We love the name Robin for a boy. It has been our number one ever since we started planning for a family. It has been impossible finding another name that we love just as much.
My concern is the trend from a few decades ago of it being a female name (US, Australia, Canada, UK). While girls born today are likely not to be named Robin (no longer a trend), many female adults have that name. Kids may associate the name with a relative that they know who is likely female.
What do you guys think? Do you think it will be an issue for a baby boy born today?
I don’t think its usage on women should be an issue! It is definitely decidedly a unisex name, but a really lovely one. There are many pop culture associations with [name_u]Robin[/name_u], and some that today’s kids may still be familiar with are male (Robin Hood, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] [name_m]Williams[/name_m], etc).
I remember growing up and being aware that [name_u]Robin[/name_u] was a name used on all kinds of people! Some kids may have personal associations with a female [name_u]Robin[/name_u], but it’s no different than a name like [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] or [name_u]Casey[/name_u]. I don’t think your little [name_u]Robin[/name_u] would have any problems what a gorgeous choice!
I love [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for a boy too! [name_f]My[/name_f] instinct is to say that it wouldn’t be a problem. I know a little boy named [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] who has made that name feel completely masculine to me, and [name_u]Kelly[/name_u] was a much more common girls’ name than [name_u]Robin[/name_u] in the 70s-80s when [name_u]Robin[/name_u] was mostly in use for girls. [name_u]Robin[/name_u] sounds a lot like [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], which is gender neutral and getting more common. I don’t think little kids would think twice about it: the definition of normal names, or boys’ names and girls’ names, is going to be totally different to their generation.
However, it’s not to say you’d never get annoying reactions. If I was in your position, i would gauge the culture of the area you live in. I’m in a city on the [name_u]West[/name_u] [name_u]Coast[/name_u] US, and I wouldn’t think twice about using [name_u]Robin[/name_u] if it was my top favorite.
[name_u]Robin[/name_u] does strike me as more female but I don’t think it would be any more of an issue than any unisex name. I’d be more concerned about the Batman connection
[name_u]Robin[/name_u] is such a handsome name! I think that because it is no longer as trendy, it is pretty gender neutral again. And for kids, I think the strongest association they would have is the superhero–which would be cool (my youngest brother shares a first name with a superhero, and while it is rare for someone to comment on it, he thinks it’s pretty great).
I have an older family member (female) named Robin so I do see it as feminine, despite the fact I know it’s very much unisex.
It’s interesting: I’m actually reading a book right now in which this very question has been raised.
It’s called Bewilderment by Richard Power (it’s a fantastic book) and the narrator’s son, a very sensitive, intelligent, special little boy, is called Robin. In one scene the father tells him why he and his wife named him Robin and the boy responds with something like, ‘Do you know what it’s like to be a Robin at school?’ and the narrator responds by asking if he’s being bullied again.
The boy gets bullied for other reasons but it’s obviously alluded to here that his name does play a role. The dad goes on to say that Robin is a fantastic, strong name and the boy feels better.
Anyway, I thought this was relevant. Sorry if it doesn’t inspire confidence but I guess my point is that yes, these days amongst younger generations it probably is seen as more feminine, and you can’t be absolutely sure your Robin won’t ever receive any comments from kids, but at the same time if it’s the name you love then you should use it.
Plus, it has the inbuilt nicknames Rob and Robbie, which your son could use if he wanted to.
EDIT: I should add that I’m in Australia. Maybe it’s different here? I know a few female Robins over 50/60 but no male Robins. I feel like perhaps it’s used more on boys in the US? I’ve heard it here on NB mentioned as an option for boys quite often.
I also want to add that I don’t at all agree with the way people are so in favour of boys’ names on girls but not vice versa (not that Robin is a girl’s name - quite the opposite originally). It shouldn’t be an issue either way. Just sharing my experience with the name Robin.
It really is originally a boy’s name! As is [name_u]Shannon[/name_u], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], and in fact [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]! Now I probably wouldn’t name a boy [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] now because he’d likely have the same name as his friends’ moms but [name_u]Robin[/name_u] is totally usable! I don’t think [name_u]Robin[/name_u] as a girl’s name was ever overly popular either (but I haven’t reviewed the rankings). Still I think it falls under the category of a true unisex name. I always think of [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] [name_u]Robin[/name_u] (and I adore A. A, Milne’s poetry).
I just read a previous poster’s comment about bullying and while I would hope it wouldn’t be an issue, he could always go by [name_m]Rob[/name_m]. It’s frustrating though because it somehow is totally acceptable to name your daughter [name_u]Jack[/name_u], [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u] or [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u] these days but parents have to question perfectly legitimate boys names. Rant over !
I live in the UK and have a 5 month old son called [name_u]Robin[/name_u], so I clearly see it as very usable. We’ve had no problems or negative comments from anyone.
Prefer it on a boy! On a girl it feels somewhat dated, for some reason. Maybe because of the history of use. Regardless, it’s a stunning nature name and feels very masculine to me.
I loooove [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for a boy! In fact, I prefer [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for a boy myself! So so so so charming. Okay [name_u]Robbie[/name_u] is the sweetest nickname. I just love it all.
I would generally assume a [name_u]Robin[/name_u] to be male, especially in this spelling. I’m in the UK and have always known it more as a masculine name. [name_f]Robyn[/name_f] I would assume female but I’ve never met a female [name_u]Robin[/name_u] IRL.
I prefer it for a boy. It’s sweet, bright, traditional but a little quirky and fresh. [name_m]Just[/name_m] an all round lovely name
I am in Australia, too. You are right, there seem to be a lot more female [name_m]Robins[/name_m] here than in the US (I’m American). [name_u]Or[/name_u], at least more females than males.
I think [name_u]Robin[/name_u] is adorable. I think it would work just fine on a baby boy today. I know two [name_m]Robins[/name_m], one male and one female (hers may be spelled Robyn) both over the age of 20, so it is very neutral to me.
I really like [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for a boy, this was at the top of my list for a while. Since moving to Pennsylvania I have met quite a few female Robins/Robyn’s in their 40’s and unfortunately that has dampened the association of the name for me. It would be refreshing to meet a young male [name_u]Robin[/name_u]!
For me personally, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] is very much a gender-neutral name, in the sense that there aren’t typically more females or more males named that (for example, I feel like there are a lot more female Wrens than male ones)
!
Agreed!