THE SOFTER SIDE OF BOYS’ NAMES

July 9th, 2009 at 12:33 am

I would add Jasper to the first list. I’m one who wanted a clearly masculine name for my son (and a clearly feminine name for my daughter). I wonder if it’s because as an Erin who grew up in the 70s in Ohio with a short pixie cut, I was often mistaken for a boy Aaron. Love my name now, but really, really hated that when I was a girl.

July 9th, 2009 at 1:50 am

I can’t vote in the poll, because my opinion is that most of the names on that second list aren’t unisex–they’re boys’ names that people have been using on girls. My preference would be that girls’ parents stop raiding the boys’ list, so that boys don’t get crowded out!

July 9th, 2009 at 7:35 am

I’m adding Jasper — perfect one, thanks — and wish I’d thought of that option for the poll, Barbara!

July 9th, 2009 at 8:13 am

I love Ariel as a boy’s name, though most people think it’s strictly femme, as well as Asher and even Ashley (which started out as a boys name!). I also love that Eden’s on your list… sooo nice for a boy, strong and grounded. Never would have thought of it.
Also; Pascal! Etienne! I love the soft french names that are still confident in their masculinity.

July 9th, 2009 at 8:25 am

Good post. I agree with Barbara. As the mom of a Wesley who has since heard of it used as a girl name, I’m ready for the girls’ side to stop plundering boys’ names. There are already fewer viable choices for naming boys due to previous generations of girls pilfering Beverley, Courtney, Ashley, etc. And while I personally don’t mind naming my boy a “unisex” name, my hunch is that, in future years, HE might.

July 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am

Good timing for this post – I had a post for my own blog on how the attitudes with regards to unisex names have varied over the generations ready to go, and it’s now posted at this link:
http://millennialkelly.blogspot.com/2009/07/generations-and-attitude-towards-unisex.html

Yes, I love the idea of softer and “unisex” names for boys. From the “softer sound” list my favorites are Adrian and Gabriel; from the second list I like Avery, Casey, Riley, and Rowan. In the poll I chose the “I’d have no problem giving my son a name that was also used for girls” option.

July 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am

You might think I’m crazy, but I kinda think some of this goes back to the 80s hair bands. All of a sudden, hyper-masculinity was married to heavy eye make-up, Aqua Net and flat-out feminine names – Nikki Sixx, Jani Lane.

Our 4 y.o. answers mostly to Aly. I suppose if he were a scrawny little thing I might’ve thought twice about the potential burden of calling him by an ambiguously-gendered nickname. He’s big for his age and athletic, so it hasn’t been an issue.

I think the old conventional wisdom that once a boys’ name has been used for girls, it is tinted pink forever is probably fading. Which celeb was it that just named her son Kelley?

July 9th, 2009 at 11:03 am

I love so many of the ’softer’ sounding names on the list, like Adrian, Asher, Atticus, Dashiell, Elliot, Ezra, Gabriel, Jonah, Judah, Luca, and Micah. They’re some of my favorites. Some of the names from the second list I would be cautious using. I think that society sees Alexis, Ariel, Avery, Bailey, Casey, Harper, London, and Skyler firmly in the ‘girl’ camp, and even if I disagreed, I’m not sure I could do that to my son. However, I really wouldn’t use these for girls either- I’m not big on unisex names in general!

July 9th, 2009 at 11:21 am

Travis is softer? Maybe in NY or the East, but in Texas that is a rough and tumble name. I was at a job that was getting a temp one time and we were told the name would be Travis and we all groaned we knew exactly what we were getting and all the way down to the red neck we were right. I really would move the Travis off that list.
Now Tristan – that has recently hit the unisex name down here, heard of 2 girls in the last year. Tristram is much softer and I think will stay on boys list.
Great post!

July 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

I agree 100% with Barbara! I know females with the names Stewart, Ryan, Noah, Kyle, and Earl (yes, Earl!). With so many wonderful girl names, I don’t know why parents need to steal from the boy’s list. Although I would make an exception for family names–sometimes you want to honor a family member and that’s fine by me

July 9th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

I actually like most of these names (I’m pretty picky about names, and have very strong feelings about what I like and dislike). I know a boy named Adrian; I have a male friend named Austin; I went to school with a boy named Taylor; one of my cousins named his son Julian; if I have a son, I’ll name him Christian (I also went to school with a Christian, though he went by Chris); and my younger stepson’s middle name is Carter. Austin, Chris(tian) and Taylor, like me, are 60s babies, and Julian is now 22; so maybe this trend goes back a little farther than it appears to.

