I thought it would be interesting to find out what people think about different gender neutral names. The first poster posts 1-3 unisex name(s), and the person below responds to each with their general impressions: [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like the names? Which gender if any do you more strongly associate the name with and why (for example do you know only girls with the name, or does the meaning feel masculine to you?)
[name_u]Jay[/name_u] - I love this name on and off, both on its own or as a nn for any J name, boy or girl. I’ve mostly considered using it as a full name for a boy, and it brings to mind the character [name_u]Jay[/name_u] [name_m]Gatsby[/name_m], and a sweet, soft-spoken architect from my hometown.
[name_u]Charlie[/name_u] - I worked with a tall, scruffy blonde named [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] in a dump of a bagel shop when I was nineteen. He was hilarious in a goofy/filthy way, and would sometimes surprise me with earnestness. I wouldn’t immediately assume it was a boy or girl name, but I prefer [name_m]Charles[/name_m] to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Charlize[/name_f], etc.
[name_u]Alex[/name_u] - I’ve known as many female [name_u]Alexes[/name_u] as male; it’s another either/or at this point. It feels a bit dated to me - I know a male [name_u]Alex/name_u in his forties, a male [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] in his forties, and a female [name_u]Alex[/name_u] in her late twenties. That being said, maybe it’s a name that works across generations!
Some unisex names we’re considering:
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]
[name_u]Shannon[/name_u]
[name_u]Lee[/name_u] (as a mn)
[name_u]Frankie[/name_u] (as a nn)
[name_u]Lou[/name_u]/[name_m]Louie[/name_m] (as a nn)
[name_u]Porter[/name_u]
We have very different preferences for names, and we each have long lists, so feedback will help us narrow our 50+ names down!
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]- I have a very hard time picturing this on a boy because it’s so feminine to me! [name_u]Avery[/name_u] reminds me of [name_f]Ava[/name_f] which is so girly. I also have known countless girls named [name_u]Avery[/name_u] (and various spellings of) and I’ve only heard of 1 boy. I say girl.
[name_u]Shannon[/name_u]- again, totally girl. My friends and I were talking about our parents’ middle names and one girl said she felt bad for her dad who had a “girls’ name” as a middle name. I had to inform her that [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] was actually unisex so I definitely say girl here.
[name_u]Lee[/name_u]- [name_u]Lee[/name_u] is better for a boy. [name_u]Leigh[/name_u] is better for a girl.
[name_u]Frankie[/name_u]- I don’t like this for either gender but it works for both.
[name_u]Lou[/name_u]/[name_m]Louie[/name_m]- boy, definitely. Think [name_u]Lou[/name_u] [name_m]Gehrig[/name_m], [name_m]Louie[/name_m] [name_m]Armstrong[/name_m], [name_m]Louis[/name_m] [name_m]Tomlinson[/name_m]. Can’t see this on a girl. [name_u]Lou[/name_u] could work as a double name for a deep southern aunt (Great Aunt [name_f]Mary[/name_f]-[name_u]Lou[/name_u]).
[name_u]Porter[/name_u]- definitely boy. Not even remotely feminine.
My favorite unisex names:
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_u]Remi[/name_u]/[name_u]Remy[/name_u]
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]: I think this is a gentle, handsome name. I’ve only ever heard of it for a boy so it’s definately more masculine to me
[name_u]Remi[/name_u]/[name_u]Remy[/name_u]: Very cute, definitely works either way to me. I only know one [name_u]Remi[/name_u], a little girl, but I’d like to see it on a boy
[name_u]Rory[/name_u]: Another really cute, friendly name to me. I’ve only known boy Rorys but I’m a big [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls fan haha, so I say either way
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]: Pretty. I prefer the traditional pronunciation on a girl
[name_u]August[/name_u]: I’ve only ever heard of this on a boy but I think it definitely works for a girl too. It wouldn’t suprise me to me a female [name_u]August[/name_u], I think month names are pretty much open
[name_u]Bailey[/name_u] - definitely a girl. It sounds so similar to [name_f]Kaylee[/name_f], [name_f]Hailey[/name_f], etc…
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u] - I can only see this on a boy. I think it’s very handsome!
