Category: Will Smith daughter name

Girls’ Names: Naming a daughter the Pinkett-Smith way

Posted June 20th, 2011

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Baby Names Advice

Family Names

Girl Baby Names

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This week, Appellation Mountain’s Abby Sandel follows up with Part Two of her suggestions for namesake gender-bending–this time it’s girls’ names from boys.

Last week’s post was all about the trendsetting Pinkett-Smith family and their son Jaden Christopher Syre, named after mom Jada. This week the spotlight turns to daughter Willow Camille Reign, after dad Will. While plenty of parents chose appellations that honor loved ones, crossing gender lines opens up some inventive options for girls’ names.

At first glance, this is easy for girls’ names. There are plenty of traditional equivalents, like Charles/Charlotte or Alexander/Alexandra. But what if you’re trying to name a daughter after your brother Chad? Or you adore your uncle Patrick, but you can’t imagine calling your little one Patricia?

Parents have grafted together some unusual choices over the years. There are just add –ette or –elle names, like Danette and Donelle; ends-in-ie choices, like Artie and Bennie; and double names, from Bobbie Sue to Rayanne. Some may be carefully chosen, but Markie or Hughette can sound like afterthoughts, hastily cobbled together when the parents heard the words, “It’s a girl!”

Sometimes parents just pass on the masculine moniker, but there is a world of options for naming a daughter Pinkett-Smith style. It’s not just Will and Jade, either. Emeril Lagasse called his daughter Meril.

Just like last week’s post, these are options based on the most popular names of the 1970s and 80s. Add your additions and suggestions in the comments!

Aaron – Allaire

Adam – Adelaide, Amalia, Amanda

Alan, Allen – Lana, Lena

Alex, Alexander – Alice, Alix, Zara

Andre, Andrew – Drea, Drusilla

Anthony, Antonio – Antonella, Antha

Arthur – Harlow

Austin – Austen

Benjamin – Enya

Blake – Lake