9 replies to this topic

[The Future Mrs B]

I know for most people their first thought when they hear Ariel is the Little Mermaid. While flipping through my iPod once of my old CD's caught me eye. Throughout the story arc is a man called Ariel (prn ARI-el).
So BNG, what do you think of Ariel on a boy?

[sparks_fly]

For me its ALL girl.....

[PaperHeart]

For me its a little complicated. I come from Israel where it's a unisex name. So I have two male cousins called Ariel but I know girls with the name too.

I personally prefer it on a girl. It's just very soft and flowy and I think the fact that it ends with Elle contributes to that.

[brittany111]

ive only ever thought of it on a girl. i love how sebastian pn her name (ARE-e-Elle) as opposed to AIR-e-Elle. i think in English sepaking countries (UK, USA, AUS) its pretty female orientated.

[Remy Hadley]

I feel like it could cause teasing for a boy in the states to be named Ariel Like, maybe if you lived in somewhere like Israel where Yas says its unisex... but around here, its not. Its seen just as feminine as Alice or Mary It is a beautiful girls name though. I prefer the pronunciation are-ee-elle, it sounds more sophisticated almost. Just like Brittany said, I love how Sebastian says it that way <3 air-ee-elle is okay too, but are-ee-elle sounds so pretty<3 I also agree with Yas in the -elle really adding femininity to it. As feminine as I see Ari-, I can see it being a little more masculine to some people. But the Elle feels so girl <3

I hope this helps!

[Starlight]

I love the name Arielle on a Girl... on a boy Ariel just seems too girly, it would seem harsh especially with the teasing potential for the little mermaid on a boy, that would be a concern.

[Permanent Rose]

Unfortunately Disney has made this once quite masculine name now ALL girl. It's honestly what anyone would associate it with now.

If not for the movie, I think it could work for a boy. There are subtle differences in pronunciation based on the spelling of this name that I think give it both it's masculine and feminine features. Arielle would be how I would spell it for a girl, and I would say it AIR-ee-elle (or perhaps even ARE-ee-elle). As for Ariel, I say it a bit less pronounced at the end - AIR-ee-uhl, which I feel makes it edge more on the masculine side. The pronunciation ARE-ee-uhl would definitely be quite masculine to me. Unfortunately, with the spelling Ariel, you'd just be cursing your poor boy

[Permanent Rose]

I was just playing around with this name, and if you do like it for a boy, perhaps you could consider changing the spelling. I know that this may not be appealing (I'm the last person who likes to mess with the original spelling of a beautiful name) but it is something to consider.

I came up with Ariole and Areole, though if you like the -elle sound in the name for a boy, then you'd be sacrificing that pronunciation with these spellings.

Just something for you to think about

[kassieb11]

Ariel is too girly imo, honestly Ari sounds alright to me as long as it is pronounced ARE-ee and not AIR-ee for a boy but in life its a possibility that kids may just add the ELLE at the end of his name to tease him.

[The Future Mrs B]

I love it for a boy but Disney did kind of ruin it. And I like ARE-ee-uhl. But I know there's no way I'd convince Martin so it's strictly a GP.