I have been turning this one over for a while - obviously it’s a traditionally feminine name, but I like the sound (sounds like [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] to me) and it seems like to use it now would put one at the avant-garde. Who even knows if the gender binary will be a question in choosing names in twenty years? Also, I feel like we’re about to get hit with a wave of Jennifers as honor names as the 60s-80s Jennifers become grandmas, and I wonder whether using it for a boy would be a way to stand out.
Thoughts for or against?
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I think it’s cool. Really edgy actually and forward thinking.
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I don’t like it. Jennifer feels very feminine to me, as I know tons of Jennifer’s who are all women and girls.
I think it’s likely that a boy Jennifer would get seriously made fun of behind his back (or to his face).
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It would certainly stand out, but to be honest it falls in step pretty well with other traditionally feminine names that we see on boys now and then. [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Leslie[/name_u], [name_u]Madison[/name_u], etc all have pretty similar vibes to [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] in my opinion. I don’t personally think I vibe with it, but I don’t like it for girls either so that’s the main reason. I’m sort of hoping that the name binary starts to die off so I’m all for pushing the limits!
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Although I’ve never met a male [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], I can definitely see it, similar to Ólafur to me. I’m probably an outlier on this though so people will probably give you weird looks but you would definitely stand out. I would like to see more girl names on boys but they are unfortunately rare. Maybe you could have it as a middle name if you’re uncertain?
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Nope, nope, nope. [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] comes from [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], an Arthurian queen. [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] is definitely a female name.
It’s definitely a way to stand out, but also a way to get your son bullied.
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people use completely masculine names on girls all the time, so why not use a feminine name on a boy?
i actually prefer jennifer on a boy, and i agree that the -er sound makes it feel more masculine. honestly i would be worried about teasing, but i’ve personally never seen someone made fun of for their name, and people will always find something to bully others for if they want to. so i think it could work. i’d pair it with a more masculine name though, like Theodore for example, so they have a name to fall back on
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Ehhh… Jennifer is such a generic mum name. I don’t really like it or think it works.
Some feminine names work really nicely on boys but Jennifer just… doesn’t?
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Please no
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I can actually see this! I don’t really like the name [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], but honestly I’d rather name a boy [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] than a girl.
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Without the baggage attached to the name, I like the sounds for a boy. But [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] really does have the same vibe as [name_f]Karen[/name_f], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], etc. would be a tough one to reclaim and change the association with! But if you’re up for the challenge, I say go for it 
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I wouldn’t do it. It’s a totally feminine name.
I would try for some variation like jensen or something, not jennifer outright
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Hard pass on this name. I do not like it for a boy at all. I don’t even really like it for a girl because it has a very specific era (60’s-80’s) in my mind.
I agree with Victory55. [name_u]Jensen[/name_u] would be a great name. [name_u]Or[/name_u] [name_m]Jens[/name_m]. But not [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f].
Sorry if this comment is mean. But you asked for opinions and I think people are being honest.
the only thing that makes me hesitate (because jennifer has a really unisex sound & jen is adorable on a little boy !) is the teasing factor— i feel like with jennifer being such a popular name amongst middle-aged women, teasing might be an issue. perhaps as a middle ?
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The name in Welsh is Gwenhwyfar. If you spell it Gwynhwyfar, it’s masculine. It means “white wave” which has no gender.
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Agreed. While I personally wouldn’t do it, it’s because I don’t like the name on girls either. Don’t let the “it’s too feminine” comments stop you. As Asphodel said, I hate the double standard of using names like James and Lincoln for girls but can’t do the same for boys.
There’s lots of “modern” girls names that people consider feminine that were originally male names. My name Stacey is one of them, I’ve met a number of 70 year old men named Stacey… and of course some of the ones already mentioned.
You like it? Go for it! (Be prepared to defend it for a while. If it were me, I’d go with the Welsh use it for boys.)
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I should say it’s probably not usable in real life, at least for a first name. Maybe keep it as a guilty pleasure, or at least as a middle name.
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I could definitely see a male Jennifer!
I agree! It really is a double standard.
Huh, that’s interesting! A lot of now “girl” names started out for boys.
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I don’t love [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] for a boy but I do love [name_m]Jenner[/name_m] !
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