[name_u]Jamie[/name_u] - cute on a boy, too 70’s on a girl.
[name_u]Adair[/name_u] - I love this for a middle name. It feels very feminine to me, so I would say girl.
[name_u]Lynn[/name_u] - I’ve never even considered this for a boy. It is my sister’s middle name. [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] is 100% girl to me, I would use [name_u]Lee[/name_u] for a boy.
[name_u]Blake[/name_u] - I can see going either way. It feels more masculine to me, but [name_u]Blake[/name_u] Lively has definitely opened up the name to girls too.
[name_u]Riley[/name_u]: Very neutral to me, I know plenty of Rileys of both genders. It’s a sweet name, feels a little overdone to me though.
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]: Feels more feminine to me, might be the Mists of [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] connection?
[name_u]Ashley[/name_u]: Is a little preppy for me personally, but definitely works either way. I’ve only known girls but I think I might even prefer on a boy 'cause it would feel fresh
[name_u]Cary[/name_u] - I’m leaning towards boys here as I’ve only heard of men with this spelling. The [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] spelling is 100% girl to me and the [name_u]Kerry[/name_u] spelling is completely androgynous.
[name_u]Luca[/name_u]- While I could see this on a girl, the only [name_u]Luca[/name_u] I’ve ever met was a boy.
[name_u]Mika[/name_u]- This one could go either way, but I prefer the [name_u]Micah[/name_u] spelling and I prefer it on boys.
[name_u]Cameron[/name_u]- I think more of boys because I know more boy Camerons. I know a girl, [name_u]Kamryn[/name_u]. Personally, I don’t like this name.
[name_u]Parker[/name_u]- ADORABLE name. I associate it with boys but would love to meet a girl [name_u]Parker[/name_u].
[name_u]Hadley[/name_u]- I don’t like this name mainly because of the -ley sound. I associate it with girls more. [name_u]Hadley[/name_u] sounds clunky. -ley sounds more girlish.
[name_u]Taylor[/name_u]- I would guess this to be more girly. I don’t like it, nor do I hate it. It’s ok.
[name_u]James[/name_u]-ALL boy! Try [name_f]Jane[/name_f] for a girl!
[name_m]Huxley[/name_m]-boy
[name_u]Harper[/name_u]-I was actually going to post this one. I prefer it on a boy, but mostly I would assume girl.
[name_u]Riley[/name_u]-I know both, but probably boy.
[name_u]Morgan[/name_u]: nice, but a tad bit dated. Equally unisex to me.
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]: also a little dated. My guess is that it’s used more for boys but it works on girls too and wouldnt raise any eyebrows
[name_u]River[/name_u]: an up-and-coming name, probably used more for boys but I can see it taking off for girls in the same way [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] has.
[name_u]Wynn[/name_u]- Cute. Sounds feminine to me.
[name_u]Jude[/name_u]- I’ve only met boys with this name.
[name_u]Brett[/name_u]- feels dated, as I know many in their 40s and 50s. I can’t see this on a girl.
I actually love quite a lot of unisex names. Here are some I’m into right now:
[name_u]Blaire[/name_u]
[name_u]Arden[/name_u]
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]
[name_u]Blair[/name_u]-I’ve never known a boy [name_u]Blair[/name_u], so the name feels very feminine to me. But I would like to see it on a boy.
[name_u]Arden[/name_u]-There’s an actress called [name_u]Arden[/name_u], I think this would be cute on a boy or a girl
[name_u]Tatum[/name_u]-I feel like this is a very boy name, I don’t really like it on a girl tbh.
[name_u]Cody[/name_u]- While I know girls with the nn [name_u]Cody[/name_u], I think as a given name only boys.
