Emerson?

marthaler · February 2013

Hi all! Recently found out we are having a little girl. :. The name that currently is tops on our list is Emerson, middle name Rae. Nickname would be Emmy. Thoughts??

Emmakins87 · February 2013

Its my nieces name

Zimger · February 2013

mj.reilly:

I would assume Emerson Rae/Ray was a boy. Actually, I would assume any Emerson ("son of Emery") was a boy until told otherwise.

I like it for a boy, though it is not my style. I really hate it on a girl, but I also really dislike boy names on girls.

What about Emmeline Rae?

I agree with mj. I don't care for Emerson in general but think it is particularly bad for a girl.

PinkLillyLover · February 2013

I don't care for it at all. I much prefer Emmeline.

AEN1029 · February 2013

I, too, think of Emerson as a boy's name. DH and I are leaning toward Emma for this baby and A front runner for us is Emilia nn Emmi.

nykkybaby · February 2013

I think Emerson Rae is cute.

Mrs.G123 · February 2013

I just hate this as a girl's name and fail to see any appeal.

Lue94 · February 2013

Another boy name on a girl. Why???

Bliss312 · February 2013

I mean no offense, but Emerson is the brand of microwave I have, and for this reason I cannot picture it as a child's name, boy or girl. Emmy is cute though...

kathleen02 · February 2013

Mrs.G123:
I just hate this as a girl's name and fail to see any appeal.

This.

kendra223 · March 2013

I have a NEPHEW who is 9 years old named Emerson. Poor boy. I always thought it was a masculine name... but then girls took it over. I don't like it on a girl and I cringe when boy names get turned into girls names. I would especially cringe it if it were spelt "Emersyn"

sept9107bride · March 2013

MamaCBear:
For some reason, I've always really liked this name for a girl even though it goes against all my naming rules. I think Emerson Rae sounds nice.

This exactly. I'm very traditional with my name trends but for whatever reason I love this name for a girl. If it had a better meaning son of Emery I'd consider it. I love that it's a strong Em name with nn Emme. But due to the name origin I'd never use it on a girl.

MrserinJ · March 2013

This is my niece's name. Except they are "those" type of parents who wanted a "unique" spelling and spelled it "Emersyn". I really don't like it as I'm partial to traditional, classic names. Howver, she is my niece and I love her her, so I can't picture her with any other name. Her mn is Ella.

I just think Emerson is a boy name and not my style at all. But every one is different, so if you love it, then use it!

CelticWife · March 2013

I prefer it on a boy. It just sounds masculine to me.

My cousin named his four year old daughter this, after our grandfather. I just can't get on board with it. Our family calls her Emmy.

FakeFinn · March 2013

mj.reilly:
I would assume Emerson Rae/Ray was a boy. Actually, I would assume any Emerson ("son of Emery") was a boy until told otherwise.

My thoughts as well.

KatFCo · March 2013

It may be a name girls have nowadays, but it's still a boy name.

Cranang · March 2013

It's an awful name for a girl...truly.

VTFutureMrs · March 2013

I like it for a girl. I actually think it sounds way too feminine to give to a boy these days. Like naming a boy Stacey/Stacy (I would just feel bad for the kid).

BlueRidge8 · March 2013

Is Rae a family name? I've never understood, unless it is, the appeal of this as a middle name.

BeeWCA · March 2013

I like Emerson as a boy's name, I had never thought of it as a girl's. It doesn't seem very feminine, but then again I always thought it was cute when girls had boy's nicknames, such as Charlie for Charlene.

