I don’t think a [name_u]Loren[/name_u] would be teased, maybe a few unusual comments about having a girls name but I was teased for having a boy’s name (my name is [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], my cousin [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] was teased for having a “witches” name…kids will tease about anything). I wouldn’t be deterred from using it!
Kids will find a way to tease no matter what, but I really don’t think you’re setting your son up for it. [name_u]Loren[/name_u] is a wonderful name (although I quite like [name_u]Lorne[/name_u], too). Besides, I feel like kids these days are more open/understanding about names and their gender implications these days. From what I’ve heard/seen, anyway.
Of course, I’d probably say go for [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] on a boy, if the question led there. It’s about time we worry less about how manly our boys are going to be and more about the kind of person they’ll be. Then again, the whole world doesn’t share that view. And now I’m rambling and back-pedaling. I would use [name_u]Loren[/name_u] if in the same situation. I’ll leave it at that.
Honestly I’m not a fan. For me it is too girly. I would also automatically pronounce it as Lor-[name_u]REN[/name_u] and if I was told it was actually the other way I’d just think you’d given your son a girls name.
If you’re pronouncing it as [name_m]Lorn[/name_m] can you not just name him that? Or perhaps [name_u]Lorne[/name_u].
Have you considered [name_m]Soren[/name_m] [name_m]Thorne[/name_m] or [name_u]Dorian[/name_u]?
[name_u]Loren[/name_u] is a great choice! I love the name and the reasons you have for choosing it. I equate the name with something like [name_f]ERIN[/name_f] and [name_m]AARON[/name_m]. I know a few of both and they don’t get teased. Same thing. A name that sounds so similiar for both boys and girls but NOT the same name. I say go for it! It’s lovely and I wouldn’t worry about others thinking he has a girl’s name because it isn’t. [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_u]Ren[/name_u] also.
I absolutely like the name. give something more boyish in the middle. [name_u]Loren[/name_u] [name_m]Micheal[/name_m] or [name_u]Loren[/name_u] [name_m]David[/name_m] sounds nice. If he wants he can go by the nickname or his middle.
Yes it’s similar to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] but that’s also been used on boys if I’m not mistaken.
I love the reason why you and your SO have picked it, but I pronounce Lauren and Loren the exact same and can’t get passed it. Lauren is such a girly name to me and I honestly can see Loren being teased. It also doesn’t help with the Sophia Loren connection, which makes this name seem 100x more girly.
Saying this, kids can be cruel and they can find anything to tease about.
Edit: I also saw something about Erin and Aaron on here, and as an Erin, can I just add I don’t pronounce them the same at all and it frustrates me! Lol, it may be the same way for your son. I see Americans may pronounce them the same but Erin is air-in and Aaron is ah-ron. Nothing bothers me more than people saying they are the same lol. I don’t know if this makes sense, but having your name mistaken for a name on the opposing gender may drive your son up the wall, too.
My friend’s dad’s name is [name_u]Loren[/name_u], and that’s just what it was. We grew up with the fact that [name_u]Loren[/name_u] is a male name, even though [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] is a similar (and more popular) sounding female name. It was no big deal.
It’s a legit male name, so if you feel strongly about it, go for it. I’m sure your friends and his, as well as your community will learn to know [name_u]Loren[/name_u] as the male name that it is.
I was raised with a [name_u]Loren[/name_u] (male) in the same grade. He was an awesome guy who, to my knowledge, never got teased about his name. He was outgoing and nice and his name was [name_u]Loren[/name_u]. Those were all facts and nothing more. I think it is a great name for a boy and a man!
Oh my gosh, thank you all so much for all the responses. I’m glad that reading through them, there seems to be an equal amount if not a majority of positive reactions? I was honestly expecting it to get torn down but this has been very reassuring.