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]- All girl to me.
[name_u]Devin[/name_u]- This spelling is neutral to me, [name_u]Devon[/name_u] is more masculine.
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]- All boy to me, I like it.
[name_f]Jade[/name_f]- This is very feminine.
[name_u]Paris[/name_u]- [name_u]Paris[/name_u] [name_m]Hilton[/name_m] makes me want to say feminine, but I know a boy named [name_u]Paris[/name_u] so its one of those names I feel neutral about.
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u] - [name_m]Feel[/name_m]'s very unisex to me, though I think I know more boys with the name, I like it as a unisex name since its a nature name and isn’t traditionally associated with one gender
[name_u]Reece[/name_u] - Feels like a boys name to me, prefer the spelling [name_u]Rhys[/name_u]
[name_u]Peyton[/name_u] - Wouldn’t be surprised by it being a boy or a girl, but if I was to guess I’d say girl. Feels very trendy
[name_u]Blair[/name_u]: girl. I think it’s because I think of [name_f]Barbie[/name_f]: [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Charm School.
[name_u]Ashley[/name_u]: girl, only because I’ve known SO many girl Ashleys. The only male [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] I know is the character from Gone with the Wind. I have a friend (who is a girl) whose name is [name_f]Ashlee[/name_f].
[name_u]Arden[/name_u]: girl, because of the clothing/accessory store [name_f]Ardene[/name_f].
My names:
[name_u]Asa[/name_u]
[name_u]Glenn[/name_u]
[name_u]Gale[/name_u]
[name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
I like all of these for a boy, but [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] I would probably tuck in the middle. [name_u]Ash[/name_u] is an awesome nickname, all boy to me, but the full name has been so popular for girls I think a lot of adults are going to struggle to accept it, and possibly be verbal about it.
[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u] is my favourite, a fabulous name! ^^
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u] is also great, but I really prefer it if the parents are [name_m]Bob[/name_m] [name_u]Dylan[/name_u] fans or something…
Mine are a bit out-there:
[name_u]Vega[/name_u]
[name_f]Oriel[/name_f]
[name_f]Garnet[/name_f]
[name_u]Columba[/name_u]
[name_f]Bronte[/name_f]
I really like [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] and [name_f]Oriel[/name_f].
[name_f]Garnet[/name_f] and [name_u]Vega[/name_u] are okay.
[name_u]Columba[/name_u] isn’t my cup of tea.
I’d use these as middle names rather than first names and they all seem feminine to me.
I’m liking unisex nicknames for longer first names:
[name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_u]Remy[/name_u]
[name_u]Jem[/name_u]
[name_m]Kitt[/name_m]
[name_u]Ollie[/name_u]
Which do you like, which feel like boys/girls names and what names could they be short for?
[name_u]Romy[/name_u]: I see [name_f]Romilly[/name_f] and [name_m]Romulus[/name_m] in your sig and both are really nice. I also like it for [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] or maybe [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]? It’s a pretty even split.
[name_u]Remy[/name_u]: Also a pretty even split. I like Remiel in your sig as well. And I know of a female [name_u]Remington[/name_u], but I’d say that’s more male. I kinda like Remembrance, though that’s pretty gp.
[name_u]Jem[/name_u]: This is all boy to me, but it could work on [name_f]Jemma[/name_f] I suppose. [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_m]Jeremy[/name_m] for a boy!
[name_m]Kitt[/name_m]: I love [name_m]Kitt[/name_m]! Basically if your kid is [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], [name_m]Christian[/name_m], [name_f]Kirsten[/name_f], or [name_f]Christina[/name_f], and you aren’t using [name_u]Kit[/name_u], you are doing it wrong. I actually don’t like it for [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], though. (I don’t like it for [name_f]Cosima[/name_f], but maybe [name_f]Cressida[/name_f]?)
[name_u]Ollie[/name_u]: more male, but my friend [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] answers to it.