The thing about the "son" names (Johnson, Paulson, etc), is that they mean "son of ___". My family is Scandinavian, and before they came to the US the last name would change with each generation. If you were John's son, your last name would be Johnson. If you were John's daughter, your last name would be Johnsdotter.

marthaler · March 2013

mummyofsix:
I have a daughter named Emerson. We went with an ultra feminine middle name, but thats just because its mine and we always do family middle names. I personally dont like Emerson Rae, but thats JMO.nbsp;This board hates Emerson for a girl. But, its used far more for girls now. I dont think it was when we used it, but I am not big on names being used for only one gender, AND I also dont think that the biggest insult you can give a boy is a name that a girl also has. :nbsp;I will say that in almost 7 years, she has never once been mistaken for a boy. And she is a frilly, pink, glittery princessy girl so it hasnt affected her femininity either. Oh, and we desperately wanted a girl, and we dont hate her for being a girl. Just in case those reasons come up later in the thread.nbsp;nbsp;

If you don't mind my asking, what middle name did you use? I'm on the fence with Rae anyways, so a more girly middle name is sounding better to me...

capulet · March 2013

mummyofsix:
I have a daughter named Emerson. We went with an ultra feminine middle name, but thats just because its mine and we always do family middle names. I personally dont like Emerson Rae, but thats JMO.
This board hates Emerson for a girl. But, its used far more for girls now. I dont think it was when we used it, but I am not big on names being used for only one gender, AND I also dont think that the biggest insult you can give a boy is a name that a girl also has.

Okay, let me ask you a question, then: would you be equally comfortable giving a boy a girl name? Do you believe this so strongly that you've named a son a traditionally female name? Because let's be frank, this is a road that usually only goes one way. I see lots of girls with boy names; I certainly don't see a lot of the same parents naming their sons Jennifer or whatever because they believe what you said so sincerely they actually act on it.

danabsd · March 2013

NMS, don't hate it.

aeh72 · March 2013

Emerson was the topic of hot debate in our house when we were deciding on a name for DS. Ralph Waldo Emerson is my husband's favorite author so we thought it would be nice to use Emerson in some way. We generally don't have a problem with traditionally masculine names for girls (my own name falls into that category) and if DS had been a girl, her name would very likely have been Emerson Louise. But, when we found out we were having a boy - even though we know it's a traditionally masculine name - we couldn't pull the trigger on using it for our son. Two things kept nagging at us - how more and more parents are giving the name to their daughters (recognizing that we, too, were potentially in that camp) and we couldn't see a nickname for DS other than Em/Emmy (we wanted a name that could have a nn) and we did not want him to have to deal with him getting called a traditionally female nickname. Maybe that's not a very progressive way of thinking, but that's what kept us from using it for our son.

So, all this is to say, I think some names may have legitimate male origins but become names that over time are given more and more to girls. Emerson seems to have fallen into this category in recent years. People will have varying opinions on how they feel about this - just as they varying opinions on many other names.

So, OP - to answer your direct question. I like Emerson, and while Rae is not my favorite, I think it pairs nicely with Emerson. When I see Rae spelled with an "e," I tend to think of that as more feminine than when it is spelled with a "y."

CeCe8579 · March 2013

mj.reilly:
I would assume Emerson Rae/Ray was a boy. Actually, I would assume any Emerson "son of Emery" was a boy until told otherwise.I like it for a boy, though it is not my style. I really hate it on a girl, but I also really dislike boy names on girls.What about oEmmeline Rae?nbsp;

This 100!

marthaler · March 2013

Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

mrsebright · March 2013

As a mother who has a son named Emerson I don't love it - However, if you are set on it I'm in the camp that says it needs a more feminine middle name.

This name is pretty unisex at this point (I believe it is in the low 300s in popularity for a boy, high 200s for girls) so a clear, gendered middle name helps.

Maybe Emerson Claire, Emerson Jane, Emerson Violet? If you like Rae, even just changing it to Emerson Mae could be nice.

