So we aren’t pregnant yet but I have been compiling my name lists for a long time and we frequently discuss names with a plan to TTC early next year . My partner really loves [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] (nickname [name_f]Nyx[/name_f] maybe ) for a girl and I love it in theory but worry about it in practice. We both love the meaning, the mythology, and the nod to the XMen . But I’m worried it’s too masculine and that most of our favourite middle names are really unisex too, so I’m worried we need a middle name that works and doesn’t make the name seem too gender neutral. The only ones we have come up with that sounds okay with [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] and we both like are [name_f]Orelia[/name_f], [name_f]Lavender[/name_f] or [name_f]Amaya[/name_f]. But none feel perfect. We like unusual names and meaning is important to us.
I’m still not convinced about [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a real option. What are your thoughts? Any middle names that would make it useable? I know we have time but I feel like he already is getting his heart set on [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. Hopefully we end up having boy’s because we seem to agree on boys names more!
Also, sorry I’m new to posting… I don’t know how to make the names link automatically!
Personally I don’t find it usable on either sex, and if I heard of one I would assume it was a boy, sorry!
Suggestions: [name_f]Lux[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Bellatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Finola[/name_f] or [name_f]Finella[/name_f], [name_u]Finley[/name_u]/[name_u]Finlay[/name_u], [name_u]Lennox[/name_u], [name_m]Maddox[/name_m]
I think it’s usable, just a bit unusual. Most people would probably assume she’s a boy from just her name, but it’s up to you whether that’s important. For [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] I like the middle names [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and [name_f]Aria[/name_f]. Similar names that are a bit more usable could be [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and I like the previous suggestion of [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]!
Oh I hadn’t thought about [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]! It is a beautiful name…actually we talked about [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] as a middle name. It’s a family name so that’s a nice plus.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it for a girl. It’s not traditionally masculine (or traditional at all). There were, however, almost twice as many boys given the name than girls last year, so I think a very clearly feminine middle would be the best choice.
Thanks! Yeah, this is my thinking too. Does it sound good to you with [name_f]Amaya[/name_f] or [name_f]Lavender[/name_f] or [name_f]Orelia[/name_f] or [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]? Or any other middle name suggestions?
I like [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Amaya[/name_f] best, and [name_f]Orelia[/name_f] would be my second choice. I usually think it’s best to stick to one word name per child, so that would eliminate [name_f]Lavender[/name_f] for me, and I don’t like the -ix -iss endings together with [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f].
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] is actually on our list as a potential first name for our daughter due in [name_u]December[/name_u], so obviously I think it’s usable. Neither the mythology nor the city seem particularly masculine to me, so I’m not really sure why people tend to think of it as more masculine, especially since the most obvious nicknames ([name_f]Nyx[/name_f], [name_u]Fee[/name_u]) lean feminine for me.
While it is more common for boys (in the US), the only [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] I’ve met in person was a super sassy blonde girl who was a complete spitfire and really made me love the name
Wow thanks.some of these are so beautiful and ones I hadn’t thought of. I’ll have to go through and add to my list. [name_f]Althea[/name_f] jumped out immediately as it’s one of my top ten girl names, just hadn’t paired it with [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]!
We both originally thought it was more feminine if anything ( based in the UK) . But everything I have been reading on here and other sites have said it’s more masculine so I’ve started second guessing myself. I don’t mind a name that is ambiguous but don’t want everyone to think we were nuts for giving it to a girl. So great that you are considering it and given the point that it’s popular and known as a female name in [name_f]Asia[/name_f] is reassuring!
Personally, I dislike the name for either gender. I find it cheesy with the “rising from the ashes” imagery. However, I have seen it used on a girl. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]?
I think the imagery is one of the things we liked most about it but I can see how it could be seen as cheesy too. [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is beautiful, but in the UK too common for our tastes.
I actually quite like it and can definitely see it on a girl, maybe:
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Azure[/name_f]
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_m]Tide[/name_m]
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Sierra[/name_u]/[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Opal[/name_f]
If you’re on the fence about the usability of [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as a first name, I think it could make a very good middle. [name_f]Amaya[/name_f] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] and [name_f]Althea[/name_f] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] are both lovely. The only issue might be that [name_f]Amaya[/name_f] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] sounds like “am I a phoenix” but there are plenty of other options like [name_f]Althea[/name_f] or the shortened [name_f]Maya[/name_f] which don’t have this problem.
It’s used more frequently for boys, but it’s solidly unisex. People may be initially surprised, but it’s not weird. You’re not naming her [name_m]Chester[/name_m] or [name_m]Bryan[/name_m] or [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] or [name_m]John[/name_m]. I think it would be unexpected in a refreshing and spunky way, not an ‘oh my goodness what were they thinking?’ way.
I think you’re right, too, that a more traditionally feminine or feminine-sounding middle would be good to balance it out. [name_f]Remember[/name_f], though, that most people aren’t ever going to know her middle name; it’s mostly for you and her to know, and it’ll show up on official documents. Be careful to avoid middle names that make her name sound like a noun, or a comic book. [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] is cute but sounds like a quest item, for example. [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Meadow[/name_f] sounds like a concert venue. [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] sounds like a noun and an adjective.
I think you’ve already got some good options on your own list. I’d also suggest:
These are all great suggestions! I agree that the second name can make it sound like an object. I initially tried pairing it with [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] and realized it sounded a bit like a spaceship. I love [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] and [name_f]Oriana[/name_f] and a bunch of these. I’m feeling more confident that it should go on our short list so long as we keep these points in mind.
[name_f]Pixie[/name_f] is super cute! Hadn’t thought of that. A good nickname could totally sell me on it. I’ll see what the other half thinks! (Though mostly he thinks I’m slightly crazy for thinking about names this far ahead!..)
[name_m]Even[/name_m] in Western pop culture, [name_u]Jean[/name_u] [name_u]Grey[/name_u] from X-Men is the [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. She is feminine and pretty badass!
Not a fan of [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. An exercise for any name, I say it out loud as an introduction “[name_m]Hi[/name_m] my name is [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]”. Sounds a bit odd. Also, think about people’s reactions (first impressions, judgments, etc.) and the constant questioning and explaining why/how you have this name.
You could use a hyphen so people don’t predict it’s a boy. Like [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f]. I have a friend who named her daughter [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] with the middle name [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. [name_u]Love[/name_u] it for a girl!
but I can see how it could be seen as cheesy too. [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] is beautiful, but in the UK too common for our tastes.