Jess or Cass? (for a boy)

[Messalena]

Which do you prefer? We prefer these to any of the longer forms.

[sonnyboo]

Cass sounds broken (casser in French) to me, don't like it as a name.

Jess is better, short for Jesse.

[itallhappensforareason]

Cass. Jess is too girly.

[Wolfiefan]

Jess I assume it's a Jessica.
Cass. Cassie?
What long names do you mean?

[bionicnemonic]

Cass. I knew a Cass and he was very nice!

[kaytee87]

I'd think they were short for Jessica and Cassandra.

If you're son is ever likely to come anywhere near Scotland then don't call him Jess.

[YerAuntFanny]

I agree with Kaytee, I'm Scottish and couldn't bring myself to name a boy Jess!

I'm not keen on either for a boy despite liking both for a girl (Cassie was on my shortlist) so if I had to choose one I'd go for Cass (Cassius or Casper perhaps?)

[UserInfinityplus1]

I know a Jesse in the States. I like it but I'm not sure it translates that well in the UK. Instead of Cass how about Casper, shortened to Cass if you like.

[KirstenRaymonde]

Assume you’ve been inspired by Jess in Gilmore Girls. I really wouldn’t do it. Jesse or Cassius, fine, but not on their own.

[uokhunn]

Love Jess and wouldn't worry about people thinking Jessica they'll get used to it! I don't think either are 'girly' but just not keen on Cars

[satsumasunrise]

Both sound too feminine in my opinion.

[halcyondays]

Neither

[DramaAlpaca]

My immediate thought on seeing the thread title was that they were both girls' names.

If I had to pick one of them it would be Cass. Jess to me is very feminine.

[Tabathatwitchett]

Both are half of a girls name. You're looking in the wrong section of the baby names book OP.

[Chimchar]

I love both.
It would have to be Jesse or Cassius for me though then shortened.

[Messalena]

Thanks for all the suggestions but as I said we prefer the short forms on their own. Jesse, Casper both nice but we’ve agreed on these two as they are.

Not overwhelming positive then.. I actually like softer, “girly” names for boys, I don’t really see what the problem is. It will be obvious he’s not a Jessica or Cassandra when people meet him surely!

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I can’t see him enjoying being called such a feminine name.

[PeanutButterSquash]

Sure adults will immediately notice and think no more of it.
Kids can be horrific though. Particularly in primary and high school.
My son is adopted and came to me at age 3.5 we did not want to change his name as he was used to it and was upset by the suggestion. his name is Jess. He now goes by his middle name as it really really made his life hell for about 8 years... he's now an adult and hates his birth Mum for lumbering him with the name. He also isn't very happy I opted not to change it. I thought it was best though.
Just a bit of perspective...
sorry but I wouldn't go for a feminine name for a boy, I love breaking the mould personally but you can't expect a kid to deal with the shit that comes with that!

[RandomNameAgain]

I knew a Cass and he was very nice!

I too knew a Cass and he was also very nice.
How about changing the spelling to make it more 'boyish' - Cas maybe or Kas?
Not too keen on Jess.

[Ickyockycocky]

Both sound like girls’ names. I wouldn’t go there.

[catinapatchofsunshine]

It's hypocritical and sexist that it's socially acceptable and often applauded to give masculine names to girls but not to give girls names to boys.

However it's also pretty shitty parenting to give your unconsenting newborn a name which will bring them potential grief just to prove your point.

Your DH could change his name by deedpoll to Jess for the point making, and you could call your ds Casper but use Cass as a nickname.

I taught a male Rickie (full name, white British) which wasn't even a traditional female name but his peers saw as girlie, but he did get teased for it and adopted the most ridiculous geezer persona to show what a boy he was...

[Sophronia]

I’d definitely put Jesse or Cassius/Casper/Caspian on the birth certificate, just to give him the option.

The Rooneys recently named their son Cass so people might think you’re copying them if you go for it.

[Pressuredrip]

I really like them but I'd prefer Cassius shortened to Cass.

[uokhunn]

Not overwhelming positive then.. I actually like softer, “girly” names for boys, I don’t really see what the problem is
Good for you there is no problem!
However it's also pretty shitty parenting to give your unconsenting newborn a name which will bring them potential grief just to prove your point
That's ridiculous just because plenty of adults are narrow-minded and instantly scream 'that's too feminine, it doesn't mean children will do the same unless their parents demonstrate that behaviour to them of course, Unless your suggesting the grief will be from adults, which would be utterly bizarre. Also when did OP say she was trying to make a point? She said she liked the name and for you to imply that makes her a shitty parent makes you a pretty nasty person

[claret3189]

I like cass

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

100% Cass.