I’m starting to really like the name [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] for a little boy, I think it has an understated, old-classic sound to it. I was surprised to find out that it’s apparently almost exclusively used for girls these days, as it doesn’t strike me as particularly feminine. What do you guys think about a boy growing up named [name_u]Sloane[/name_u]? I don’t really mind the tenuous gender association, my biggest concern is teasing.
What about if I take away the feminising “e” at the end and write it “[name_u]Sloan[/name_u]”? Too weird?
Also, if you have any middle name suggestions, I’d love to hear them. I like dignified princely names, probably more on the traditionally masculine end especially with an unusual name like [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] in front.
The only [name_u]Sloan[/name_u] I’ve ever met was a guy. I didn’t even know it could be a girls name until I joined nameberry. It’s too harsh for a girl, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. And his name was spelled without the E.
I can only see [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] on a girl.
There was a female [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] on Entourage and also on [name_m]Ferris[/name_m] [name_m]Bueller[/name_m], so I solely see it as a female name as I was not familiar with it as a name before.
[name_u]Sloane[/name_u] doesn’t sound or feel remotely feminine to me, so I can dig it on a guy. I would spell it [name_u]Sloan[/name_u] though. I like [name_u]Sloan[/name_u] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and [name_u]Sloan[/name_u] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m].
I actually first thought [name_u]Sloan[/name_u] (spelled this way) was a guy’s name - my first encounter with it was in the book Eragon where it was the name of a male character. I believe one of my sibling’s friend’s brothers is called [name_u]Sloan[/name_u]. Only after [name_m]Ferris[/name_m] [name_m]Bueller[/name_m] and some further research did I realize that it was a girl’s name. I think it’s fine for a boy.
Ouch. [name_f]Heaven[/name_f] help the people who like [name_m]Fitzwilliam[/name_m].
According to Behind The Name, [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] is a feminine anglicisation of the ancient Irish “SLUAGHADH”N”, which was a male given name. I think it’s fair enough to use on a boy, given this history and the unisex sound.
I definitely think Sloane/Sloan sound more masculine, but I’ve only ever seen them used for girls. I’m not usually a fan of unisex names, but for some reason I like this one, probably because it fits with the harsher, one-syllable names I tend to like for boys like Clark, Grant, and Locke.
I would agree with choosing a more typically masculine middle in case Sloane/Sloan suddenly becomes a wildly popular girls’ name so your son would have some options down the road. I think most of the middles you’ve suggested fit this; I particularly like Anthony, Alexander, and Arthur.
Sorry, but I think it makes an unattractive first name on either gender…the fact that it’s (inexplicably!) more popular for girls is only a further minus.
I don’t think it matters that it is mostly used for girls, it doesn’t sound feminine at all and, as other people have said, it is historically a boys’ name.
I’m really not a fan of the sound of the name though
I don’t think your concern of teasing would be a big problem - it’s not very common either way (as opposed to for example [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u] or [name_u]Madison[/name_u] which are now very popular for girls while hardly being used for boys) so it’s unlikely he’d run onto a female classmate with the name (for example). Nonetheless, the name is not my style either way but if you like it use it!
I’m surprised it’s elicited so many negative comments! I’m adamant I like the sound of [name_u]Sloane[/name_u] though. There’s just something warm and steadfast about it, like a historic river somewhere…
In concession to popular opinion, however, we’ve decided to relegate it to middle-name status. Heh.