Emerson

nolagal79 · August 2013

I know this is been discussed before but I can't find the thread for the life of me...

Emerson - girl or boy?

We are team pink and Emerson is in the lead for our name. It's a strong name with lots of cute nick names - Emmi, Em, Etc. I have looked up the name and aware of the meaning "son of emery" and I looked further into the meaning of emery and came to the meaning of strength and home. So not bad in my book. I've also heard the argument that it's a boys name because it ends in -son. Well so does Allison, Madison, and Addison and plenty of girls have those names. Besides - Mallory was a name on our list and the meaning of that name is "bad luck" so no thanks lol.

Discuss

WashingtonQueen · August 2013

Boy, period.

nolagal79 · August 2013

Sorry for the misspellings - tried to edit but it wouldn't let me? Said something about 1 month?

aeh72 · August 2013

Prepare yourself - you're about to hear very strong opinions on this name! :-)

That said, I fall into the camp that thinks of it as more of a unisex name these days (even though it has male origins) with my preference leaning towards using it for a girl.

nolagal79 · August 2013

aeh72 said:
Prepare yourself - you're about to hear very strong opinions on this name! :-)

That said, I fall into the camp that thinks of it as more of a unisex name these days (even though it has male origins) with my preference leaning towards using it for a girl.

Thanks for the warning! I expect strong reactions and that's fine. I like to hear why people dislike the name as a girls name. To each his own - I'm just curious to hear different opinions.

NerdyLucy · August 2013

Boy.

It was my late great-uncle's name, so for me, it's a very masculine name, no matter how many times I see it on a girl, kind of like seeing a little girl named Richard.

BlueRidge8 · August 2013

Aside from the fact that it's a boy name, it's also a trendy one right now.

drunkindonuts · August 2013

Boy name.
Even if it were a girl name, I still don't like it

nolagal79 · August 2013

Joy2611 said:
Emerson is a boy's name. It literally means "son of Emery." Will your daughter be a son? Just think about it for a moment.
Addison means "son of Adam." Same deal. Just because people put it on girls doesn't change the fact that it's an inherently male name.
Alison grew from the name Alice. It is the one exception to -son ending names.
I cringe that you're calling Emerson strong. Are only male names strong? There are thousands of strong female names out there. You don't need to steal from the other sex to give your daughter a strong name.

Thanks for your input. I don't debate the fact there are strong female names, I'm just staying that Emerson is also strong. And I don't consider it "stealing" a name. I have a friend with an aunt named Kevin - a traditionally male name, but it totally works for her.

I know two Emerson's IRL and they are both girls and both very independent, head strong individuals just as I envision our little girl to be.

StickyBaby · August 2013

If you love the nicknames Emmi and Em, have you considered the name Emmeline?

Scarlett&Gatsby · August 2013

Yeah, you're gonna get zero love for this as a girls' name, and don't try to argue etymology with name nerds. In the words if John Goodman, "YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, DONNY!" That said, I like Emerson on a girl. I just think you should own it. It's a boy's name on a girl. That's not a war crime, but that IS what it is. It's getting popular for girls, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a boy's name. Still a great choice, IMO, though I'm in the minority around here.

jdllace · August 2013

I love it as a girls name

nolagal79 · August 2013

FFwifey said:
I love Emerson for a girl, it's top on our list. I've never met a male Emerson and only one female so I don't see it being popular here... yet. Go with it if you love it!

I should've been specific - the two Emerson's I know are both around age 10 so I don't feel as if its trendy here either!

Helenahhandbasket · August 2013

Boy, but it's sadly going to the girls.

diamondduck13 · August 2013

I went seeking a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, to add new flavor to this conversation - there were several potential options, I'm starting with this one:

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment"

Not saying you're trying to make your girl a boy, just saying my style is that I like girls names for girls, to let girls be girls. But truth be told, Emerson seems so popular - at least with the number of people considering it on the Bump - that I'm getting to where my feelings are no, just no, for either gender, let's go for something that doesn't feel like everyone else is considering it. To quote Emerson again,

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

But please, spell it correctly while you leave that trail where there was no path.

Scarlett&Gatsby · August 2013

diamondduck13 said:

I went seeking a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, to add new flavor to this conversation - there were several potential options, I'm starting with this one:

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment"

Not saying you're trying to make your girl a boy, just saying my style is that I like girls names for girls, to let girls be girls. But truth be told, Emerson seems so popular - at least with the number of people considering it on the Bump - that I'm getting to where my feelings are no, just no, for either gender, let's go for something that doesn't feel like everyone else is considering it. To quote Emerson again,

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

But please, spell it correctly while you leave that trail where there was no path.

I'm sorry, but I have to be the guy who points out that Ralph Waldo Emerson's sexuality is kind of ambiguous and up for debate among scholars. Oh, the irony...

diamondduck13 · August 2013

Scarlett&Gatsby said:

diamondduck13 said:

I went seeking a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, to add new flavor to this conversation - there were several potential options, I'm starting with this one:

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment"

Not saying you're trying to make your girl a boy, just saying my style is that I like girls names for girls, to let girls be girls. But truth be told, Emerson seems so popular - at least with the number of people considering it on the Bump - that I'm getting to where my feelings are no, just no, for either gender, let's go for something that doesn't feel like everyone else is considering it. To quote Emerson again,

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

But please, spell it correctly while you leave that trail where there was no path.

I'm sorry, but I have to be the guy who points out that Ralph Waldo Emerson's sexuality is kind of ambiguous and up for debate among scholars. Oh, the irony...