I did read everyone’s responses, there are a few I wanted to answer specifically but know that I do appreciate and will consider all the feedback even if I didn’t answer you personally 
@lovemysweeties - I love your point about kids sharing names with other genders, I know several kids named [name_u]Jayden[/name_u] of each gender, plus girls named [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u], [name_u]Parker[/name_u], [name_u]Elliott[/name_u], even [name_m]Henry[/name_m]. That makes me feel much better, thank you! And you’re right, [name_u]Loren[/name_u] is a legitimate male name, it’s not like we would be trying to use [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] or something. (Also, SO loves [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] on a boy, but we have an [name_m]Asher[/name_m] in the family)
@bluedanube - Yay, another [name_u]Loren[/name_u] fan! Also, I saw [name_m]Laurus[/name_m] in your signature - that’s interesting as well. And I love your picks of [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] and [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], we’re not quite as brave as you!
@bookish - I’ve considered [name_m]Soren[/name_m], but haven’t run it past SO yet. I don’t love it quite as much as [name_u]Loren[/name_u], but it is a nice name. Thanks for the suggestion!
@tiannarose - [name_u]Lorne[/name_u] wouldn’t be terrible as SO’s pronunciation is pretty close to that already, but I connect that with sad things - like forlorn, lovelorn, etc. Is that weird? Lol. [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m] would be a nice name for someone else but we are not Italian at all! So I think that would be strange for us, but thank you for your suggestions.
@evansma - Thank you for the suggestions. I like [name_m]Soren[/name_m] somewhat (not as much as [name_u]Loren[/name_u]) and [name_m]Stellan[/name_m], although with [name_f]Stella[/name_f] being so popular it’s almost the same issue. We both dislike [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] - someone suggested it to us when we mentioned [name_u]Loren[/name_u] and noses wrinkled all around. It would be nice for someone else, but we’re picky I guess!
@trippindippy - Thank you! We’re on east coast USA (probably will be moving states mid-pregnancy but still to a city with a relatively diverse population) so unusual names are becoming… less unusual, I guess. Hopefully no one would bat an eyelash at boy [name_u]Loren[/name_u]?
@southern.maple - That’s what I thought too! Turns out [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] is still in the top 100 in the US but it’s on a steady decline, I think. I haven’t met one under ten in years.
@dovah - That’s a great point, and I think that was part of my initial worry but I didn’t know how to put it in writing? If SO and I have a boy, it’s pretty likely he won’t grow up to become the stereotype of “maleness” - SO wears his hair long, often wears kilts (skirts), has a stereotypically “female” career and is very proud of it. And I am very proud of him I would hope if we had a boy he would grow up wanting to be like Daddy, but I don’t know if having a “feminine” sounding name would disadvantage him since we don’t really do traditional gender roles in our family/relationship.
@essa - I see your point. Also, I don’t dislike the “Lor-[name_u]REN[/name_u]” pronunciation, I do prefer the other, but I wouldn’t want to seem pretentious insisting it be pronounced a certain (maybe non-intuitive for some people) way. Again [name_u]Lorne[/name_u]/[name_m]Lorn[/name_m] and [name_m]Soren[/name_m] are good options, but not my favorites. SO’s LN is a word so [name_m]Thorne[/name_m] would sound odd, and [name_u]Dorian[/name_u] is NMS, to be honest. But thank you for your suggestions!
@whitegardenia - Very true about [name_f]Erin[/name_f]/[name_m]Aaron[/name_m]! I have a stepbrother named [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] and nobody ever teased him (that I know of) for having a “girl’s” name. Thanks!
@eoxima - We pronounce them the same too, but I guess I have never seen [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] as being a very girly name… I always thought it was more middle-of-the-road, equal parts girly/tomboy personally. I do see how it could be perceived that way though. The [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] [name_u]Loren[/name_u] connection doesn’t bother me at all though, to be honest, since I doubt most school-age kids would even know who she is. And sorry to say I’m one of those Americans who pronounce [name_f]Erin[/name_f] and [name_m]Aaron[/name_m] exactly the same I would hope that I could raise a son not to be bothered by being mistaken for a girl, but I’m sure it would be frustrating. I had frustrations with the spelling of my name and I know how that felt, so I just want to be sure I’m not intentionally making his life difficult. Thanks for sharing your opinion
I think you’ve got a good thing going. Similar to [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] is really the only con and otherwise it does feel like a refreshing option. And it reminds me or [name_m]Thorin[/name_m], [name_m]Soren[/name_m], [name_m]Theon[/name_m], [name_u]Orion[/name_u] and some of the other -en/-on male names that are getting more attention. Those all have a distinctively masculine sound and will make [name_u]Loren[/name_u] blend right in. If I had to describe my image of a [name_u]Loren[/name_u], I’d say tall, dashing, well read and chivalrous. Can’t beat that.
