Over the past few weeks I have seen so many articles saying that 2015 is the year of unisex names and this had me wondering if I could dare to consider what had always been a guilty pleasure name for me. I have a son ([name_m]Andrew[/name_m] [name_m]Austin[/name_m]) and a daughter ([name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]) and now I am going to have a second son.
I have for a long time had as a GP on using [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] for a boy as a MN because of the [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] Waugh connection. As a MN and with the shifting perception of unisex names, do you think this is possible now, or has it gone too far to the girls to even consider it as a MN?
The other GP pleasure name on my list, although second to [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], is [name_u]Darcy[/name_u]. Although with [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] it has always appealed more to me as a first name.
So, basically, [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] as a MN or [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] as a FN. I am interested in feedback and also combo suggestions if you think either can work.
When its a middle name, I really don’t see it being much of an issue. Its not like kids go by their full names when they’re at school or anything. Besides family members and a couple close friends, no one will ever probably know.
That being said, friends can tease as well. On HIMYM, [name_m]Barney[/name_m] would tease [name_m]Ted[/name_m] for having the middle name “[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]”.
If you’re not really sure, then I would go with [name_u]Darcy[/name_u]. To me, this one seems more “male” because it makes me think of Mr. [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] from Pride and Prejudice.
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] has a history of usage as a boy’s name, but is obviously almost 100% used for girls nowadays. I think it could work in the middle name slot, though. We had a discussion on another thread about [name_f]Maria[/name_f] being used in the middle name slot for religious reasons. Someone said something about a boy being embarrassed by it and I could see that, I’m not sure if [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] would have the same reaction.
I think [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] in the first name spot is actually more usable. I’ve never met a [name_u]Darcy[/name_u], male or female, but I feel like while [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] is more widely used as female it does get SOME male usage. And the literary connection from Pride and Prejudiced will at least be familiar to many people.
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] is really hot as a girl’s name right now. I personally wouldn’t used it. However, I think [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] would be a wonderful choice. I think the handsome and gentlemanly Mr. [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] from Pride and Prejudice.
There is a berry who used [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] (prn like Waugh did-- [name_f]EVE[/name_f]-linn, 2 syllables instead of 3) as a middle for her son. I believe he was called [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], and it was a family name. I thought it was smashing but absolutely, the tide has turned far too much for it to be a first name on a boy. Paired with something unambiguously masculine in the first slot, I think it would work.
[name_u]Darcy[/name_u] is still a possiblity for the first position, esp with a longer, gentlemanly middle. But I would brace yourself for some gender questions marks in the early days of his life.
So, combos, with [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f], both of which are timeless classics: