Names that get negative responses?

hippiechick21 · August 2013

H and I have been looking at names and we love Dylan Madison for a girl. But we get negative responses such as "that's a boys name". I wanted some outside opinions. What do you think about "boy" names for girls?

kristen714 · August 2013

Our good friends have a Dylann. I will admit that at first i thought she was a boy but the name totally fits her. If you love it i say go for it.

le bebe xo · August 2013

I personally love them. Dylan is a killer girl name, my style. Fair warning, I am def in the minority on this board.
We are Team Green, but DD would be named Charlie (full name, not NN), and that overwhelmingly is a no-go round these parts lol. Bottom line, if you and DH find a name you love and agree on, just go with it! If the name means something to you, that is what counts. You can see by names mentioned here, everyone has a different taste.

==N== · August 2013

My feeling is that while certain boy names can be cute on girls, there are SO many boy names that have completely gone girl. And it's ok for a girl to have a boy name but not so much for a boy to have a girl name. IMO boy names are way harder. There just aren't as many good ones and it makes me sad that there's less and less because they get taken by the girls.

kmpls · August 2013

It's ok. This board does NOT like boy names for girls - FYI.

diamondduck13 · August 2013

Joy2611 said:
I think that's a straight up boy's name. Can I ask - what are trying to achieve by putting such an overtly masculine name on a girl? Remember that your child must live with your name choice for life. It must be well thought out and treated seriously. Purposefully choosing a gender bender name for your girl may please YOU but gives her a lifetime of eyerolls and troubles. Think on it more.

This

Scarlett&Gatsby · August 2013

Dylan is NMS for a girl (or a boy, frankly). Even boys' names that have "gone girl" get a bad reception on this board, so take it with a grain of salt.

I love lots of unisex/straight-up boys' names on girls. Dylan just isn't one of them for me, but I wouldn't side-eye it.

capulet · August 2013

Dylan is very popular as a boy name (#31 for boys in 2012) and Madison is a name with a masculine meaning that only in the last few decades started trending up massively for girls. The prevailing opinion on this board (including mine) is against boy names for girls, and usually people will suggest using an obviously feminine name if you insist on using a masculine FN for a girl so she'll have something to fall back on if she hates having a masculine name.

I, too, wonder what people are trying to accomplish when they give boy names to girls - since it's rare for people to give girl names to boys, which suggests that masculine traits are okay for girls but not vice versa - think about what message that gives to both girls and boys! Would you be happy if you had a boy name? Would your DH be happy if he had a girl name? Think through your feelings about gender and how you want your child to define herself and be defined (because names are as much about others' perception of you as they are whatever you intend) before you give her what many people will consider an overtly masculine name.

queenbone · August 2013

hippiechick21 said:

What do you think about "boy" names for girls?

I really dislike them. I assume that the parents think that a female name is less worthy than a male name. And it seldom goes the other way, girl name on a boy, because again people seem to be ashamed of feminine qualities, especially on boys.

WolFox · August 2013

I've heard Dylan as a girl name before. I agree that it's a sign of inherent sexism that as a culture we see boy names on girls but very rarely the other way around.

That being said, I don't really mind Dylan for girls. Just know that you're making that choice for her.

le bebe xo · August 2013

I also like Kelly, Ashley and Shanon for a boy. I think I am androgynous all the way around.
I do agree with PP, maybe a more feminine MN w Dylan, for balance

WashingtonQueen · August 2013

Dylan is a boy's name and I hate boy names on girls.

emnoahmom · August 2013

Joy2611 said:

I think that's a straight up boy's name. Can I ask - what are trying to achieve by putting such an overtly masculine name on a girl? Remember that your child must live with your name choice for life. It must be well thought out and treated seriously. Purposefully choosing a gender bender name for your girl may please YOU but gives her a lifetime of eyerolls and troubles. Think on it more.

g8trkim · August 2013

Dylan or Madison by themselves are unisex to me but when you put them together it seems to be an obvious boy. I think that's why you're getting negative responses. I feel like if you use Dylan you should really have a feminine name to balance it out.

emnoahmom · August 2013

I agree with all of this. I went to school with a girl named Ryan and she said she just wished her parents gave her a "girl" name. Every time her named was called by someone who didn't know her she'd get a look of surprise and sometimes comments. I also agree with a pp who commented that all these boys names are going to the girls. There are so many beautiful girl names to choose from, certainly there has to be something else you like:)

ETA: Still learning new format and obviously cannot quote yet.

BlueRidge8 · August 2013

Dislike

Manderlin923 · August 2013

Some are okay but most are nms at all. I can tolerate them a bit more if there is signifigance to the name (like it's a family name) and if there is a feminine middle name to balance it out. I don't care for the flow of Dylan Madison on top of everything else because it's too sing-songy.

