[name_m]Hi[/name_m], So we have some names picked out but I’m still on the fence about whether they are useable. I’m concerned that because they are mostly unisex that they might sway as too feminine. I’m also trying to make sure they work for an adult male. Please give your honest opinions. I’m not sensitive and really want to hear honest feedback. Our last name sounds like [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] but without the hard K sound. Thanks!
1. [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] (My concern is [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] has become a super popular girls name recently)
2. [name_f]Azure[/name_f] [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] (hubby isn’t sure about [name_f]Azure[/name_f], may be too feminine or different for him. [name_m]Asher[/name_m] is not a possibility…too popular for us)
3. [name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] (I like the softness of this name and hubby likes it too but we’ve been getting feedback from friends that it sounds like a girl’s name)
4. [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] (this might be a little too different to actually be useable but I do like the name)
Other middle names we like are: [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u], [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m], [name_u]Lawrence[/name_u], [name_m]Eli[/name_m], [name_m]Cole[/name_m], Wilde, [name_u]Zen[/name_u], and [name_m]Thoreau[/name_m]. [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] is a family name so we are leaning toward it but it’s not crucial that we use it.
Other first names we kind of like are: [name_m]Dresden[/name_m], [name_u]Kieran[/name_u]/[name_m]Quirin[/name_m], [name_u]Elon[/name_u], [name_u]Everett[/name_u], and I like the name [name_m]Israel[/name_m] but hubby doesn’t like it because we aren’t jewish or [name_m]Christian[/name_m].
Any other combos from our names or entirely new names that you think we would like are completely welcome. Thanks for your help!!!
For me, all the names on your list but [name_u]Shae[/name_u] lean more feminine than masculine. [name_f]Azure[/name_f] is totally feminine to my ear. I know not all people feel that way, but if I were to hear just those names without a middle name, I would think they were girls’ names. The middle names [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] and [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] do help to indicate male, but you rarely hear first and middle name together.
Of the other names you listed, I really like [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m], [name_m]Cole[/name_m], [name_u]Kieran[/name_u], and [name_u]Everett[/name_u]. Most of the rest are quite nice, too. Those are just my favorites. I think you could use [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] or [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] easily in the middle spot with one of the others as a first, like [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m] [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] or [name_u]Everett[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_f]Cypress[/name_f].
As for the names being suitable for an adult male, I know an adult male [name_m]Bodhi[/name_m], so I have no issue seeing that on a adult. I also think [name_m]Cole[/name_m], [name_u]Kieran[/name_u], [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_u]Shae[/name_u], and pretty much all the rest sound like they’d be fine on a child or an adult, as well. Other than the ones that lean feminine, for me, of course. =]
I would assume [name_u]Shae[/name_u] and [name_f]Azure[/name_f] were girls. With [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], I recognize it as unisex and would wait until I knew more, BUT I only know female Quinns, so if I were forced to make a guess, I’d guess girl. I have never met or heard of anyone name [name_f]Cypress[/name_f], but if I had to guess, I’d guess it was a boys’ name. It has the masculine nickname [name_m]Cy[/name_m] as an option.
I think all the possible middle names you have listed would make fabulous first names.
I’ve not made it any secret that I dislike the name [name_u]Quinn[/name_u]. [name_u]Quincy[/name_u] and [name_m]Quinton[/name_m] are much more classic and substantial, and they’re not likely to be mistaken for girl names if you’re worried about that. You can still use [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] if you’d like and there will be a way to distinguish him from other Quinns. I like [name_m]Xavier[/name_m], but, boy did that get popular recently. Not that it matters much for a middle name.
The flow is nice. To be honest, if so many people can name their daughters [name_u]Addison[/name_u] ([name_m]Son[/name_m] of [name_m]Adam[/name_m]), you can name your son [name_f]Azure[/name_f]. I don’t think it’s common enough for people to be weirded out by it. It’s not like you’re naming him [name_f]Melissa[/name_f]. [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] feels quite male, so the full name definitely looks male. If it’s just the sound you like, [name_m]Azur[/name_m] is a legitimate male name, but it’s a Biblical Hebrew name and doesn’t mean blue.
[name_u]Shae[/name_u] is another one that feels incomplete to me, but not particularly feminine. Like it should be short for [name_u]Shayne[/name_u] or [name_m]Seamus[/name_m]. I think [name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_m]Thoreau[/name_m] sounds better than [name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m], but they’re both good middle names.
Hmm, I see what you mean. Botanical names don’t usually feel too out there, but it’s not really one in circulation. [name_m]Silas[/name_m] has a similar sound (and meaning), but it’s perhaps more usable. [name_m]Cyrus[/name_m] is an established name and Cyprian is a used but rather uncommon name.
My favourites on your lists to use as the first name, in order of preference, are [name_m]Hayes[/name_m], [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_m]Eli[/name_m] and [name_u]Shae[/name_u]. I like [name_u]Kieran[/name_u] too but by the description of your last name, I don’t know if it works? I know a male [name_u]Shae[/name_u] so for me, it works for a male.
While I don’t like [name_u]Quincy[/name_u] or [name_m]Quinton[/name_m], I could get behind [name_m]Quinlan[/name_m] and shorten to [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] as a nickname.
I hear what you’re saying about [name_u]Shae[/name_u] sounding a little insubstantial. I’ve been racking my brain on how to lengthen it and use [name_u]Shae[/name_u] as a nickname. [name_u]Shane[/name_u] is not an option for personal reasons and I absolutely hate the name [name_m]Shamus[/name_m] so that is out as well. If anyone has any ideas on longer name possibilities that shorten to [name_u]Shae[/name_u] I’m all ears.
