His five year old daughter told him this week that she hates her name ([name_u]Maury[/name_u]) and has renamed herself ([name_f]Sophia[/name_f]).
One woman at the table said, “[name_u]Maury[/name_u], like Povich?” and when the father mentioned [name_f]Sophia[/name_f], he added, “Like the other five Sophias in her class!”
Both have a point in my view. [name_u]Maury[/name_u] Povich is not exactly a connection that is going to thrill most girls and yes, there are so many Sophias that surely we don’t need a bazillion more. Original names can be lovely.
But it also struck me how grateful I am that my parents named me [name_u]Leslie[/name_u]. Yes, a male name for a long time, but by the time I came along it was pretty solidly female. Not common, not uncommon, and in 1962 USA, female.
I’m grateful to be a [name_u]Leslie[/name_u] rather than a [name_u]Maury[/name_u] and I’m fairly certain that if I had been named [name_u]Maury[/name_u] or the like, I would have long ago changed my name.
I wonder how many of us would gladly have been named a male or unisex name vs. how many of us would have hated it. It is at least something to think about when giving a name to a child. Would I like to be named [name_u]Howard[/name_u]? [name_m]Clifford[/name_m]? [name_m]Morton[/name_m]? Nope.
There are a few things about [name_u]Maury[/name_u] that make it stand out: it’s unusual, especially for a five-year-old now, and it’s traditionally a nickname (for another name that’s unusual for a child now), AND in this case it’s a traditionally masculine name on a girl, plus the [name_u]Maury[/name_u] Povich connection (which I didn’t initially make but which now stands out to me since reading your post). I’d have gently suggested [name_f]Maura[/name_f] to your colleague when his daughter was born.
The thing is, there are tons of things parents can’t know about their children before they’re born. My name was more popular in my mom’s generation, and growing up, I hated it and would have killed to be named [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] or [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] or [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u] or [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f]. I bet if I was [name_u]Maury[/name_u], I’d want to be [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] instead (or at least I know I would have at age five). But for as many Maurys as there are in the world, there are probably lots of Sophias who’d rather be named something unusual, and then there are people who are content with their names and actively appreciate them (like you, [name_u]Leslie[/name_u]) and those who don’t give them a second thought. No one can know which of these categories their children will fall into - you just take a leap.
I don’t have any connections to the name [name_u]Maury[/name_u], which is probably because I am not from the US. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before this thread. The description on the NB page is so endearing though: Old-man name, soft as a fraying gray cashmere cardigan, that would be even cuter for a girl.
I wouldn’t really have wanted to have an obviously male name as a girl, but then again, those are hardly ever given in my country. I can think of maybe five names that are both given to girls and boys? And then pretty much equally, haha. If I lived in the US I probably wouldn’t have minded a “softer” sounding unisex name such as [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_u]Adair[/name_u] or [name_u]Fallon[/name_u], but then again, I wouldn’t want to be [name_u]Finley[/name_u] or [name_u]Emerson[/name_u] as a girl.
I love [name_m]Maurie[/name_m] as a nn for [name_f]Maura[/name_f], which I love.
I am an [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] and like the Sophias of today, has many people in school and in my classes with my name. I hated it.
I would have rather been something unique. At least with [name_u]Maury[/name_u] she could change it to [name_f]Maura[/name_f] for her nickname. Or [name_f]Mae[/name_f].
I just don’t even understand how [name_u]Maury[/name_u] is considered a unisex name by anyone, anywhere. My goodness, why didn’t they at least name her [name_f]Maura[/name_f]? Then if they wanted they could have used [name_u]Maury[/name_u] as term of endearment at home. To me this is like naming a boy [name_f]Sue[/name_f], and they ought to change her name. Really, especially if she’s only 5 and already hates it. That is not fair to a little girl, I’m sorry. They may as well have named her [name_m]Stewart[/name_m] or [name_m]Percival[/name_m].
Yes, I would have preferred a unisex name to an immensely popular name in the 80s when I was born. If I were born in this era, though, I think I’d prefer a popular name, because most of the popular ones aren’t completely runaway hits like they used to be. There is a wider variety of names being used, and a smaller number people have the Top 50 names (I’m too lazy to pull up exact stats, lol).
I’m a fan of gender bender names but [name_u]Maury[/name_u]…really?
I have a name that was pretty popular when I was born but I only ever had two others in my grade (one in elementary school and then not another until high school). There were others in different grades but not like the other 80’s names. My name is clearly feminine but not frilly…and I like that…suits me well. BUt if I needed to pick masculine over super popular, I think I’d pick masculine. My three of my girls have unisex names.
I should also note I went to school with girls whose given names were: [name_u]Rikki[/name_u], [name_u]Roni[/name_u], [name_u]Robi[/name_u] and [name_u]Billie[/name_u]. And a boy named [name_u]Lindsey[/name_u] (plus like four girl [name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]'s of various spellings).
I love my name, which is a real name although quite unusual, and am very glad that I don’t have a trendy 80s name, or a unisex name. I feel like if you give your kid a proper name, though, they will be able to frill it up or dress it down depending on their personality, stage of life, or mood.
I’ve had many nicknames - as a child they were pretty girly, now I have a flatter nick name. My family use a completely different nickname to my partner and friends - this gives me a lot of flexibility which I really appreciate.
Yes, I’m an [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] born in the 80s. There are a million of us. Lol. But also when naming my kids i did try to imagine how I’d like having the name myself. Some names I love just have to be guilty pleasures.
