Anxious over Androgeny

[enjoyinglife]

Our son, Lane Everett, is two weeks away from becoming a big brother. We do not know the gender of the baby. If its a girl, I favor the name "Margot"... (middle name TBD), though my hubby doesn't like it.

In the event that its a boy, we are considering Kit (old time nickname for Christopher), since hubby's middle name is Christopher. In researching the name a bit, I am finding that it is androgenous --- which, much to my dismay, I realized Lane's name is becoming more common for a girl as well.

Nameberrys, help me out! I don't prefer androgenous names... even though my first is inadvertently so. Do you think boy or girl when you hear the name Kit?

[klcalder2]

I do think girl, a nn for Katharine/Catherine or any Kat- name for that matter. I think Chris or Topher would be less androgynous if you'd like to honor your DH. I love Margot, by the way!

[agirlinred]

I honestly wouldn't know which to expect, as I know girls named Katherine/Catherine nn Kit and boys named Christopher nn Kit.

[soshelly]

The only people I've met named Lane or Kit have been women or girls. I would definitely not go with another unisex name if it bothers you.

[lauran86321]

I automatically think of Lane as a boy's name because of Lane Frost and Layne Staley. I've never known a female Layne/Lane. The only Kit I've ever heard of is Kit Culkin, father of Macaulay Culkin. So to me, they're boys' names.

[quinntheeskimo]

I love the name Kit! It's one that I hope to use myself one day for boy or girl! I wouldn't let this worry deter you from using the name. It may be different where you live but where I am from it's not a very common name/nickname. If you end up having a son it seems unlikely that it's a name he will be sharing with any girls in his classroom. If it's any help when I think of the name Kit for a boy, it seems like a very rugged, western, cowboy name, which is about as masculine as they come!

[pam]

The only Lane I know is an adorable little boy, and he's gone far to making me see his name as masculine. I love the name Kit though I share your concern that it's androgynous -- it just IS. On the other hand, I wouldn't pair Lane with a very masculine or traditional boy's name like William, say, as I think that would make it seem even less masculine. Kit is a good match for all the positive and negative reasons, but if you're really worried, you might want to nudge your choice toward the masculine side. I'm just pulling these out of a hat, but name like Rowan or Mason, while somewhat androgynous, leans more masculine and so might solve the issue.

[baileyanne]

Definitely girl. I love the name Kit for a girl.

[leysin]

Kit makes me think girl.... Have you thought of Kip or Chip instead?

[hippo]

Kit is really uncommon for either gender, so I don't think it will ring more one way than another for most people. Looking at the list of Kits on wikipedia, almost all of the famous, non-fictional Kits have been men while most of the fictitious Kits are women. That sort of leads me to believe it's one of those names people like on girls theoretically, but is actually rarely used. I really don't think anyone is going to automatically assume Kit is a girl.

It really doesn't get more masculine than Kit Carson, and Christopher Marlowe (Shakespeare's greatest contemporary rival) went by Kit as well. Also, there's a male Star Wars character named Kit Fisto. Sharing a name with a Star Wars character is pretty much every little boys dream.

Oh, and I love Margot too, especially with this spelling.