Whyyes · August 2013

I like Dylan for a girl, this it should be paired with a more girlie name.

aeh72 · August 2013

I don't have a problem with unisex or more traditionally male names on girls - but then again, I have a unisex name. On paper,
people have thought I'm male. Annoying, sure. But has it been life altering? Absolutely not.

I do like the balance of a more feminine mn with these types of names, so since Madison is more unisex these days, I'd probably pick a different mn to go with Dylan.

CoIvie · August 2013

Boy name. The Madison part doesn't strike me as boyish but Dylan def does.
I don't like boy names on girls too much either. Especially super boyish ones like Dylan.

LtlAngL · August 2013

I'm also not a fan of male names on girls...I always imagine mail addressed to Mr. Dylan Lastname, and a wedding invitation that says "Dylan and Steve along with their families cordially invite you..."

I went to college with a male stripper named Dylan, so that is all boy to me, but I've never met a boy named Madison. If you agree on these names, how about Madison Dylan Lastname?

magsugar13 · August 2013

2 boy names on a girl, one isn't enough?

awful

quidditchcapn1120 · August 2013

Boy names on girls usually get strong negative responses on this board. One of our top girl names is Addison, and although we haven't changed our minds, the feedback from this board definitely gave me pause to think about it more.

Although Dylan is NMS for a boy or a girl, if you're going to go for it I would go with a more feminine MN.

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

I agree with pp. I don't like guy names on girls, only giving a break when it's somehow a family name.

I would rather have a name that is misspelled often but that I like/ or am proud of then have a name that I didn't like or made me feel bad about myself (which may or may not be the case but is possible).

MissyCee · August 2013

I agree, I really dislike boy names on girls. I don't even care for Dylan in general much less a girl.

Knelson84 · August 2013

I'm in the minority here but I think if you like a name, use it. Why should Dylan be just a boy name? The same as boys rooms must be blue, girls must be pink. Blah blah Blah... I think Dylan is lovely, so is Ryan on a girl IMO. The kid will grow up with this name and if people are eye rolling at her, well in my opinion these people are way too judgemental, should get a life and if they are going to be so judgemental, you don't want them in your or your kids life anyway. I would never eye roll or judge any one based on their name. As long as you don't name her 7even or orange jello, I think you are fine lol

MississippiCatfish · August 2013

I like it. I mean, it's Dylan. Not the first time I've heard it for a girl. It's not like you're naming her Kevin or Steve.

Strunella · August 2013

Not a fan of boys' names on girls. I also think that Dylan is dated. Can't get past 90210.

Marsee · August 2013

hippiechick21 said:

. . . we get negative responses such as "that's a boys name". . .

That is not an example of a negative response. It's just a fact. Dylan is a boy's name. Nothing negative about it.

An example of a negative response would be "That's a boy name and you're an idiot for even bringing it up".

So many people here think people on this board are mean or negative. 95% of the time they are stating facts and not being negative at all. Not sure why people are confused by that.

ETA: OP, I've heard horror stories about 18 year-old women having to go to court to prove they're not males when the government hounds them to make them sign up for Selective Service. Just something to keep in mind when putting a boy name on your girl.

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

Knelson84 said:
I'm in the minority here but I think if you like a name, use it. Why should Dylan be just a boy name? The same as boys rooms must be blue, girls must be pink. Blah blah Blah... I think Dylan is lovely, so is Ryan on a girl IMO. The kid will grow up with this name and if people are eye rolling at her, well in my opinion these people are way too judgemental, should get a life and if they are going to be so judgemental, you don't want them in your or your kids life anyway. I would never eye roll or judge any one based on their name. As long as you don't name her 7even or orange jello, I think you are fine lol

I see what you are saying and agree to a point. I agree that if you love a name you love a name and I am personally pretty open about names, but I like the more unique or uncommon names.

At the same time stereotypes exist for a reason. I was hoping my DD would be a Tom boy like me, DH asked to get most of her things like car seat and stroller green so it was gender neutral. She is obsessed with pink and loves to play dress up. (It is super cute I must admit) Now that isn't a great example but you can see where I am going hopefully.

Names are something that are with you forever. I don't go crazy thinking of all the ways a name can be twisted for kids to tease, because if someone wants to tease the child they will. But you should consider the child and how blatantly giving them a boys name could do. You may feel names should be unisex but the majority of others don't and the child will have to live with that.

You brought up a good point though.

annieravensfan528 · August 2013

I personally despise the trend.

rockopera · August 2013

Marsee said:

hippiechick21 said:

. . . we get negative responses such as "that's a boys name". . .

That is not an example of a negative response. It's just a fact. Dylan is a boy's name. Nothing negative about it.

An example of a negative response would be "That's a boy name and you're an idiot for even bringing it up".

