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Baby names

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How would you react if you saw someone of the opposite gender with your name?

56 replies

Jordana · 23/03/2011 14:59

Please try to be honest. Would you find it odd, laugh at them, laugh inside but not let them know you were finding it funny, tease them, be angry or upset, feel sorry for them.

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dexifehatz · 26/03/2011 14:39

My names Kerry and yes it's a bit odd to hear a man with the name,although I think it was originally a male name anyway?

PrettyCandles · 26/03/2011 01:21

I'd probably be amused at the coincidence. That's all. I would only hide my name or gloss over the match if I didn't like them.

I have known both men and women called Giles, Sacha, Hilary and Leslie/Lesley (Yes, I know that Leslie has m and f spellings, but they sound the same.) (And that Hilary was originally a male name.) The only one that struck me as weird was Giles for a woman, but then she was slightly weird, anyway. And loads of others, tho mostly they're shared nicknames, like Alex or Sam.

As for my name, well I don't think it has become more common as a female name, I just think adults are more polite than children, and simply ask me about the origin of my name, rather than asking me why I have a male name. My name is not a male name, but it is often used as a nickname for several male names.

A1980 · 26/03/2011 01:11

I'm an Alex too!

So it doesn't surprise me when I meet males with the name Alex

stayfree · 26/03/2011 00:31

Does Alice Cooper count lol! tbh don't really mind it now!

muminthemiddle · 25/03/2011 23:46

I would find it bizzare as my name is very definately feminine. There are 2 male versions so never heard it on a man. Kind off similar to Oliver/Olivia .

NatzCNL · 25/03/2011 18:59

My cousin Ashley (male) is actually getting married to a girl with the same name with slight variation on spelling - Ashlee. Was odd to start with but now we just refer to them as boy Ashley and little Ashlee. Doesn't seem odd any more!

NoHunIntended · 25/03/2011 14:01

I am an Abi, short for Abigail. I know a male Abi, short for Abdul. I quite like calling him up and saying "Hi, Abi, it's Abi!"! :)

Lancelottie · 25/03/2011 10:15

I've met a male version of my name. Full name, not just first name. Now that was a bit of a shock.

nickelbabyhatcher · 25/03/2011 10:06

I love the boy shortening of my name! (i know i have the choice, so it's not quite the same as you, babylann )
but then, i was a bit of a tomboy, so....

babylann · 25/03/2011 10:04

I have a boys' name. I see boys with my name all the time. In fact, one of my closest male friends has the same name as me. It means people call me "Girl X" instead of just "X", but they don't call him "Boy X", he's just "X". I would never think to comment on the fact that they have my name but are an opposite sex, because it's traditionally a boy's name, so they have more reason to comment than I do.

It's annoying. People think I've shortened my name from something glamorously long and feminine and ask me, "Oh, is that short for something?" At school, I was always put on the boy's PE register which was so embarrassing for me. And despite being very clear when I fill in forms etc, I always get letters for "MR X Surname" (I'm not a big fan of my surname either, I used to think I had a horribly embarrassingly ugly name).

Only since becoming an adult have I got used to my name and started thinking it's actually quite cool in a tomboyish kind of way.

Baffledandbewildered · 25/03/2011 10:03

I have the same name as my FIL weird!!!!!!! But so used to people saying oh I thought you were a man......not when we have met I might add, only going on the name LOL

Milngavie · 25/03/2011 09:58

My name is unisex. Orginally it was masculine but over time became unisex and I think it is more feminine now. Having said that I have met a few guys with my name Smile. Doesn't bother me at all.

Sleepingonthebus · 25/03/2011 09:52

My son has the same name as a girl in his class. Causes no end of confusion, but it doesn't bother him.

nickelbabyhatcher · 25/03/2011 09:52

ah now, Figgy - I knew a young man with a name very similar to yours when I was a uni.
I was surprised when you told me your name! (i think it was by email originally, and I didn't know if you were a man or a woman)
sorry Blush

for the record, she's definitely a woman, and a gorgeous one at that! Grin

MamaLazarou · 25/03/2011 09:49

What an odd question. I would find it funny of course.

Stars22 · 24/03/2011 21:25

My name is Sophie, i should hope there wasnt any males out there with the same name.

ShatnersBassoon · 24/03/2011 13:56

I would be very, very surprised. I might think it's a nickname eg men with Davis as a surname sometimes get called Mavis, and would ask what their real name is.

Figgyrolls · 24/03/2011 13:50

I know a Tracey as a man Grin, I also know a young male Vivien Hmm but it suits him and is very unusual for a boy I would have thought?

My name is actually an old scottish boys name, and I am not scottish or a boy. Oh well, it is unusual though!

Iklboo · 24/03/2011 13:46

My name is sometimes used in the States as a man's name as well as a woman's name.

mathanxiety · 24/03/2011 13:42

Mary as a mn for boys used to be considered fine for (Catholic) boys in Ireland. Same idea as Jose-Maria or Jean-Marie in France, but no hyphen usually.

PollyDecker · 24/03/2011 12:40

I can't seem to link to it as am on my phone, but look up Johnny Cash singing A Boy Named Sue. It's bloody brilliant Grin

ninedragons · 24/03/2011 12:40

I know a few people at various stages of gender reassignment so would assume that was the case, even though my name is along the Emily/Isobel/Olivia lines.

nickelbabyhatcher · 24/03/2011 12:32

yes, Jean-Marie is quite a popuar boy's name in France

freshmint · 23/03/2011 20:11

I also know a bloke called Tracey.

It was a boy's name before it was a girl's apparently in ye olden days. He was like the billionth in his family.

SecretNutellaFix · 23/03/2011 20:10

Unless they were Hispanic/ Italian and it was attached onto another, masculine, name I would be a bit Hmm