A few generations ago... Boy names becoming girl names

June2007

Do you think people flipped out about boy names like Ashley and Leslie becoming girl names? 

AllisonKate1311

No. I don't think anyone would flip out if they saw a little girl named Brinlee or Brylee in their child's class either. I also don't think anyone would switch surgeon's because her name is Kaylee. People on the internet are just silly

CeCe8579

I'm sure it was controversial then just as others are now! Do I think people judge on names? Absolutely but I wish it wasn't that way!

blaa27

And Maddison.
Oh, and don't forget Andrea, Carol, Evelyn, Vivian, Meredith, Shannon, Jocelyn, Kelly, Beverly, Hilary, Lynn, Shirley, Sydney, Whitney...
But I digress. ;]

Blondangel

AllisonKate1311:

No. I don't think anyone would flip out if they saw a little girl named Brinlee or Brylee in their child's class either. I also don't think anyone would switch surgeon's because her name is Kaylee. People on the internet are just silly

Huh?

I think you missed the point.

gimmietimmies

blaa27:

And Maddison. Oh, and don't forget Andrea, Carol, Evelyn, Vivian, Meredith, Shannon, Jocelyn, Kelly, Beverly, Hilary, Lynn, Shirley, Sydney, Whitney... But I digress. ;]

You forgot Stacy and Courtney!

Blondangel

I imagine they did. I think that anytime a popular or long-used boy name starts to be used as a girl's name, people would freak a little. 

blaa27

gimmietimmies:

blaa27:

And Maddison.
Oh, and don't forget Andrea, Carol, Evelyn, Vivian, Meredith, Shannon, Jocelyn, Kelly, Beverly, Hilary, Lynn, Shirley, Sydney, Whitney...
But I digress. ;]

You forgot Stacy and Courtney!

That I did!

Zimger

It probably depends on how popular the name is for boys.

I think alot of female child would have difficulties if they were attending school in my grandpareants time...with names like Masyn, Charlie, Logan, Asa.

 

Zimger

AllisonKate1311:

No. I don't think anyone would flip out if they saw a little girl named Brinlee or Brylee in their child's class either. I also don't think anyone would switch surgeon's because her name is Kaylee. People on the internet are just silly

I'm sure that peope looked at the names of others and formed opinions before the internet.

Especially since, in the past names had alot to do with what class you were in, where you lived, and so on. Names had a tendency to stick to a specific geographical area for a longer period of time because the world wasn't as connected as it is now. But people still talked about them. What was new, what didn't seem like a proper name, and so on.

 

June2007

blaa27:

And Maddison.
Oh, and don't forget Andrea, Carol, Evelyn, Vivian, Meredith, Shannon, Jocelyn, Kelly, Beverly, Hilary, Lynn, Shirley, Sydney, Whitney...
But I digress. ;]

I had no idea that Evelyn and Meredith were once boys names!

I wonder if once a name is unisex, the becomes known for being a feminine name, if it ever goes back to be thought of as a masculine name. Maybe that's why it's so hard for me to choose a boy name. The list keeps shrinking!

June2007

Blondangel:

AllisonKate1311:

No. I don't think anyone would flip out if they saw a little girl named Brinlee or Brylee in their child's class either. I also don't think anyone would switch surgeon's because her name is Kaylee. People on the internet are just silly

Huh?

I think you missed the point.

I was confused by this post too. I understand her opinion but it doesn't really go with the context of this post.

jenheartsmonsters

AllisonKate1311:

No. I don't think anyone would flip out if they saw a little girl named Brinlee or Brylee in their child's class either. I also don't think anyone would switch surgeon's because her name is Kaylee. People on the internet are just silly

I like you. You have sass.  

RT0516

Not for nothing my name is Randi. It is not short for anything and growing up it was funny seeing teachers looking around at all the boys until i raise my hand for roll call.

kayjay10

June2007:

blaa27:

And Maddison. Oh, and don't forget Andrea, Carol, Evelyn, Vivian, Meredith, Shannon, Jocelyn, Kelly, Beverly, Hilary, Lynn, Shirley, Sydney, Whitney... But I digress. ;]

I had no idea that Evelyn and Meredith were once boys names! I wonder if once a name is unisex, the becomes known for being a feminine name, if it ever goes back to be thought of as a masculine name. Maybe that's why it's so hard for me to choose a boy name. The list keeps shrinking!

This is my problem with boy names.  I have a ton of girl names, but just not a lot to choose from for a boy name.  And a lot of the boy names I like are going to the girls.

kendra223

I have an uncle named Leslie. I believe he's in his early 60s now.

LadyXaverian

Dana and Allison come to mind, too.

I don't know how people reacted to it in the past. I guess it is a testament that over time, names can switch from masculin to feminine, and that people will eventually "get over it", but I still dislike the trend, even if Evelyn is now one of my favorite girl names.

+ASH+

I love unisex names and have one picked out for my little girl, but I don't think it takes anything away from the boy's name. My sister's FIL is named Leslie and it fits him and has never made me think he had a girly name.

I definitely wouldn't say the pool for boy's names is shrinking - even if you want a completely masculine name (i.e. David, John, Lucas, etc.) there are still hundreds (some would say thousands) to choose from.  

RoryorHenry?

I love boy names on girls dd is named Rory but I also love names for boys that have gone to the girls. My top boy names are Sandy, Leslie, and Courtney but I can't get DH on board if we happen to have a boy.

To OP... Yes, I think in our grandparents day people would have side eyed those names in girls.