So I think I should start off by saying I am a fan of the trend of naming girls from boy names.
Girls being named [name_m]Lincoln[/name_m] or [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] or [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] don’t bother me. However, I noticed that this trend does not support using girls names on boys. Names like [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u] and [name_u]Madison[/name_u] were originally used on boys but now it feels like it is against the law to use them. I would love to see them used on boys once again.
If [name_u]Blake[/name_u], [name_u]Jaden[/name_u], and [name_u]Hunter[/name_u] can be used on girls, why can’t [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u], and [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] be used on boys?
So my question is what girl names can be stolen and used on boys?
There is clearly some variation as to what side of the pond you like on, because in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f], where the name originates, you would never use [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] on a girl. Or [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], and [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] is normally only used as a nickname for [name_u]James[/name_u] (on a boy).
As for your question, I think [name_f]Rose[/name_f] could be used on a boy. I think [name_f]Olive[/name_f] could work both ways as well, though I don’t really like it on girls either. Also [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], and [name_f]Hannah[/name_f].
Personally, I like softer, more “feminine” sounding names and nicknames on any gender, plus some names like [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u] where I haven’t actually decided yet which gender I prefer it on, or if I even have a preference. In particular, nicknames on my boys’ list are often more commonly used on girls. [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] for [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], in particular, I get negative feedback for, because while it’s the traditional nickname in [name_f]Russia[/name_f], it’s much more commonly used for girls here in the U.S. I don’t think boys should be shielded from association with anything remotely soft or feminine, and I love the name, so I may very well use it.
However, I don’t really want to take a name that is entirely used for one gender and flip-flop it. It just seems like too much to me. I wouldn’t want to be the mother of the only male [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] or the only female [name_u]Howard[/name_u] in the whole world.
I think some word names, including many on my list, could work well transferred, although they’re usually female. I know an elderly male [name_f]Ferne[/name_f], and a Hopewell who goes by Hopie, which could also be a nickname for [name_f]Hope[/name_f]. I also know a male [name_u]Eden[/name_u]. Names like [name_f]Fern/name_f, [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], or even [name_f]Grace[/name_f] could work on boys.
I agree with you. It’s crazy that we assign gender to words. People say it would be cruel to give a boy a “girl” name because he’ll get teased. Well, you know how we could stop that? We could stop teaching children being feminine is demeaning or that it’s alright to tease people because their name is slightly different. I would love to see boys with names like [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Madison[/name_u], Garce (why are virtue name always girl names??), [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Lea[/name_f], or really anything.