/name_m], [name_m]Dougray[/name_m], etc.) and wondered what folks think about [name_m]Grayling[/name_m]. I have no attachment to it as specifically male or female; I just think it an attractive and original name with something tender and natural about the ling suffix.
I love the name [name_m]Grayling[/name_m]. One of my mother’s closest college friends was named [name_m]Grayling[/name_m], and he has since become a respected member of our community. Since he’s the first [name_m]Grayling[/name_m] I’ve ever heard of, the name is all male to me. I agree that this name has a tender sound to it, but it also has a quiet strength to it as well.
Meh. I think it sounds like ‘railing’ with a g in front. Also reminds me of ‘morphling’ from the hunger games. To me it sounds sci-fi/made up, though obviously it isn’t.
It sounds beautiful but i prefer it on a girl for some reason. Though it works good on either gender and the nickname [name_u]Gray[/name_u] is adorable!
I like it, but it’s my grandmother’s cat’s name, so it seems more fitting for a pet to me than a human. The -ling part makes it feel more like one of a race or something, like Earthling or Wildling. It def. strikes me as more masculine, but I can see it going either way.
I love [name_u]Gray[/name_u], but I hesitate with [name_m]Grayling[/name_m]. It seems like a smoosh of [name_m]Kipling[/name_m] and [name_u]Gray[/name_u] to me. It’s definitely unusual, and I like it better than some of the trendy versions (Grayden, at the very least), but I like just plain [name_u]Gray[/name_u] more.
It makes me think of aliens for some reason?? Probably because my grandmother is a UFO nut and calls aliens grays. And then there’s the whole “greeting, earthlings” thing. I have no idea. I prefer just [name_u]Gray[/name_u].
My first impression was that a [name_m]Grayling[/name_m] was some sort of creature out of a fantasy novel, though I love the sound and flow of it, definitely has a sci-fi/fantasy feel. Tough to wear as a fn but could definitely work as a middle I think.
It seems more like a “thing” than a name, like a creature or race or something. I don’t really care for [name_u]Gray[/name_u] either, and I can’t understand using such a drab color as a name in the first place, so [name_m]Grayling[/name_m] has zero appeal to me.
[name_m]Grayling[/name_m] is a town north of here that has a military training center there. So, that’s all I think of, town and Camp [name_m]Grayling[/name_m]. It just doesn’t seem name-y to me.
To me, it sounds like some sort of vaguely ominous moor-dwelling supernatural creature from an epic fantasy series. Didn’t know it was also a fish but that doesn’t make it any more appealing on a real person. I would use it in a heartbeat for a fantasy character or species, though, it’s a word with great flow and imagery.