On a separate note, for those who don't know what to nn a male Emerson, our son's nickname is Emmo (pronounced M - O).

oliversmom03 · March 2013

NMS

knitsandgiggles · March 2013

I like the name, but it seems like a boy's name to me. She'd have some cute nns!

capulet · March 2013

mummyofsix:
capulet:
Okay, let me ask you a question, then: would you be equally comfortable giving a boy a girl name? Do you believe this so strongly that you've named a son a traditionally female name? Because let's be frank, this is a road that usually only goes one way. I see lots of girls with boy names; I certainly don't see a lot of the same parents naming their sons Jennifer or whatever because they believe what you said so sincerely they actually act on it.
Actually, bad news for you and this argument: I DID give one of my sons a name that is predominantly female. So, yeah. Actually, my oldest son has a name that could also be construed as feminine as well. And, I dont think it has or will change their masculinity, boyness, lives, or anything else. And, I also was desperate for them both to be boys, am glad they are boys, blah blah blah.
Trust me, I get that a lot of people here are super conservative about (their version) of gender allocation of names. Thats fine. Im just not. I dont see it as a reflection of who they are or their perceived identity as a girl/ boy or woman/ man. And, I just honestly wouldnt (and dont) care if I met 1000 boys named Emerson, or boys named Jennifer or girls with my sons names (this has happened....) or whatever. It doesnt change anything for me or them or why we gave them the names we did.
What I DO have an issue with, is when a person asks for opinions and people respond with stuff that isnt true. No, not "everyone" will think your daughter Emerson is a boy. No, using a name that used to more common for boys than girls does not mean you only wanted a boy or that you wanted to make your daughter more masculine. Nor will it (so far) affect her love of ponies and glitter. And, it drives me crazy that so many people think that the biggest insult we could ever give a boy is to name him a name that might be girly or worse have him mistaken for a girl. Some poster replied "My poor poor nephew is named Emerson" in regards to having girls named Emerson too. How sad that they feel that way- that his awesome name (because its awesome for boys too) is now worthy of pity or shame because a GIRL has it as well.

Well, it's not bad news for me if you're being honest, and certainly you've thought this through, so thank you for your answer. I will just say, based on my observations, that there do not appear to be many people who are as equitable about this as you are. In general it seems like masculine names as well as traits are desirable for girls but not vice versa, and I worry about the message that sends both boys and girls. My challenge to anyone who would give their daughter a traditionally boy name is to do so only if they would as willingly give their son a traditionally girl name. Obviously you would. So that's cool.

ETA: I don't think the poster who mentioned her nephew meant that having a girl name was an insult. I would say that, given our culture's inequities as I've described, other people could make life very difficult for an adolescent boy who has a girl name, and being a boy at that age is already difficult enough. Girls can be tomboys all they want, but heaven help the teenage boy who's girly. We talk all the time on this board about how names can be twisted into grounds for teasing. Teasing is never fair. But it's a reality. The name in itself is not worthy of pity, but if he's teased because of his name, that can be a real issue.

BlueRidge8 · March 2013

marthaler:
Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

Just wanted to point out that I have the same issue with Addison and Madison, and also that they are surnames and one is a disease.

sweetpea2003 · March 2013

I don't mind Emerson on a girl (it is nms, but it doesn't bother me the way it bothers a lot of people on this board), but I would not use Rae/Ray in the middle. I would pick a very feminine middle name so that people know that she is actually a she

.

marthaler · March 2013

Joy2611:
marthaler:

Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

Alison grew from the name Alice. It has never been masculine.

EDIT: And yes, I do question Madison and Addison on girls. They are male names. I literally can't wrap my head around the idea of putting a name that means "male" on a little girl.

You are going to find different origins of names wherever you look. For example -

"Alison meaning and name origin

Alison a-li-son as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Alison), is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Alison is "son of the noble". More common as a girl's name, in spite of the -son ending."

No need to keep debating the issue, but I'm just pointing out that the logic for Alison being an acceptable girl's name is so different from that of using Emerson.

Zimger · March 2013

marthaler:
Joy2611:
marthaler:

Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

Alison grew from the name Alice. It has never been masculine.

EDIT: And yes, I do question Madison and Addison on girls. They are male names. I literally can't wrap my head around the idea of putting a name that means "male" on a little girl.

