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

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

Brad**, Chad – Ada, Adeline**

Bradley – Hadley

Brendan – Brenna

Brett – Bree

Brian, Bryan, – Briar, Briony

Bruce – Ruth

Caleb – Libby

Calvin – Vida, Vina

Cameron – Camille, Maren

Carl, Carlos – Carlotta

Casey, Casy – Cassandra, Casilda

Charles – Arliss

Christian – Christian, Kester, Kitty

Clayton – Layla

Clinton – Linden, Lindy

Cody – Echo

Colin – Colette

Corey, Cory – Cora, Coraline, Cordelia, Corisande

Daniel – Annie, Danica, Elaina, Elodie, Elsa

Darrell – Ella, Rell

Darren – Wren

David – Dava, Davina

Dean – Jeanne

Dennis – Nessa

Donald – Donna, Donnatella

Dylan – Dilys

Edward – Eden, Edie

Edwin – Gwen, Gwynne

Eric, Erik – Frederica, Veronica

Ernest – True, Verity

Evan – Evadne

Fernando – Fern

Francisco, Frank – Francesca, Frannie

Frederick – Frieda

Garrett – Garnet

Gary – Mary

Harold, Harry – Hallie

Henry – Hattie

Ian – Nia, Nina

Isaac – Isla

Jack – Jane, Joan

Jacob, Jason – Jacinda

James – Amy

Jay – Mae, May

Jeffrey – Freya

Jeremiah – Mariah, Maya

Jeremy – Mia

Jerome – Romy

Jesse – Jessamine

Joel – Jolie

Joseph – Poesy, Posey, Posy, Seraphina

Kenneth – Kendall, Kenna

Kevin – Eva, Evelina

Larry, Lawrence – Laurel

Leonard – Leah, Leocadia

Logan – Olga

Louis, Lucas, Luis – Lulu, Lucasta, Lucienne

Manuel – Molly

Marc, Mark – Arcadia

Mario – Aria

Martin – Marla, Marlo

Matthew – Mattea, Maud, Maude, Thea

Maurice – Reese

Michael – Ellie, Micah

Nathan – Hana

Nathaniel – Anya

Neil – Neely, Nell

Nicholas – Holly, Nicola

Omar – Mara

Oscar – Scarlett

Patrick – Trixie

Paul – Polly

Peter – Petra, Tera

Philip, Phillip – Piper, Pippa

Ralph – Rae

Randall – Dahlia, Dolly

Raymond – Rachel, Rae

Robert – Beryl

Roy – Joy

Ruben – Ruby

Russell – Selah

Scott – Scout

Sean, Shawn – Sian

Seth – Beth

Theodore – Dory

Thomas – Tamsin

Todd – Maude

Travis – Ava, Avis

Trevor – Riva

Tyler – Lila

Vincent – Wynne

Walter – Wallis

William – Billie, Willa, Willow

Zachary – Caroline