29 replies to this topic

[scarlet520]

No one can deny that unisex names, like Logan, Ryan, Madison, Reagan etc, are on the rise. But what are your feelings on boys names on girls? Are there certain names that should be off limits? Or is every name up for grabs?

[Danni]

I think every name should be up for grabs! I love Blake and Elliot on girls, as well as most other boys names (unisex, really) on girls...I even like some more "feminene" names on boys, though they were originally used on boys such as Kelly and Carey and whatnot.

[alyssa897]

Well, one of my favorite girl names is actually a unisex name. It's Hadley. I loooove it on a girl. It really goes back and forth with me. Sometimes when I talk about boys names on girls and girl names on boys, I kind of sound hypocritical because I can change my mind so fast...

But, for the most part, I think it depends, really. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE NAME DALLAS ON GIRLS. No exceptions. But, when I was younger, I met a little girl and her name was Jake, no joke. It wasn't a nickname or anything, it was her actually name. And, I thought the name fit her soooo well!

So, I think it just depends.

[Charity]

For the most part I really don't care for unisex names. Jake and Austin are my two favorite boys' names in the world and the thought of either of them on a little girl pretty much makes me cringe! Another one that I can't stand to hear on a girl is Hayden -- my youngest male cousin is twenty-one and named this, and he just makes the name so masculine and handsome that I hate hearing it used for a little girl.

In the end it's all about personal preference, just like everything else. It's really just not my style.

[Kate]

I don't really like boys' names on girls (I'm sure you US people will disagree, but I find Ashley very much male), it feels as if the parents were desperately hoping for a boy or couldn't be bothered to come up with a girls' name they liked. However, there are a few names, like Morgan or Kelly, that I like on either sex.

[Fez]

It really goes back and forth with me. Sometimes when I talk about boys names on girls and girl names on boys, I kind of sound hypocritical because I can change my mind so fast...
So, I think it just depends.

The same thing happens to me, I'm always changing my mind. I agree that it depends on the name.

Something I've realized is that it also depends on the context in which I hear the name, like movies or TV shows. Taylor, Kennedy, Blair, Leighton, Alexis, Addison, Elliott are names that I associate with female TV characters or with actresses, so they are feminine to me. While Logan, Ashton, Hayden, Ryan are masculine names because I associate them with masculine characters or actors.

There are also some names that sound very masculine and strong when used on a boy, and at the same time can be cute when used on a girl, like Piper or Sailor.

Anyway, we have to take into account that many of the names that nowadays are considered only feminine were also used on boys around 1900: Helen, Margaret, Anna, Ethel, Rose, Elizabeth, Lillian, Alice, Emma, Beatrice, Josephine. And some masculine names were used on girls: Joseph, Elmer, Clifford, Frank.

This is the link to the SSA in which you can search for the popularity of a name throughout the years:
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

So, who are we to judge? Maybe in a hundred years Isabella and Emily will be masculine and Jacob and Christopher will be feminine names. I believe that anyone is entitled to give their children a name they love and consider special, as long as it's not something offensive or something that will make the child suffer.

[Lish4042]

I dislike boys names on girls. When a teacher gets a list of students I don't want them to have to guess if my child is a boy or a girl.

[babybear]

I dislike boys names on girls. When a teacher gets a list of students I don't want them to have to guess if my child is a boy or a girl.

I like some names on girls like Riley is okay,

I kinda like Jonah for a girl

but i dont like Parker on a girl

[Nicole]

I like some names on girls like Riley is okay,

I kinda like Jonah for a girl

but i dont like Parker on a girl

I like Aidan for a girl a LOT. I also like Parker for a girl. I don't like Dallas or Houston on a girl (UCK!)
Kelly or Carey on a boy sounds gay to me

[Becky]

I don't care for most boy names on girls. Especially not Ryan. That's my nephew's name and I just can't see it on a girl. I guess there are some that are okay, but most I don't like. I like for girls to have feminine names (like my daughters Aria and Lucia). I think girl's names should be pretty and elegant and boy's names should be strong and sturdy.

[keltria]

I also think there are some that are okay on girls. I like Blake, Sloane, Blair, and Justice for both boys and girls. I really dislike the name Riley on girls, because Riley is one of my favorite boy names. I also like a lot of more feminine girls names with masculine nicknames. Danielle (Dani), Samantha/Samira (Sam), Charlotte (Charli), and Lorelei/Aurora (Rory) are just a few. And I agree that Ashley is very masculine.

[Danni]

I also think there are some that are okay on girls. I like Blake, Sloane, Blair, and Justice for both boys and girls. I really dislike the name Riley on girls, because Riley is one of my favorite boy names. I also like a lot of more feminine girls names with masculine nicknames. Danielle (Dani), Samantha/Samira (Sam), Charlotte (Charli), and Lorelei/Aurora (Rory) are just a few. And I agree that Ashley is very masculine.

I do like to have feminine first names and masculine nick names...And not solely on the fact that my name is Danielle and I go by Danni, but because I understand why it is better because I do have that. It gives your child the choice to have a girly name or a unisex name. That way no one can get mad at you for naming your daughter "Danni"...It wasn't my idea, it was hers! lol!

[Charity]

I'm also a big fan of feminine first names with more masculine nicknames! I have an aunt named Danielle and I've always called her Aunt Dani -- she's as girly as can be, but somehow Dani just "fits" her better. The nickname Sam on a girl has always been a favorite of mine, too

[scarlet520]

There are some names like Erin & Morgan that I just prefer on girls. But the moment someone names they're daughter Parker or their son Sage, I'm so glad they're not in charge of naming my kids. It's just not my style. As Danni & Charity both said, I feel it's better to give her a girlie full name that you can use a masculine nickname for, if it ends up fitting your daughter.

[Kate]

or their son Sage

I actually like Sage for a boy

[Charity]

I actually like Sage por a boy

I've actually never heard it on anything but a little boy!

[scarlet520]

I've actually never heard it on anything but a little boy!

Really?! Maybe it's an East Coast thing. I have a friend that lives in Manhattan and her daughter's name is Sage. I've just always associated it with little girls ever since.

[scarlet520]

I've actually never heard it on anything but a little boy!

Really?! Maybe it's an East Coast thing. I have a friend that lives in Manhattan and her daughter's name is Sage. I've just always associated it with little girls ever since.

[Charity]

Really?! Maybe it's an East Coast thing. I have a friend that lives in Manhattan and her daughter's name is Sage. I've just always associated it with little girls ever since.

Really! And actually, the regional differences really might have something to do with it. I never really understood why names like Emily were considered to so overused and popular: the most common girl names here seem to be variations of Britney and Jessica. I think in my graduating class there were nine Britneys and five or so Jessicas

[scarlet520]

When Fiona, Mom & I came back from England, we lived in Boston, MA until Jack was transferred to Philadelphia and we all moved to Jersey. In my high school graduating class there were like 7 or 8 Jennifers, and like 5 Jessicas and Michelles. Those were all the big names around us. Fi & I certainly had names that stood out around here, but not in Boston. We lived in a very Irish neighborhood, so there were several Caitlins, Connors, Collins, Calebs, Bridgets, etc. So maybe there is something to the regional differences.