Avery May

aliciac2008 · January 2015

Do you like that for a first and middle name? I like it, but it does remind me of a southern belle. I think it's cute, but my husband isn't the biggest fan because of that reason (we live and have always lived in Oregon). Everyone I talk to says they love it, but I'm not sure if they're just telling me that to make me happy. Tell me straight, what do you ladies think?

aliciac2008 · January 2015

I know it was originally a boys name. I have only ever known girls named Avery, so I have only ever associated it with a girl.

kassy66 · January 2015

I don't really like it, on boys or girls. No idea why. I love May or Mae as a middle name though.

==N== · January 2015

May is nice. Don't like Avery on a girl at all.

moret07 · January 2015

I never knew anyone named Avery and my cousin wanted to name her daughter Averi and the first thing I thought was "isn't that a boy name?" I still hate it in a girl. It's all boy. I'm not even in love with it for a boy either.

aliciac2008 · January 2015

To each their own I guess. I was looking at a list of top baby names and Avery was on the top 10 for girls, and I don't believe I saw it in the top 100 for boys (I could be wrong though). It seems like the general attitude might be changing and it's becoming more of a girls name. It seems that way to me at least. Thanks for the input though, I will definitely be thinking about it.

Koalaknuckles · January 2015

Avery is such a popular name choice lately, and I don't understand the appeal.

I like May as a middle name though, I think it's pretty.

kassy66 · January 2015

Some people here don't believe in the names-changing-gender thing, even though it seems to have happened constantly throughout history. They have strong opinions on this.

Avery being in the top 10 for girls would make me worried that she would end up with a bunch of other people with the same name. I prefer more uncommon names for that reason.

aliciac2008 · January 2015

I never said I didn't want to hear a people saying it was a boys name. I understand a lot of people think that and I respect that. I think if it as a girls name and was stating my opinion as to why I disagree. I do appreciate so many people telling me they don't like it on a girl, and like I previously said, I will be thinking about that going forward. I sincerely appreciate the advice.

slcwilliams · January 2015

I wouldn't say that Avery is just a boy name. I have heard some pretty masculine names used for girls that are worse than Avery. I do think that the name is very southern ,which is not a bad thing. I really like May as a kindle name.

slcwilliams · January 2015

middle*

slcwilliams · January 2015

dreadpiratebuttercup said:

slcwilliams said:
I wouldn't say that Avery is just a boy name. I have heard some pretty masculine names used for girls that are worse than Avery. I do think that the name is very southern ,which is not a bad thing. I really like May as a kindle name.
We never said that there weren't other masculine names used for girls; in fact, there are quite a lot. And we will decry those as well

You might not say Avery is just a boy name, but history, linguistics, and etymology does.

I was just giving an opinion. Don't want her to think if she absolutely loves the name Avery, she shouldn't name her daughter that.

magsugar13 · January 2015

Avery is ugly on a boy or girl, but especially on a girl, you know since it is a boys name.

BananaLettuce · January 2015

I think Ava Mae or Maeve (1000x better!) are much prettier than Avery. It just isn't attractive on a girl.

DaisyZH · January 2015

I really don't like Avery but I do like May.

aliciac2008 · January 2015

Ooo, I really like Ava! I'm worried that it will always remind me of Avery though since I was so set on that for so long. Any other suggestions along those lines are appreciated if you guys feel like it.

melco19 · January 2015

I like it. I think it flows well

SunshinyLees · January 2015

I have never heard of Avery being a boys name. I think it's a really pretty name, I know a few baby girls named Avery where I live;)

Sassenach1743 · January 2015

Either way you think of it (boy or girl) Avery May doesn't sound good at all. I think you can do much better.

Ava and Maeve are great alternatives. Here are a few more suggestions...

Alyssa

Anya

Ariel

Eliza

Yvette

Yvonne

FakeFinn · January 2015

I'm with pps on Avery. I prefer Mae over May. I like pps suggestions of Ava and Maeve. How about Eva, Ada or Vera?

4N6s · January 2015

I like Maeve more.

LNic5 · January 2015

I think Avery May flows alright, I'm just not a big fan of Avery

JenWen3 · January 2015

aliciac2008 said:

I never said I didn't want to hear a people saying it was a boys name. I understand a lot of people think that and I respect that. I think if it as a girls name and was stating my opinion as to why I disagree. I do appreciate so many people telling me they don't like it on a girl, and like I previously said, I will be thinking about that going forward. I sincerely appreciate the advice.

The general opinion here is that names shouldn't really cross sexes. My daughter is named Emery, which is hated here. I get it, I really do. But I also really like her name (obviously) as did my husband. I appreciate the advice and I considered the masculinity of the name before naming her that. But I also decided to name her that anyway.

I find Avery May to be a nice name. No one will have an issue pronouncing it, and honestly I assume most people will think it's a girl's name as Avery is trending girl. I've had a few people assume Emery was a boy (particularly when she was a baby) and I would never get upset about it. I just said, "oh, I know it's traditionally a male's name but she's a girl!" I also have a grandparent who doesn't call her Emery because he knew a man named Emery. He calls her Emmy and that's A-ok, too.

So all of this to say, people here will generally not like Avery on a girl. But it's up to you what to name your baby!

