What's with boy names for girls?

MoFree

I really don't understand, and don't like, the trend to use what are typically masculine names for girls.  Why is it okay to name your daughter Ryan or Sean when you wouldn't name your son Sarah or Emily? 

Please explain.

EastCoastBride

I can't remember where, but I read something by a guy once who was like "Leave the guys names to guys - please. You're taking them all away!".

Shannon and Ashley specficially used to be boy names.  WHile I do know a male Shannon and Ashley, by and large- these are now considered girls names.  I think it may be the same for Kelly too.

But to your question, why this happens, I dont know.

MoFree

Leslie and Adrian were also originally boy names.

mom2binKC

I couldn't care less.  I actually kind of like the "surprise" of a girl with a traditionally boy name.  So many names are so overused; that bothers me way more than using a less common name or using it in a new way, i.e. a boy name for a girl.  Besides, who's to say that--like Ashley and Shannon and Adrian--those names won't be just as accepted or more so for girls a generation from now?

I have what was considered a "boy" name in the 70's--but with a more feminie spelling:  Corrie.  Love it.  It was unique, and I've never had any issues with it being "boyish."

smismar

This irritates me.  I hate when people give their beautiful little girls a masculine name.  I have one of these names myself and I hate it.  It's not cute, it's not stylish.  I don't know why some people feel that they need to give their daughter's a male name to be strong.  There are plenty of strong women with feminine names - Madeleine, Margaret, Elizabeth, Hillary, Michelle, Sarah. 

As someone that grew up with a "boy's name" I can tell you it can be a real PITA.  I get stuff addressed to "Mr." all the time.  I was a field engineer and I have had irate customers because they were expecting "Tony" to come fix their problem and now they got "some chick" (um, hey I'm Toni, and I can fix your stupid machine just as well as any guy - get over it).  When I was a kid, my mom cut my hair short and I was asked if I was a boy or a girl - by adults.  Yeah, that doesn't scar a pre-teen at all.  When my now-DH and I started dating, he was hesitant to tell people back in his backward little hometown what my name was because they would ASSume that he was coming out.

Now a lot of this is just sexism and ignorance on the part of some of society, but let's face it, in the world we  live in, you can't escape it.  Why set your daughter up for a lifetime of explaining her name and needing to overcome preconcieved notions?

Jaiden*Evie*Emmy

Gosh all this whining and complaining gets so old.  So what if you like a name use it no matter what.  I love the name Carter for a boy  and I am sure that there are little girl Carters out there but I am still naming a future son this!!! Its never going to go away it has been going on for many generations so get over it!!!!! 

It wasnt sexism or trying to put a boy name on a resume to get a good job.....I simply chose names that I loved.........nothing complicated about that.

Kendall13

My name is Kendall.  It's a girls name now, but when my mother gave it to me it was a boys name.  In fact, almost all of the people I have met named Kendall are older, black men!  They are shocked that I'm a Kendall, too.

I love using names that are more unisex for girls.  All of my sisters have more unisex names. 

Personally, I think that many traditional girl names are boring.  If we were having a girl she wouldn't have a "girlie" name.

JnJHud

mom2binKC:

I couldn't care less.  I actually kind of like the "surprise" of a girl with a traditionally boy name.  So many names are so overused; that bothers me way more than using a less common name or using it in a new way, i.e. a boy name for a girl.  Besides, who's to say that--like Ashley and Shannon and Adrian--those names won't be just as accepted or more so for girls a generation from now?

I have what was considered a "boy" name in the 70's--but with a more feminie spelling:  Corrie.  Love it.  It was unique, and I've never had any issues with it being "boyish."

I totally agree! I have a unisex name, and I don't mind that at all. Now I'm not saying I'd name a girl Benjamin or William, but I do love the nn Charlie for Charlotte. I chalk this debate up to name evolution moreso than people "stealing" boys' names for girls.

And fwiw, this topic comes up on this board on a weekly basis. I'm more exhausted of that than of girls with traditionally masculine names lol.

kipper1128

LOL!  I was just reading another post and saw a siggy with their daughters, both who have traditionally boys' names!

I guess it's trendy.  It follows the same suit that you could put your little girl into a blue shirt, but probably wouldn't put your son in a pink one - especially at the earlier ages when they look so sexually ambigious anyways!

shyntrue

I knew a girl named George....  She was still a girl.  Just with a boys name... Who cares, if you don't like it, don't do it...  thats all

mfransdell

This again? If you like a name go for it. My name is a traditional 'boys' name and I'm the girliest girl I know! Some people don't like overly feminine names.

Bluesmoothee

It's totally annoying, isn't it? I'm in love w/ the name Avery for our son, but I just can't go there because it's such a girl name  now. It kinda pisses me off.

rebus82

I think this trend is more annoying to people with/having sons than anyone else. It's extremely annoying to love a boy name, only to finally have a son and the name now be deemed "girly". Quinn, Elliot, Emery, etc. are all boy names that have been taken over by parents of girls. Yes, we *can* name our sons these names, but only if we want them to be teased for having "girl" names later on in life.?

Lately it seems unless you want to make something up, or give you son an uber-traditional masculine name (Christopher, Matthew, etc) you risk him sharing the name with a ton of female classmates.?

LMS05

rebus82:

I think this trend is more annoying to people with/having sons than anyone else. It's extremely annoying to love a boy name, only to finally have a son and the name now be deemed "girly". Quinn, Elliot, Emery, etc. are all boy names that have been taken over by parents of girls. Yes, we *can* name our sons these names, but only if we want them to be teased for having "girl" names later on in life.?

Lately it seems unless you want to make something up, or give you son an uber-traditional masculine name (Christopher, Matthew, etc) you risk him sharing the name with a ton of female classmates.?

I completely agree. My dad suggested Ryan for a boy name (ridiculous that I have to write that) for us and I told him it was now unisex. He didn't believe me! ?

proudpreg

It's one of the trendy things to do with names these days (that and sub the letter y for existing vowels). I'm not a fan.?