Clicky (of a kind): Meredith on a boy

AnonAnonAnon

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I made an offsite poll because I miss the polls here

If you don't know, it's a Welsh male name meaning great lord/noble ruler. It went to the girls around 1920. A quick rough count of SS numbers says there's been around 75,000 female Merediths and about 2,500 male Merediths since 1930. The most girls with the name in a single year was 1981 with 2,070, so it's not crazy popular.

We'd use the nn Redith, a legitimate Welsh nn for it, which sounds really good with our ln. I once knew a guy named Ashley nn AJ and he totally made it work. He was teased a little, but to the same degree any kid is picked on.

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apc1929

Gone to the girls in 1920 is a far cry from something like Avery or Riley that is still used a lot on boys.  I think its definitely a hard name today to saddle a boy in the US with sorry.   I do absolutely love it for a girl though!

vulpini

It's pretty well established as a girl's name in the US.  If you're ok with your son being teased and the name means a lot to you, I guess you can still go with it.  I'd consider other options though.

SmileyJay

With so many names to choose from, why would you choose a name that is widely considered a girl's name?

Since 1930, of all Merideth's born, an astounding 97% were girls. I am pretty sure the vast majority of those 2500 boys were born last century. The name is simply unheard of on most boys today and is no longer unisex in any way. Sure, it was originally a boys name.... but you and your son will be left explaining that to everyone he meets for his entire life. 

You can't even compare it to Ashley. Ashley crossed over to be used for girls about 30 years ago.... not 100+ years ago. Plus with Ashton, Ashlyn, Asher, etc. it is more unisex even still. 20 years ago there were little boy Ashleys... I'm pretty sure it is full fledged female now and you will not find one. I can't think of another male name that starts with Meri/Mary.

Although I think it sounds rather silly, you should go with Redith before you name a little boy Meredith. How about Reid?

 

+ASH+

I'm a fan of unisex names, but I do not consider this to be one. And I wanted my boys to have definitive boys names. 

Helenahhandbasket

I wouldn't use it on a boy if you live in the US.  Sorry!

JaysonandKristin

I honestly wouldn't side-eye it if I saw it on a boy.  I also wouldn't side-eye Ashley, Leslie, Shannon, etc.  I couldn't use it, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be used, IMO.

GalLaura

I went to school with a boy named Ashley. He was tortured a bit in high school.

queenbone

I could go either way on this one. It wouldn't be my first choice. One of my son's has a unisex, but traditionally male name, but there are lots of famous bearers who were male which I think helps.

The only famous Meredith I can think of is Meredith Baxter Berny, and she's not that famous.

Leap08

I actually don't really mind it on a boy - and it's even my sister's name. 

When I was growing up I had a classmate whose father's name was Meredith. I guess because of him and Meredith Wilson (wrote the Music Man and was from the area I grew up in) I've always thought it was a unisex name.