CMSAV · January 2015

So many lovely suggestions I hope you will consider. I think Avery is a great boys name. There is a male character with that name on Nashville and it further solidifies my opinion

ashiscute · January 2015

I think I would prefer to have a name where people knew I was a girl versus having to ask. Avery is super trendy on girls right now but still fairly popular for a boy. Aside from that I don't personally care for the name. I say keep searching.

Ava and Aria are similar and better choices.

2ndGeneration · January 2015

I think Avery May is pretty.

Funny with the name Avery-11 years ago when I had #5, I considered Avery for a boy (it was a dd). This baby (11 weeks) I considered Avery for a girl. Didn't use it but it was up there. I don't actually know any boy Avery's.

I grew up with a lot of kids who had popular at the time names that were used on boys and girls-Tracy, Stacy, Kelly, Shannon...it's not unheard of.

BeachBabe22 · January 2015

I love Avery May. It's a beautiful name.

e=mc21 · January 2015

There's a (really attractive) doctor on Grey's Anatomy with the last name Avery (which he's often referred by), and was also my freshman dorm's name so I'm not a fan of it on a girl. Since you asked for suggestions here are mine that I think that you would like, although I'm not crazy about them all.

Morgan

Mallory

Ivy

Emery

Harper

aliciac2008 · January 2015

Wow, thank you all so much for the suggestions. It's given me a lot to think about. We are still considering Avery, but also looking at other names now as well. I still like Avery a lot, but my concern now is (that a few of you brought up) that I don't want people wondering whether she's a girl or boy when they just see her name.

A couple other names we're considering now are Cora LeAnne (DH grandma's name, and my mom's middle name), and Clara (no middle name yet). We both really like Clara, but afraid it sounds a little funny with the last name Barrett.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I have a lot of thinking to do.

ashiscute · January 2015

aliciac2008 said:

Wow, thank you all so much for the suggestions. It's given me a lot to think about. We are still considering Avery, but also looking at other names now as well. I still like Avery a lot, but my concern now is (that a few of you brought up) that I don't want people wondering whether she's a girl or boy when they just see her name.
A couple other names we're considering now are Cora LeAnne (DH grandma's name, and my mom's middle name), and Clara (no middle name yet). We both really like Clara, but afraid it sounds a little funny with the last name Barrett.
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I have a lot of thinking to do.

Clara is 1,000,000x better than Avery. It is lovely and I think it sounds great with your LN. I also really like Cora.

MamaRN13 · January 2015

LOVE Clara and Cora! I think you are on to something with them

capulet · January 2015

It always makes me sad when an Avery-on-a-girl thread makes it to two pages and nobody has mentioned Charlotte's Web. What have kids been reading the last 30 years?

I love Clara and Cora far more than Avery for a girl, and PPs have lots of other good suggestions.

queenbone · January 2015

Would prefer Audrey or Ava on a girl because I don't like boy names on girls.

I'm also from OR and very strongly get a Southern/country vibe from any name combo with Mae, Rae, Kay, Fae in the MN spot. It's NMS and I would feel very out of place using that since I live in the PNW.

I think if May were a family name for you it would be okay, but if not I'd go in a different direction all together.

Sassenach1743 · January 2015

Cora! I absolutely adore this name, it's on my short list. Cora Leanne is a great choice to honor both your mother and your Hubby's grandmother.

I agree, Clara Barrett is a bit sing-song, but maybe the addition of a middle name will help. Maybe Clara Leigh Barrett? Still honors your mother's middle name a bit, as a variation.

Honestly though, I think Cora Leanne Barrett is right on the money!

bridetobe987 · January 2015

Avery is my first choice for a girl's name and has been since I had my first child over 5 years ago. In my opinion, these days Avery is more so a girls name. For your reference on the Social Security Administration web site it was #12 for girls in 2013, for boys it is #196. The reason I am not using it is because it is too popular. I know quite a few little girls named Avery and just prefer to pick a name that is not as high ranked.

Elsa1984 · January 2015

I live in WA, and know a TON of Avery's.....all girls. I didn't know it was a boy name, until I worked in a daycare and there was a little boy named Avery. I wondered why his parents gave him a girl name, until I looked it up and saw it was in fact a boy name. Even though I know it is a boy name, I also know that Addison is a boy name....and I know no fewer than 10 little girls named Addison, and no boys. So I wouldn't side-eye a girl named Avery. I also don't think that Avery May sounds like a southern bell. I do think Ava May sounds southern bell-ish though.

Canuck13 · January 2015

I think Avery May is a very sweet name and doubt you would even have to correct people much since far more girls are named Avery right now...however, like a pp, I don't like how trendy the name is right now for girls so wouldn't personally use it. I also like a lot of the more feminine names which pp's have suggested.

lauraspnc · January 2015

I think it's a lovely combination. My niece is Avery Rose. Avery is very gender neutral!

lalamomma · January 2015

I know 5 little boys named Avery and not a single girl. I actually know 1 girl Addison and 2 boys. This boy name on girls is why finding strong masculine names is getting more difficult. I actually did meet someone who named their daughter Steven. I wanted to cry.

That being said, Avery is a boy name IMHO. You could do so much better anyway, and you have gotten some beautiful suggestions!

BabysMomma4 · January 2015

*sighs*

I don't understand some replies....

However, I think Avery is nice. My nieces name is Avery Madison and it suits her well. I do know its origins are boy, but to each their own. I don't know why others care so much. You can give opinions without sounding like a dingus.

mollymargaret1 · January 2015

We have Avery as a potential boys name but I've seen it both ways.

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