Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

'Masculine' sounding girls names.

157 replies

mixedberrymilkshake · 18/05/2012 22:54

I cannot abide overly twee girls names, and am hoping to find something that sounds 'masculine' and almost surnamey.

At the moment I like-
Sloane
Tate
Blair
Peyton
Quinn
Whittier

Any other suggestions? Ideally they'd go with classical, albeit more feminine name like Charlotte, Alice, Jane...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
MerryMarigold · 24/05/2012 10:56

If your surname is Brown, then I think Sloane doesn't go well as only one syllable and has the 'n' sound at the end, sounds bad. Emerson is much better even though also has 'n' as there's a lot more sounds in it to distract.

I like Avery Charlotte

Not sure about Jane with your surname...maybe it's the 'n' thing again, just sounds a bit too plain Jane.

Emerson Grace is better, I think.

badtime · 24/05/2012 10:55

I thought of a few names (as I love unisex names), but then with your name they didn't really work. I think you should avoid 2-syllable names as they sound too sing-songy with your surname, so even if the name itself isn't twee, the overall sound might be.

You do seem to prefer 1-syllable or 3-or-more-syllable names anyway, so it's not such a problem.

lilaloves · 24/05/2012 10:48

Emerson is lovely,weirdly when I first suggested it I did think of Jane as a middlename.

CheerfulYank · 24/05/2012 08:39

I like Emerson! And if she wants too later, she could be Emme or Emma.

Still wish someone would use Hadley though...

Original poster
mixedberrymilkshake · 24/05/2012 08:33

writes down Emerson

Emerson Jane how about that?!

OP posts:
TillyToffee · 24/05/2012 08:32

I do think some of them sound very American or wannabe celebrity, or as though parents are just trying to think of something 'different'. I'm not personally into names that just seem to be random words like hunter, sky, heath, etc.

If you were going down the surname-for-firstname route, how about an existing family name - perhaps your mother's or grandmother's maiden name? If that happens to be Winterbottom, then I can understand why you wouldn't want to go there. But if it was something more firstname friendly like Brooke, Blake, Beckham (!), Sullivan, Carson, Emerson, etc then it would tick your preference boxes but also be personal to your family rather than plucked out of thin air like the many McKenzies that are the subject of DNA tests on Jeremy Kyle (it's true - it's a popular name!).

Failing that - Michael is often used as a girls name. But I think you're going for something more unisex than a boy's name for a girl option.

lilaloves · 24/05/2012 08:03

Avery with your surname sounds great btw

lilaloves · 24/05/2012 08:01

Avery is lovely.Love Bronte and Kennedy too.I know an Emerson,Emie for nickname and she is stunning.

outmonday · 23/05/2012 20:10

If you give your daughter a masculine name she will have to explain it for the rest of her life and people may assume her parents wanted a boy.You can't get much more masculine than George, try that.

WopBopALooBop · 23/05/2012 18:37

Let, not lilt, clearly Blush

WopBopALooBop · 23/05/2012 18:37

Love some of these names! Another vote for Blythe (although I don't see it as masculine). My 83 year old Nanna is called Avery and never gets any aviary-related comments as far as I know.... So don't lilt that put you off (although don't use it because I'm going to haha! :) ).

I've always rather liked the name Joey for a girl. Like Stevie too.

CheerfulYank · 23/05/2012 17:10

I was going to suggest Avery too. I know lots of them and think it's lovely. :)

I've always really liked Hadley for a girl. Haddie is a great nn IMO.

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 23/05/2012 16:13

My DD is Tyla, and Thalia is quite a strong name. I also quite like Neve.

PercyFilth · 23/05/2012 16:04

Wallis says clothes shop to me - wait (brainwave) what about Franchise? :o

Tessa617 · 23/05/2012 15:43

Oooo what about Beau (or Bow) - my DD just named her toy elephant Beau and I love it. But I do still like my original suggestion: Wallis (if you can get over Mrs SImpson,.

redrubyshoes · 23/05/2012 09:44

Ellis - she can be Ellie if she wants a 'fluffy' name.

winkle2 · 22/05/2012 23:46

I like Rae and Reese

doinmummy · 22/05/2012 23:39

I knew a Rae

Love Mallory

toomuchtoyoung · 22/05/2012 23:35

I love Shae!!
Frankie is cool, so is alexa.
Agree with your reasonings and love the name suggestions on this thread
Storing some ideas for possible future use!!

Original poster
mixedberrymilkshake · 22/05/2012 23:23

I think my favourites have been Reese, Avery, Sage and Bronte. Kennedy is also lovely (and what an amazing namesake!) ...still can't forget Sloane though!

No am not in the US, but when your surname is the same as the Scottish Labour once-Chancellor of the Exchequer, you'd honestly be surprised how many traditional girls name sound frilly and twee.

Many thanks to all those who respected what I wanted and gave me unisex suggestions.

OP posts:
millymae · 22/05/2012 21:16

What about Erica with Jane as a middle name?

BikeRunSki · 22/05/2012 16:29

Elliot
Morgan

SilkStalkings · 22/05/2012 16:19

ShockDon't see that Gibson is any worse than London, Kennedy or Brooke - all totally random and unpretty. At least Gibson is a fairly good make of guitarsGrin.

CrumpettyTree · 22/05/2012 13:23

"Remember she's the one who has to carry the name around with her for ever, you don't." So very true. Maybe that should be written as a tagline at the top of the Baby Names Board!

LaVolcan · 22/05/2012 11:53

Bronwyn is the male version - it needs to be Bronwen for a girl.