My style has generally favoured unisex names and I’ve decided I want to pick a gender neutral name regardless of the sex of the baby. I had settled on [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] (potentially followed by either grandparent’s name depending on sex), but then learned it’s the exact name of [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]'s longest river. I honestly don’t mind the connection at all, I’m distantly from [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] and where I’m from has a lot of Irish roots in general, but I was wondering what everyone thinks, if the connection is too hokey or something at all like that. I’m also wondering if you think the name leans too feminine (or too masculine even!). Not 100% committed, so open to suggestions.
I don’t think the connection is too cheesy. Assuming you live in the United States, I don’t think anyone is going to recognize it. It’s a nice nod to your Irish heritage. [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] leans more masculine for me, but I could see the name on a girl as well.
Thanks elixir! I’m in [name_f]Canada[/name_f], in a fairly Irish-influenced province, which I guess has me worrying. That said, I’ve been to [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] twice now and had never heard of the river myself until now, so I’m hoping most others have not either.
It’s pretty rare for people to go by their first and middle name so I think the [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] connection is fine! In my opinion [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] is very feminine because I’ve only ever known girls with the name. He might be teased because a lot of kids born now have moms named [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] since it was a pretty big name in the 80’s but not a big deal since most won’t know his middle name! I like [name_u]River[/name_u] a lot
I didn’t know about the river, but I guess it does sound like a phrase if you have heard of it (I’m in the US, never been to [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]). [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] sounds feminine to me, but [name_u]River[/name_u] masculine, so I think it could work for either.
[name_u]River[/name_u] is neutral to me, I know both a little boy and a girl with the name. [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] I feel is more feminine, but being a middle name it shouldn’t really matter anyway. never heard of the river before, and its a cool nod to your heritage.
My first thought upon reading the name was, “it sounds like an Irish river” despite not knowing that there was in fact an actual [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u]. For me personally, it’s probably something I would try to avoid but it wouldn’t necessarily bother me on someone else’s kid.
As for the relative gender neutrality of the name, I wouldn’t be surprised seeing it on a little boy or girl. While I prefer [name_u]River[/name_u] on a boy and [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] on a girl, I have known someone of both genders with each name.
Thanks for all your thoughts! It’s interesting how everyone sees [name_u]River[/name_u] as more masculine, my immediate ties are female characters in [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] Who and Firefly/[name_f]Serenity[/name_f], but I guess that’s just the nerd in me
Is the river actually called [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u]? Or is it called [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] [name_u]River[/name_u]? Because, at least where I live, people usually phrase things the second way i.e. the Kansas [name_u]River[/name_u], [name_f]Missouri[/name_f] [name_u]River[/name_u]. If that’s the case, then I don’t think [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] would be a problem at all. Either way, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. I think the name is perfectly unisex. I find [name_u]River[/name_u] to be masculine and [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] to be feminine, so I wouldn’t have a good guess for the sex of the child.
I love both [name_u]River[/name_u] and [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] for a boy. The fact that it’s a river would probably bother me, but ultimately middle names don’t get said with the first name much.
Being familiar with the [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] (it is usually called in that order, at least in my experience?), this name makes me think of, well… the [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u]. Which at least isn’t a bad association, but maybe is a bit much. But if you’re not really going to use [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] day-to-day, I think it’s perfectly fine. I like both names on a boy and don’t think they’re too feminine.
[name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] is nice, but the flow is off to me. [name_u]River[/name_u] is masculine to me, and [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] is feminine to me because of the popularity in the 90s. It is gender neutral, but leans towards feminine.
but not a big deal since most won’t know his middle name! I like [name_u]River[/name_u] a lot