Aaron too much like Erin?

RunningMamaH · January 2010

I LOVE this name but DH says that it sounds too much like Erin and people will think he is a girl. Although at this point he said that we should just go with it since it is the only one we somewhat agree on (meaning I love it and he doesn't hate it as much as the other ones I like).

So opinions? Does it sound too much like Erin?

Any suggestions of similar style names? Nymbler keeps giving me really out there biblical names like Balthazar. ?

LMS05 · January 2010

It sounds the same as Erin, but it's not the same name so it's perfectly fine to use it for a boy. DH's cousin has a little boy named Aaron. It's really a nice, handsome name that isn't overused. I say, go for it!

Mama_SAS · January 2010

It depends on where you live - the local accent. Some places these 2 names are pronounced exactly the same and some places they are pronounced very differently.

NewMama2010 · January 2010

Well I'm an Erin and, where I'm from, Aaron and Erin are pronounced differently, but I think it depends on where you live and people's accents.

I (and my family) pronounce my name with a short E like "Ellie". We pronounce Aaron with the beginning like "Abby". However, I know people from other parts of the country who say both names like "Air-in". So I guess it really depends. I think they are both nice names.

jessawakawaii · January 2010

In the NW we say those names almost identically, but both are so common that neither would be taken as odd.

CAM718 · January 2010

where I am from they are pronounced the same, but Aaron is a boys name and Erin is a girls name. I know lots of Erins and few Aarons, but I like it much more as a boys name!

schnappycat · January 2010

I say them exactly the same. But there is nothing wrong with that. I've known both and it's never been an issue or confused.

RunningMamaH · January 2010

Thanks! I am thinking we might just go for it, but I am going to spend the rest of the weekend looking through the baby book. I really want to have a name picked so I can move on with all the other baby related stuff!?

ubermoose · January 2010

They sound similar, but I wouldn't worry about it.

First off, they are both classic names that arose independently of one another. One's a boy's name with Hebrew roots, the other is an Irish girl's name. It's certainly not your standard unisex name that started off as a boy's name and then migrated. As such, each name has become very well accepted within each gender. People generally don't have a problem seeing Aaron as a boy's name or Erin as a girl's name.

Secondly, in most situations, there will be little chance of confusion. A teacher will not wonder for a second if little Aaron is a boy. There will also be no confusion of the spelling as he is introduced to others. When speaking without him present, his gender will be clear if you say things like, "I'd like to schedule an appointment for my son, Aaron," or "yes, we have one boy, Aaron."

Thirdly, depending on where you live, they may be pronounced differently. I say Erin like Air-in and Aaron a bit more like Air-on. Not an exaggerated "o" by any means, but there's a bit of a difference.

Fourthly, Aaron is an awesome name! Go for it.

shannm · January 2010

I like it and would never assume that it was Erin or a girl if I heard it. I have known about an equal number of Aarons and Erins.

sunnyday016 · January 2010

We know a married couple named Aaron and Erin. It's pronounced the same. Aaron=boy spelling, Erin=girl spelling. It's a common boy name, I don't think you need to be worried about people thinking he's a girl.

Shell24 · January 2010

hayes3:

I LOVE this name but DH says that it sounds too much like Erin and people will think he is a girl. Although at this point he said that we should just go with it since it is the only one we somewhat agree on (meaning I love it and he doesn't hate it as much as the other ones I like).

So opinions? Does it sound too much like Erin?

Any suggestions of similar style names? Nymbler keeps giving me really out there biblical names like Balthazar.

That's me and my DH too LOL

Aaron is NMS, however, even though it sounds like Erin, it is 100% a boy name. No one will think he is a girl. It's not like the name Tracy.

moonfaerie · January 2010

FI's name is Aaron, so I'm biased. I like it, and he thinks it's cool that his name is getting trendy but he does not want to use any names for a boy (if we ever have one) that could be mistaken for a girl's name. (Note that both of his daughters have unisex names, so go figure. Ours is London and his daughter from a previous relationship is Aubrey.)

I say use it if you both like (er, don't hate) it. It's too tough to agree on names without worrying about what other people will think of it. Once you meet your little boy, his name will suit him perfectly and you won't think about it anymore.

mrs_tacos · January 2010

They sound exactly the same, but I'm pretty sure that Aaron came first since it's an Old Testament name. It is by all means fine to use for a boy.