I think it’s fantastic! I went to school with a guy named [name_u]Loren[/name_u] and to my knowledge, no one ever made fun of him for it. He was well liked and quite handsome.
I’d just call him [name_m]LORN[/name_m] or Lawn. The feminine issue is simply resolved
I’ve never heard it before, but I really like the sound of [name_u]Loren[/name_u]. In my accent, it sounds similar but not exactly the same as [name_f]Lauren[/name_f], but even if it were pronounced the same, I don’t think that would be a huge issue. As soon as people meet a real-life [name_u]Loren[/name_u], the [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] associated wouldn’t be as pronounced anyway. And on another note, (being Scottish) it’s always fab to hear that the wearing of kilts is more widespread these days!
I really like [name_u]Loren[/name_u], it’s stylish and definitely still boy-ish enough to be used on a boy. [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] is dated and not so popular now so there won’t be much confusion, plus the advent of [name_m]Soren[/name_m] might make it even easier to get away with. Go for it!
I think people will initially think of it as [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] but I’m sure they’ll get use to it. [name_u]Loren[/name_u] looks very handsome and masculine. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the nickname [name_u]Ren[/name_u]. I would love to meet a [name_u]Loren[/name_u].
I think the name [name_u]Loren[/name_u] is a great name for your little boy. And the nn [name_u]Ren[/name_u] is fantastic! I have an Uncle [name_u]Loren[/name_u] and he is definitely a man’s man. So I just think it’s in your attitude towards the name, and how you raise your son. [name_m]Just[/name_m] have him embrace it. And raise him to be confident. Then no matter what a bully may say, it won’t matter. Good luck.
[name_u]Loren[/name_u] is awesome and I think kids pick on names less than we think. I never had an issue and if I ever witnessed name teasing, it was only because they liked the other person. I don’t hear of many kid [name_u]Loren[/name_u]/[name_f]Lauren[/name_f], so I think the whole boy/girl name won’t even be an issue at all for other kids.
I love [name_u]Loren[/name_u] for a boy, and I don’t think it would be much of a problem. I’ve seen tons of boys named [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], etc. and they never seemed to have many problems. Also my first thought is [name_u]Loren[/name_u] from “[name_u]Angel[/name_u]”, so I definitely see it as a boy’s name.
I know a respectable older gentleman named [name_u]Loren[/name_u] and I think it suits him well.
I also grew up with boys named [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Stacey[/name_u], and [name_u]Lesley[/name_u]. I didn’t notice that they had any problems or were made fun of for their names. However, I’m convinced that everyone gets made fun of for his/her name at some point, even people with “normal” names.
I know a couple of very respectable men named [name_u]Loren[/name_u] and the name has not held them back. I think Loren is a decidedly masculine name. It’s a very handsome male name that is on my list.
I grew up with boys who are now adults named [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Stacey[/name_u], and [name_u]Lesley[/name_u]. I didn’t notice that they had any problems or were made fun of for their names. None of them have changed their names, so if they were bothered by their names it wasn’t significant enough for them to do anything about it. I know other people who have changed their names because their names bothered them, though.
I’m convinced that everyone gets made fun of for his/her name at some point, even people with “normal” names. My good friends and I had pretty normal names and were all made fun of at some point. Being called Iris the Virus didn’t make me feel good, but I love my name nevertheless. I really don’t think that having a “normal” name shields people from teasing.
Additionally, I agree with PPs that the increase in unique and unisex names will make a boy/man named Loren be seen as normal. With unisex names like Emerson, Peyton, Rory, Dylan, Emory/Emery, etc. becoming more popular, I feel like people might not bat an eye at a guy named Loren.