Honest opinion on my boys names...(Long)

ancp27 · August 2012

First off, I'm very sorry about the format, I can't figure out how to fix it on my iPad. I have lurked quite a bit and I know I'll get the truth from you ladies. Here's the situation with our boys names: My grandma, before she passed away over 10 years ago, and I were having a conversation about baby names and she told me she wished she would've named one of her sons Parker, which is her maiden name. I told her that when I have my son, I will name him Parker since she never did. This name wasn't even that popular when we had this conversation (probably 12 years ago). Now here's where the problem is... Although I still like the name and I love the meaning I'm concerned that it's becoming a girls name, what do you think? Should I just go for it? Is it too popular or trendy? The name means so much to me but I don't want my (maybe) son to be upset he as a "girls" name. We have the name Parker James picked out (both family names) but we also like John and William, which are our dads names. I also like the name Callum a lot even though it as no family significance. If you were in my position, what would you do? Thanks so much!!!

zaramarie81 · August 2012

I don't think Parker is a girl's name at all!

kayjay10 · August 2012

I love the name Parker and your special meaning behind it. I think it is all boy and do not like it for a girl.

strawberrytree · August 2012

It kind of disgusts me that people are using Parker on a girl, to be honest (possible exceptions made for maiden names, but even then it's not remotely feminine). Especially if it's scaring off people like you, for whom it is a family name. I love the special meaning the name would hold for you. Yes, it's popular these days, but I think the fact that it's a family name for you and the conversation you had with your grandmother gives it a lot of weight, if that makes sense. I think Parker James is great.

queenbone · August 2012

I'd MN it.

I don't think it is a girl's name, my cousin named her son Parker. I mostly hear it on boys. But you seem like you are apprehensive about it so pick a name you love and honor your g-ma in the MN spot.

John Parker LN

William Parker LN

Callum Parker LN

James Parker LN

sesigs · August 2012

Oh, wow. Is Parker really getting popular as a girls name?! I would never think of it as a girls name and I love the personal meaning behind it for you. I wouldn't be too worried about it becoming a "girl" name but like PP said if you are apprehensive about it but still want to honor your grandmother definitely go with it as a mn!

HeyJune · August 2012

I love Parker (for a boy only). I don't think it sounds like a girls' name at all.

John and William are also nice, but they are both so common compared to Parker. William has been the number 1 name in my state for over 12 years now. Parker is one you don't hear very often. If I were you, I'd definitely choose it.

Parker = #79 nationally for boys (not popular or trendy) and #366 for girls (and I call this the "what were they thinking?" category since it is clearly a masculine name)

TripMomma · August 2012

I like Parker a lot more for a boy than a girl. I also like Parker better than Callum and John. I would go with Parker.

victoria+james · August 2012

I still feel like its a boys name and I'm not liking the baby girl with a boy name trend.
As a side note my husbands name is James but I've called him Jamie as a nn forever. He doesn't get made fun of and that's far more feminine than Parker.

karen_loy · August 2012

zaramarie81:
I don't think Parker is a girl's name at all!

ditto, go for it

Fink · August 2012

I am in the minority on this board since I like some boy's names on girls. However, Parker is a name that I would never ever consider using on a girl.

I love the flow of Parker James and of course, the meaning behind it! While I do think Parker is getting more popular, since it has a such a wonderful meaning to you, I would still use it and I don't care for using popular / trendy names.

sweetpea2003 · August 2012

Parker is totally a boy's name. Go for it!

You will find almost all boy names are hijacked by girls in some form or another. My son is Connor which I think is a solid boy name but at the high school I worked at when he was born, the only Connor in the entire school (1,500 students) was a girl. So.. meh... Just roll with it. There are just no guarantees!

Also, I know of more girls named James than Parker. So... take that fwiw.

MrsRKJ · August 2012

I hadn't heard that Parker was becoming a girl's name! But I love the significance. If you're unsure of using it as a first name, use as a middle name. All the other names you have picked out would make a great fn with Parker

LaurelBee · August 2012

I like the name and definitely think it's masculine! I also love the name Parker for MN, so I think you've got options

Callum Parker, James Parker, William Parker all sound great!

ancp27 · August 2012

Thank you ! I am feeling a little better about the name now. I do like the option as a middle name, I just have to get my husband on board because her is 100% in love with Parker James.

Sxia · August 2012

Not a girl's name at all. We would have named DD Griffin Parker if she were a boy.

km3 · August 2012

I also love Parker for a boy. For a while, that's what we were going to name this baby, but we couldn't get passed the -er end sound for his first and last name. I don't like Parker for a girl, and the only girl Parker I've ever heard of/known is Parker Posey.