As for similar names, how about...

Able
Adam
Andrew
Asher
Benjamin
Caleb
Christopher
Daniel
David
Eli/Elias/Eliab/Elijah/Elisha
Ezra
Gabriel
Gideon
Isaac
James
Jonah
Joseph
Josiah
Jude
Levi
Luke
Matthew
Micah
Nathaniel/Nathan
Noah
Paul
Peter
Phillip
Samuel
Seth
Silas
Simon
Titus
Zachariah

EastCoastBride · January 2010

They may sound the same, but people know it's a name that goes "either way" based on the spelling.

I have heard them pronounced differently too - but regardless, once people see it spelled out, or know your child is a boy- the problem is solved.

This really is not an issue over which I wouldn't use the name.

IrishBrideND · January 2010

I prounounce them the same way, but its a very common boys name so why would anyone think its a girls name for you boy? I'm confused.

pazrana23 · January 2010

I've known several boys named Aaron, so I don't see an issue. (Actually I even know one Erin who is a boy)

Wish Upon A Star · January 2010

Aaron is a really popular name where I am from, people never confuse the two when the name is written, but of course it could be confusing when spoken- but there are hundreds of names with a feminine and masculine versions.

Cissi64 · January 2010

Unless you have another family member with the name "Erin" (like a daughter?) I don't know why he is worried about it.

Mitzie · January 2010

Where I live Aaron and Erin are not pronounced the same.

The A is like Adam or Cat and the E is like Eric or Pet. As long as you say it correctly it shouldn't cause a problem.

cera.rn · January 2010

i think they sound completely different

Erin is is like "errand"

Aaron is like "air-in"

MrsP7309 · January 2010

I've always heard them pronounced the same, but there's been no question on if it's a boy or a girl when someone sees the spelling. I know an equal amount of Aarons and Erins.

~CoCo~ · January 2010

I say them the same BUT we have married friends named Aaron and Erin and my brother and husband think I'm insane when I say "Aaron & Erin" the same. But I hear no difference when they say them "differently"...

calico77 · January 2010

DH's 18 year old female cousin is Aaron. And her middle name is a last name which is not feminine at all so she has been screwed her whole life.

My sister's name is Erin and I love that name.

teg · January 2010

LMS05:
It sounds the same as Erin, but it's not the same name so it's perfectly fine to use it for a boy.

this...

KentuckyKate · January 2010

cera.rn:

i think they sound completely different

Erin is is like "errand"

Aaron is like "air-in"

All 4 of those sound exactly the same to me! But in KY no one would say the first part of Aaron like the first part of Abby or Adam. It's always Air-in. The same way we say my brother's name, Barrett like "Bare-it" while my family up north says "Bah-rett"

k8atl · January 2010

when people see it written they'll know it's a boy, when you say "aaron" is my son they'll know how to spell it - so i wouldn't worry.

MrserinJ · January 2010

My name is Erin and we say Air-in. It means "Ireland", at least that's one meaning. Aaron isn't feminine at all, but being an Erin myself, I know 12 Erin/Aaron's! About half of them boys and half girls. It was really popular in the 80s I think, but maybe its not so popular anymore? I think its a nice name for a boy or a girl. But in my experience, they are both pronounced the same.

emjenkins715 · January 2010

My name is Erin and yes they sound similar, but even with an Aaron in my class growing up it wasn't a big deal. Plus people should know that if it's a boy it will be spelled Aaron and girl is Erin. A name that is close to it would be Darron. (spellings for that are obviously optional) Just wanted to let you know that I never had and still don't have any trouble with the name and I know quite a few boy Aarons who have no problems either. GL!

AbbyNoel · February 2010

Nah, I think Aaron is a fairly common and known name for a boy.

My cousin is Erin and most people here pronounce them the same (like Air-in) but her mom says it like Urr-in.

nycitylove · February 2010

I don't know why, but this is the one name argument that drives me crazy! Aaron is a biblical boy's name (and my son's MN) and Erin is an Irish girl's name. In NY they are pronounced completely different. Aaron is AH-Ren and Erin is EH-Rin.

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