You're absolutely right, and it is ironic. I just, again, wanted to try to bring something fresh to the question! If nothing else, stop and remember the biggest association I at least have with the name. Or used to before it became a trendy first name.

marthaler · August 2013

Love Emerson for a girl! Our daughter is now a couple days late, but when she does finally arrive she'll be Emerson Mae.

magsugar13 · August 2013

Its a boy name, it will always be a boys name no matter how many girls you know with that name.

Barbercharm · August 2013

It's a boy name. (We know 1 Emerson and he's a 10 year old boy..) I agree with PP, it is a boy's name on a girl. As long as you're okay with it, go for it.. It's not the worst name a girl could have. Our son's name is a boy name yet it has started being used on girls as the new "in" thing. I still see it as a boy's name.

provwife · August 2013

neither. its a last name.

amsat · August 2013

I like it for a girl.

It is a boy's name, it is a last name, but I still like it.

MrsSparklesMcGee · August 2013

It wasn't so trendy when we decided to use this (family) name two years ago for our daughter. I know it doesn't get a lot of love here, but I absolutely love it for our girl and it fits her to a T.

And, honestly, I don't really care about the meaning, I care about the way it sounds and it sounds like a girl's name to me. Not everyone has to agree; it would be a pretty boring place if everyone agreed on the same list of "accepted" names. The end.

Manderlin923 · August 2013

I just don't think it sounds pleasant at all. Emer, reminds me of Elmer. Don't like it at all, for either sex.

mrstengallonhat1 · August 2013

I know this is a boy's name, but I think girl when I hear it...

boggs507 · August 2013

I've only seen this name used once and it was on a 5 y/o girl. I don't see the issue with it being used for a girl, but I'm in the minority on this board.

MissJenna2011 · August 2013

I like it, but then again I like different names... I'd use it for either, but I'm also that terrible person that likes it spelled with a Y for a girl & nickname her Emmi. But I also think of names like Annistyn, Everleigh, Ellianna ..ect when I hear it. There's always going to be someone that doesn't like name no matter how simple or traditional it may be!

aeh72 · August 2013

mummyofsix said:

Here on this board? Boy. The BNB is anti-Emerson the same way Parenting is pro-1D. Its their theme song.

This cracked me up! Even my husband - who has zero interest in hearing about anything I read on TB - gets a huge kick out of all the Emerson posts and how strongly people feel about this name (Emerson likely would have been DS's name if he'd been a girl). I used to get all hot under the collar and feel really defensive about it being okay to use for a girl but there are so many posts on this name, it, now, just makes me laugh every time I see one because I know what is about to unfold!

NerdyLucy · August 2013

mummyofsix said:

In the real world whether this board likes it or not? Girl.

....and boy. There are still boys being named Emerson.

Actually, I've yet to meet a single real life female Emerson. I've only heard of them on here and I think Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewife) named her daughter that.

All of the people I've met or know named Emerson are male. It's not only a girl name in the real world.

oneblessedmess · August 2013

I find Emerson to be pretty masculine. There are plenty of "strong" girl names out there.

ashtonblair123 · August 2013

My daughter is Emersyn (husband wanted the y, it was our compromise) I love Emerson for either. My name is Ashton which is technically a boys name as well. Most people here will not agree with me though. I do get lots of compliments on her name though.

Jeveritt11 · August 2013

I love Emerson for a girl. I hate that it's becoming trendy, but I've liked that name for years.

CitrusSwallowtail · August 2013

Love it. You are not going to get lots of votes for it on this board, but I absolutely adore it. If you and your DH like it, use it and don't worry about what others think.

CitrusSwallowtail · August 2013

Joy2611 said:
Emerson is a boy's name. It literally means "son of Emery." Will your daughter be a son? Just think about it for a moment.
Addison means "son of Adam." Same deal. Just because people put it on girls doesn't change the fact that it's an inherently male name.
Alison grew from the name Alice. It is the one exception to -son ending names.
I cringe that you're calling Emerson strong. Are only male names strong? There are thousands of strong female names out there. You don't need to steal from the other sex to give your daughter a strong name.

Oh please. The OP did not say that only male names can be strong. She simply stated she thought Emerson was a strong name for a girl. It's all opinion. Stop reading between the lines.

Jmccabe12210 · August 2013

I've never looked at the meaning of the name and don't know anyone with the name. My first thought was girl when I heard the name. And I like it.

Belle3184 · August 2013

Traditionally, yes, it's a boy's name. My daughter is emerie, and it too is traditionally a boy's name. However, I will say that every baby I know with these names is a girl. Does that make it a girl's name? No, it doesn't. It is something to think about though.

Obviously, I am a big fan of Emerson and emery. I'm not sure about Emerson, but I know that last year there were more female babies with the name emery than male babies.

BC&LM · August 2013

Emerson is a last name, not a first name. But if you insist on using it as a first name, use it for a boy, not a girl. It is very masculine sounding.

lovemyboyyss · August 2013

I love Emerson for a girl.

macska3 · August 2013

Emerson is all boy to me.

Suggestions for a "strong" girl name:

Alexandra nn Alex (means Defender of the People)

Megan

Robin

Shea

Katherine nn Kit

Regina

Veronica

Josephine nn Jo

Raven

Diane/Diana

Elsa1984 · August 2013

I know five Emerson's....all girls.

I know there are some that focus on the meaning of a name, but there are also a lot if people that don't give a rats arse about the meaning. I am the type that focuses on if I like the name, if it flows with the mn/ln, etc. I probably couldn't even tell you what my daughters fn/mn mean...and really I don't care either. In the 29 years I have been on this planet, not once did the topic of the meaning of my own name come up, and not once did I introduce myself as "hi my name is X, it means XYZ!"

mbhalla33 · August 2013

My best friend named her daughter that but she spells it Emersyn so that its a bit more feminine. I think it's a great name for either boy or girl.

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