July 9th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

I have always loved aleksander, but I prefer less popular names. Lately I have fallen in love with Sasha for a BOY (as a diminuitive of aleksander). I haven’t asked anyone whether or not they think it is too feminine, because I know they will say it is. I am fairly certain if we have another boy his name will be Sasha, and frankly I am not worried about the femineity issues at all, probably because I tend to prefer softer “girlier” names. My younger son is Milo, and other names that I love are Luca, Asa, Lucian, Rivers, August, and Romilly.

July 9th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

I think people who give their daughters boy names, are trying to give unique names, but in some cases, they go to far, giving names that most people would think are definately masculine. Adrian and Ryan are pretty common for both genders, but I know some girls named Austyn, Carter, Carson, and Hunter. I think that is going too far. Those names should be for boys only.

July 9th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

I also know a girl named August

July 10th, 2009 at 1:23 am

I would use names that are commonly used on girls on my sons. “Softer” sounding boys names take up most of my list, and Ashley is my favorite name for a boy.

There really aren’t any names on this list I find very feminine, except Eden. Eden, I know, made the charts this year for boys, but I’m thinking it might be an Aidan off-shoot.

July 10th, 2009 at 2:00 am

Robin is one of my top names for a boy. I also like Morgan and I don’t mind Kelly too much, it is not a favorite, though.

July 10th, 2009 at 2:49 am

I adore Beverly as a boys’ name — ever since I read Montgomery’s The Story Girl. Sadly, I know that that is one that no boy could get away with in North America right now.

July 10th, 2009 at 8:10 am

OK Tikicatt, I think you’re right about Travis. Despite the soft final s, he really doesn’t belong on that list. But Elizabeth, Robin definitely does belong here — it’s certainly one that’s becoming more acceptable for boys again.

July 10th, 2009 at 10:08 am

Elle, we have an Alexander, named after his grandfather Aleksander. They’re from Poland, so Sasha was veto’d as way too Russian. Aleksey/Alexei was a possibility, but as it happened our kiddo named himself Aly.

But there is an Alexander called Sasha in our daughter’s daycare. With Liev Schreiber/Naomi Watts choosing the name for their son, I think it is absolutely fair game for a boy – especially with Alexander on the birth certificate.

July 11th, 2009 at 10:41 am

Personally, I don’t find Atticus, Asher and Jasper to be “soft names,” rather, quite the opposite.

July 13th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

As someone who has a baby girl with a “boy” name (Logan), and has a traditional male name herself, I am always perplexed by how vehemently opposed people are to using some boy names on girls. Maybe it’s because I only have a daughter and therefore haven’t experienced naming a son, but I think a lot of boy names can work for girls and vice versa. I tend to adore boy names for girls-Avery, Riley, Logan, Harper, Sage, Reese, etc., but if I were to have a boy, I’d go with a very boyish name, not one that crosses over into the girl camp. I think part of my bias is that I’m an attorney and it’s hard to be taken seriously if you are a girl and your name is something like “Lilac.”

July 13th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

Every name I considered for a boy is on the “soft” list.

July 16th, 2009 at 3:28 am

I was named a very traditional masculine name, Everett (which means wild boar or something) and my middle name is King, and I have always appreciated that my parents chose to give me a strong name. I love soft, feminine names (I’m often called Evie), but I feel empowered by the strength my name conveys. My daughter’s name is Jude (after my father). I don’t think I am encroaching on anyone’s territory by naming her directly after an incredible and important man in my life, and I don’t think anyone should ever feel they have to dilute a name to make it girly (like Judy) if they don’t want to. Remember: many girls’ names were adopted as feminine versions of boys’ names and I just don’t think we should have to modify if we like the original form!

July 17th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

I have a son called Douglas. This was originally a surname of course, but also in the sixteenth century, it was more commonly used for girls than boys. Plus ca change!

September 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

I agree with Charlotte that Beverly is a great name for a boy and I would have no problem giving my son that name. I have known men named Beverly and they have had no real problems with it. Other names I like for boys are Kimberly, Gail, Dana, and Adrian. I wish I’d been given a softer name like that. I particularly like Kimberly.

October 26th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

I love alot of those names! I’m expecting baby #4 and had decided on Avery Elizabeth for a girl. Turns out I’m having boy #4–I like Avery for a boy too, but wouldn’t use it due to the climbing popularity for girls. I have three boys already who’s names are considered unisex. Devon, Logan, and Hayden. I can’t find a name that fits. I’ve been searching the unisex lists and am surprised by some of the names that are making the cross for girls. Does it look like this trend is ending any time soon??(the using boy names for girls) It’s making so hard to choose a name.