So many people here think people on this board are mean or negative. 95% of the time they are stating facts and not being negative at all. Not sure why people are confused by that.

ETA: OP, I've heard horror stories about 18 year-old women having to go to court to prove they're not males when the government hounds them to make them sign up for Selective Service. Just something to keep in mind when putting a boy name on your girl.

I didn't have to go to court, but I did have to send a copy of my birth certificate in. I have a masculine first name and a feminine middle name.

I hate boys names on girls.

diamondduck13 · August 2013

rockopera said:

Marsee said:

hippiechick21 said:

I have a masculine first name and a feminine middle name.

I hate boys names on girls.

I have a unisex name and also do not like boy names on girls. Because of my personal experience, i would not put a boy name on my girl or a girl name on my boy, or use any of the names that are unisex.

I'm starting to wonder how many who stand by boys names on girls have a boy/androgynous name themselves vs a girl name. And if the latter they may want to give thought to comments like the PP and my own, and talk to friends IRL who grew up with a boy/androgynous name to learn from others experience because otherwise they cannot fully empathize with the lifetime choice they are making for their child

ETA: DOh, lost the quote text from rock opera that she has a masculine FN, feminine MN, and hates boy names on girls

Scarlett&Gatsby · August 2013

While I think there are lots of good points being made, can we PLEASE drop the, "she might hate it" argument? That applies to literally every name. Seraphina? It's ultra-frilly and she might hate that. Isabella? It's way popular and she might hate that. Anne? It's boring and she might hate that. Clementine? It's unusual and she might hate that. It's a stupid damn argument. So e women like having androgynous names, some hate it, some are ambivalent. As with EVERY other name,

Weljadraak · August 2013

No boy names for girls. No...no no no no NO.

It makes it harder for those of us that are actually having boys.

aeh72 · August 2013

Responding to a couple things here:

First off - "can we PLEASE drop the, "she might hate it" argument? That applies to literally every name."

I totally agree! Depending on your child, she may love having a unisex name and be happy she does not have an ultra feminine name, or she may feel the opposite.

Secondly - "I have a unisex name and also do not like boy names on girls. Because of my personal experience, i would not put a boy name on my girl or a girl name on my boy, or use any of the names that are unisex.

I'm starting to wonder how many who stand by boys names on girls have a boy/androgynous name themselves vs a girl name. "

I have a unisex name and I would use a unisex name for my child, even, as a mentioned in my earlier post, with my own experience of having people think I am male when they see my name on paper. It did/does not have any significant effect on my life. There are unisex names I like for girls and there are ultra feminine names I like. I like what I like. Interestingly, and perhaps relevant to this general discussion - my name is also spelled in an nontraditional way (not "yooneek"; it's a legit spelling not seen often in the U.S.) and that has been more of an annoyance to me than having a unisex name and for that reason, I would not give my child an atypical name spelling. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we all come to our naming style/tastes based on our personal expriences and hopefully, when we come to a name, we've chosen one that will not saddle our child with a lifetime of trouble. IMO and experience, boy names on girls and unisex names don't fall into that category. I understand and respect that others may feel differently about that.

ETA - correcting word use

stahlop · August 2013

Dylan is a boys name. Just because Hollywood has decided to give it to female characters (Drew Barrymore in Charlie's Angels is where I heard it first) doesn't mean it's a girls name or even unisex. In the movies or tv they didn't have to grow up with the name. Leave the boys names to the boys.

GibsonGirl620 · August 2013

Weljadraak said:
No boy names for girls. No...no no no no NO.
It makes it harder for those of us that are actually having boys.

This made me laugh because it is so true. Why should I have to worry if Parker or Easton are masculine enough for my son? Crazy.

Yogakitten · August 2013

I like Dylan for a girl, but it's a bit more unusual than other unisex names. I know several female Ryans and I love the name for a girl.

zaramarie81 · August 2013

It really is a boy's name. I personally don't like boy names on girls. Unisex names are fine, but culturally I find a boy name on a girl awkward. Case in point: I recently had to make a work-related call to a person named Blake. Nobody told me Blake was a woman so I naturally expected a guy. It took a few emails and then finally that call for to realize that all that time I was working with a woman. And when I initially called her and she answered I almost made a fool of myself trying to get the "real" Blake on the phone and stifling surprise when I realized the error. In short, boy names on girls confuse basic social cues. I am sure all ladies with boy names get tired of correcting. (Hec, my son has a boy name and we dress him in blue and people still mistaken him for a girl sometimes. It's annoying/awkward when it happens, and I wouldn't want to multiply those incidents.

zaramarie81 · August 2013

It's not even about stereotyping and judging. It's about social cues. If the OP wants to set herself and her daughter up for a lifetime of hassles and corrections, then go for it.

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