A or E? Not a made up name or unique spelling

Skrittens

Is one spelling correct? We are naming our child Grayson/Greyson. We don't yet know the sex.

My husband insists the right way to spell it is "Greyson". I think "Grayson" but am willing to compromise with Greyson for a boy and Grayson for a girl. I said "E" if baby is a hE, and "A" for a lAdy.

The babe is being named in the spirit of an informal nickname of a loved one who is battling cancer. We may nickname - to be more sex-specific - especially if we have a girl (GiGi or Gia - middle name will also start with a G) - but are waiting to see what will fit the babe once born.

I do not want a unique spelling - or modification that is actually not a name (we vetoed Graycen, Graylea and Graylyn for those reasons). I believe both our alternatives are "correct" - just looking for thoughts on our options.

Thank you in advance!

Dr.Loretta

Grayson and Greyson are variants of each other. Both are acceptable spellings.

However, I would never name a girl Grayson/Greyson. That name is all boy.

Helenahhandbasket

I like the way Greyson looks, but please don't give this name to a little girl.  Gia is lovely.

Irishcurls

Your he/lady reason cracked me up.....I don't have a preference on Greyson/Grayson for a SON but it's not a girls name ever. 

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ashiscute

My DH's grandfather is Grayson so I feel that one looks right to me but both are correct.  Grayson is NMS for a boy but it really is an odd choice for a girl.  For a girl I'd consider using Grayson as a MN and finding her a feminine FN.  

I'm all about honoring loved ones with names but you shouldn't forget your giving a name to a person who will have to answer to that their whole life and deserves a quality name.  

moseyma

Well, I do support honouring.  However, honouring "in the spirit of an informal nickname" to me reads: we love you but not your name  But, as long as it's not so far removed that you have to explain the connection to the person whom you are trying to honour, then...okay.  To each their own.  That being said, there isn't a vowel in the land that can feminise "Greyson/Grayson" so drop the weird logic and just go with the spelling you prefer.  In my mind, for Americans, it would be Grayson, since that is how they spell Gray, right?  I spell the word grey, so I'd have to choose Greyson.  

I can't say that I think Greyson/Grayson is a great choice for a girl (but then, it's not even my style for a boy...), but I commend you for not spelling it Graycen etc.   

DawnJM25

Grayson is nms on a girl, but there was a female chef named Grayson on Top Chef a few seasons ago, so it's not that far fetched for me. Ditto PPs- thank you for not spelling it Graycen or Graycyn or something terrible like that. I would spell it with the A.

Skrittens

Thanks everyone for your input. For some reason the name sounds unisex to me (even with the son ending - like Addison, Emmerson, and Madison), but given the overwhelming feedback that the name does not sound right for a girl, I am going to consider whether we should chose a different name for a girl. I don't want to saddle a girl with a name that could cause confusion in the future.

Again, appreciate the time and input!!

daystardreams

I prefer the spelling Greyson for a little boy and like the suggestions as Grey for a middle name for a little girl!

parenthood4

Just throwing it out there, my first year teaching I had a little girl in class named Grayson. I had never heard the name before, so I just thought it was a girl's name! I know now it's a boy's name, but I still have that association I guess.

I prefer the Grayson spelling.

thegoodpotato

I was under the impression that the difference between gray and grey as "correct" spelling is an American vs. British spelling?  (Someone could correct me there if I'm wrong; I'm not sure where I picked up this tidbit, so it could be false)

So you could figure out which one is which and go with whatever suits your nationality....  (So long as that baby is a boy) 

RayRay007

While I think of it as a boy's name, if you insist on naming a girl Grayson, I'd go with the A spelling for a girl. It seems more feminine or something. 

Dr.Loretta

RayRay007 said:

While I think of it as a boy's name, if you insist on naming a girl Grayson, I'd go with the A spelling for a girl. It seems more feminine or something. 

Or something, LOL

MelCfromMN

While I'm not advocating for this spelling, I do know a little girl spelled Gracyn, which looks a bit more feminine to me. I have also seen Gracen.

WashingtonQueen

I spell grey with an "e" so I would spell the name that way too. But that's just me.

MaraJeanily

I know a girl named Grayson. She loves her name because there's not many girls named that. Where we're at, there's not many boys with that name either. I say go for it!

stahlop

The name Grey is a total GP of mine (for a boy or girl as I've known both). You could use that in the mn spot instead.

Skrittens

Thanks again everyone. We actually don't know a single Grayson/Greyson - but given that it is apparently a boy name, we are thinking in a different direction for a girl. We still cannot agree on the A/E however. The argument that Gray is the American spelling won me over (as we live in the US), but not my husband. I don't want my child to have a name that could be considered, at least by some, to be misspelled - or even to have a confusing spelling if not incorrect, so we are rethinking the name overall.

Everyone's input has been extremely helpful. I greatly appreciate it and hope you all have a good day!

railroadRN

Grace Ann(e)? Call her by both names?

catahoulatte

Joy2611 said:

There aren't many girls who are branded sons at birth by ignorant parents? I guess that's one in the win column.

LMAO. Seriously. @Joy2611 you slay me.

catahoulatte

Skrittens said:

Thanks again everyone. We actually don't know a single Grayson/Greyson - but given that it is apparently a boy name, we are thinking in a different direction for a girl.

I feel like every 3rd boy I meet around here is Grayson or Jackson. Funny how different it is in other areas of the country.

queenbone

WashingtonQueen said:

I spell grey with an "e" so I would spell the name that way too. But that's just me.

+1. I'm American, but I prefer the E in general.