Otherwise, it’s great to hear the opinions and feedback. This has been a real struggle for us and any help is very much appreciated.
Of your list, my favorite is [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u]. I understand that [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] has become more popular as a girls name. Have you considered using a name that’s similar to [name_u]Quinn[/name_u]? [name_m]Quint[/name_m]? [name_m]Quinton[/name_m]? [name_u]Quincy[/name_u]?
[name_f]Azure[/name_f] is definitely feminine to me, and [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] leans feminine. I do like [name_m]Quinlan[/name_m] but it might not go with your last name. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_u]Flynn[/name_u] or [name_u]Finn[/name_u]? [name_u]Shae[/name_u] doesn’t seem incomplete to me. I prefer it as the full name rather than a nickname. There is a female [name_u]Shae[/name_u] on Game of Thrones but I think it is still pretty unisex or male (maybe because [name_u]Shea[/name_u] stadium?). [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] sounds masculine to me but it is definitely a bold choice. On the other hand, [name_u]Sage[/name_u] is fairly popular for boys and I don’t think [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] is much more out there than that.
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u], [name_f]Azure[/name_f], [name_u]Shae[/name_u], and [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] all lean a little to the girls for me, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to meet a boy with any of those names. They are all interesting and soft, unusual, and yet familiar enough not to be confusing.
Some other ideas in case you are still looking:
[name_m]Cyrus[/name_m]
[name_u]Ellis[/name_u]
[name_u]Flynn[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_u]Ezri[/name_u]
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] - I’ve always loved [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] for a boy and I love [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] too!!
[name_f]Azure[/name_f] [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] - definitely think this one is more femnine and don’t particularly like it for a girl or a boy, can’t imagine an adult male named [name_f]Azure[/name_f]
[name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] - also would say this is feminine since I know at least three girls named [name_u]Shay[/name_u] and two named Shaya
[name_f]Cypress[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] - this one is pretty cool and not as feminine.
Your first choice was definitely my fav. P.S. Would you consider using [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] as a first name? [name_u]Love[/name_u] that!
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u]
I know an adult male [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] and the only girl [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] I know of is [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] Fabray so to me it seems very unisex, but I think everyone is going to have some form of gender association with this one and that is something you will have to decide to either deal with or not.
[name_f]Azure[/name_f] [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u]
This is an interesting choice. I like the [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] part of it, but [name_f]Azure[/name_f] seems excessively girly to me. Would you consider switching them? [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] [name_f]Azure[/name_f] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] sounds very nice, and there is that YouTube guy who was on Dancing With the Stars a couple seasons back named [name_m]Hayes[/name_m]. I think it takes away any feminine leanings of the [name_f]Azure[/name_f], because to me [name_m]Hayes[/name_m] is purely masculine.
[name_u]Shae[/name_u] [name_m]Xavier[/name_m] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u]
Unfortunately I would personally have to agree with your friends/family - I don’t know of and have never heard of any male [name_u]Shae[/name_u]'s, but I know of at least 2 girl [name_u]Shae[/name_u]'s. One spelt this way and one spelt [name_u]Shay[/name_u]. Either way it seems very feminine. If someone said “Oh you should meet my friend [name_u]Shae[/name_u]” I would automatically think they meant a girl.
[name_f]Cypress[/name_f] [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u]
Okay I love this one. This might be my favorite. I am very into different names though so if you told me I had to pick one of these four for my son I would definitely pick this one. I’m not 100% set on [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] as a middle though, racking my brain I am having a hard time coming up with a middle. I’m sure the much smarter people here could help you find a middle for [name_f]Cypress[/name_f]. [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] sounds very handsome to me!
Good luck! I am due in 2 weeks and don’t really have a name set either so I know and understand the struggle and anxiety it causes. You got this!!
[name_u]Shae[/name_u] is actually my favourite of your top four choices. I know of a couple of male Shaes, so it doesn’t seem too feminine or incomplete to me. The other name that I really like is [name_u]Everett[/name_u]. I think [name_u]Everett[/name_u] [name_u]Keenan[/name_u] is a lovely name.
My fave by far is [name_u]Quinn[/name_u], I still think it is masculine even though I’ve heard it for girls. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the flow too. Not a big fan of cypress not sure why just doesnt sound like a real name to me.
As far as [name_u]Shae[/name_u]. My brother is named that he’s 20 and he absolutely hates it so I would say not to go with that one. He says people always assume he’s a girl, which no guy wants.
Thanks everyone for the feedback!! It’s super helpful. I’ve been thinking about it and am wondering what your thoughts are on the name [name_m]Oshae[/name_m] instead of just [name_u]Shae[/name_u]? I feel like adding the O clearly defines the name as masculine and then you could still use [name_u]Shae[/name_u] as a nickname. I just don’t know if this detracts from the softness of [name_u]Shae[/name_u]. Does it change it up significantly? Thoughts and feedback would be greatly appreciated!!! Thx
I’m going to be honest, I like all of the combos you have thus far. I don’t think any of them are really “too feminine” except maybe [name_u]Shae[/name_u]. I love the freshness of [name_f]Azure[/name_f], it isn’t a name you hear very often. [name_f]Cypress[/name_f] is also unusual! [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] is the most familiar out of them, and I don’t think the rising popularity for girls will be a problem. [name_f]Azure[/name_f] is definitely my favorite choice.
You got this!!
so I would say not to go with that one. He says people always assume he’s a girl, which no guy wants.