You are going to find different origins of names wherever you look. For example -

"Alison meaning and name origin

Alison a-li-son as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Alison), is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Alison is "son of the noble". More common as a girl's name, in spite of the -son ending."

No need to keep debating the issue, but I'm just pointing out that the logic for Alison being an acceptable girl's name is so different from that of using Emerson.

Yes, but not all sites have correct information when it comes to the origin of a name. Just something to think about.

marthaler · March 2013

Zimger:
marthaler:
Joy2611:
marthaler:

Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

Alison grew from the name Alice. It has never been masculine.

EDIT: And yes, I do question Madison and Addison on girls. They are male names. I literally can't wrap my head around the idea of putting a name that means "male" on a little girl.

You are going to find different origins of names wherever you look. For example -

"Alison meaning and name origin

Alison a-li-son as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Alison), is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Alison is "son of the noble". More common as a girl's name, in spite of the -son ending."

No need to keep debating the issue, but I'm just pointing out that the logic for Alison being an acceptable girl's name is so different from that of using Emerson.

Yes, but not all sites have correct information when it comes to the origin of a name. Just something to think about.

Which is exactly my point and what I said - you are going to get different origins on names on different sites.

jennyshawn0808 · March 2013

I used to watch an Emma at daycare. I liked her name, thinking Emma was her given name. I was disappointed when I found out it was Emerson & that was 6 or 7 years ago. It still hasn't grown on me at all. I llike PP suggestion of Emmeline

Zimger · March 2013

marthaler:
Zimger:
marthaler:
Joy2611:
marthaler:

Wow - lots of opinions on Emerson! I do appreciated everyone's input, so thank you.

Just a thought - I think the reasoning that it means "son of Emery" for it being a boy's name is kind of meaningless really. If you look, Allison originated as "son of Alice" as well, and that's traditionally a girl's name that no one tends to question. Same with Addison, Madison, etc.

Seems like Emerson is just one of those names that you either like, or you don't, since it's not very traditional. I still do! Thanks again!

Alison grew from the name Alice. It has never been masculine.

EDIT: And yes, I do question Madison and Addison on girls. They are male names. I literally can't wrap my head around the idea of putting a name that means "male" on a little girl.

You are going to find different origins of names wherever you look. For example -

"Alison meaning and name origin

Alison a-li-son as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Alison), is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Alison is "son of the noble". More common as a girl's name, in spite of the -son ending."

No need to keep debating the issue, but I'm just pointing out that the logic for Alison being an acceptable girl's name is so different from that of using Emerson.

Yes, but not all sites have correct information when it comes to the origin of a name. Just something to think about.

Which is exactly my point and what I said - you are going to get different origins on names on different sites.

Actually my point was that you might want to do a little more research into the site(s) that you are using to back up your argument. They may very well be wrong. I prefer a more researched approach...but that's just me.

marthaler · March 2013

Which is exactly what can be said for saying that Alison grew out of Alice. I don't understand why the origin of that one is seemingly correct but the origin on the one I pointed out potentially isn't. As I'm sure you've noticed, many comments here have pointed out that names ending in "-son" mean "son of." No one had an issue with the veracity of those comments, yet when I point out a traditional girl's name ending in "son" with the same origin I'm the one who needs to do more research?

And I prefer logic that actually makes sense....but that's just me.

mrsjenni · March 2013

We were team green with baby #3, but if we had a girl, her name would have been Emerson Mae. Mae is a family name and I think it sounded lovely with Emerson, which isn't as feminine sounding (which is exactly why I loved it.) If you like the name, go for it. There are a lot of popular girls names that end in -son. NBD.

Everyusernameistaken · March 2013

I like it. All the Emersons I know are girls.

If you're worried it's too masculine, how about a realy feminine MN like Emerson Rose or Emerson Jane?

alohamora · March 2013

I don't like Emerson for a boy or a girl.

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