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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ezra for a girl?

91 replies

Cocolikeschocolate · 17/09/2013 12:28

Does this work as a first name?

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CountryMama · 25/09/2013 06:54

I have a boy Ezra but when he was born and I told people his name most people assumed he was a girl :)
I think it works for a girl but I might suggest you spell it azra.

looki · 25/09/2013 00:11

There is a girls name Azra which means 'maiden'. Perhaps this would be an alternative?

Workinglate · 23/09/2013 14:35

I know a grown-up (female) Esra, and I have never associated her name with Ezra until reading your thread! So perhaps that's an option?

AlansCatalanCat · 23/09/2013 12:37

I was going to say what BalloonSlayer said.

nooka · 23/09/2013 06:32

I would imagine that boys are not given girls names, or even names that have transitioned to become girls names (like Evelyn or Hilary) because whilst girls being 'boyish' is considered fairly cool, boys being 'girlish' is not. No doubt there would also be worries about becoming effeminate/catching 'the gay' and I'm sure that the chances of being teased/bullied would be very high.

So long as male stuff is generally higher status and generally to be aspired to I can't see that changing.

NB Ezra is a great name, we were planning on an Ezra, until we discovered that ds2 was in fact a girl. We chose a different name at that point, because Ezra is as everyone has said a boys name.

everlong · 22/09/2013 19:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LeGavrOrf · 22/09/2013 19:15

Lol at the OP'saying their son is called Mary Grin

AhoyAhoy · 22/09/2013 19:13

How about Zehra.

BOF · 19/09/2013 16:05

There was A Boy Named Sue, curlew Grin

curlew · 19/09/2013 15:53

"TBH < awaits flaming > if I met a female Ezra, I would presume the parents thought it was a girl's name because it had an "a" on the end, and had not gone to the trouble of bothering to find out what their child's name actually means, its origin and history . . . in short I'd think they were a bit thick, sorry. "

And you would be right.

BOF · 19/09/2013 15:48

It makes me think of Ezra Pound. Who was a bit of a fascist, so it's a no from me.

BalloonSlayer · 19/09/2013 15:46

TBH < awaits flaming > if I met a female Ezra, I would presume the parents thought it was a girl's name because it had an "a" on the end, and had not gone to the trouble of bothering to find out what their child's name actually means, its origin and history . . . in short I'd think they were a bit thick, sorry.

See also - parents who call their son Hero because it's such a macho and cool name, and from Shakespeare so that's intellectual innit. Hmm

smithwillsam · 19/09/2013 13:18

Ezra is a nice name and sounds very smooth and mysterious.

TheLeftovermonster · 19/09/2013 10:44

Because it sounds like a girl's name?

curlew · 19/09/2013 07:29

Yes, of course there are names that apply to both genders.(although I would be Hmm about Michael)

That is very different to calling a boy a very definite female name. Which I suspect nobody would do. So why is it considered OK to give a girl a definitlely male name?

TheFillyjonk · 19/09/2013 07:02

I think you could have got away with it if Ezra had not gone through a massive revival lately.

It's your choice, and it is actually a beautiful name for a girl. Maybe you could spell it with an s - Esra?

meditrina · 19/09/2013 06:59

There may be some names which cross sexes (some better assimilated as unisex than than others). But that pool of names is quite limited, and in examples cited about there are still some which provoke a 'WTF were the parents thinking'. New coinings across the traditional sex really do look/sound odd or ignorant, even if adopting a foreign or other culture usage (female Noa in Israel unexceptional, female Noah in UK is a WTF).

Now, people with manners would not say so in RL. But they will here. So the reason people are saying it's that bad it because to many, it is.

mummysboys1980 · 19/09/2013 06:43

I know of a female Ezra. I agree it's weird. I questioned it with a mutual acquaintance and said that's unusual for girl. Acquaintance said "no it's not"

All vvvv odd. .

EsTutMirLeid · 19/09/2013 06:36

It's a boys name and in my opinion wouldn't work on a girl any more than James would. I do know a female Asra (she's Indonesian).

Anjou · 19/09/2013 05:49

Why do so many of you keep saying "would you call a boy a girls name?" There are plenty of names that cross genders. I know a male & female Noah, Stevie, Michael, Jodie, Buffy, Kim, Brett, Evan, Charlie, Hillary, Aubrey, Finn, Brody, Blair, Corinne/Corin. All given names, not nicknames. I'm sure EVERYONE knows people that have names that can be used for boys & girls. I guess there was a first time for each one. It happens. Settle down.

curlew · 18/09/2013 22:35

OK. Would you call a boy Ruth or Naomi or Eve?

TheLeftovermonster · 18/09/2013 22:25

It's a bit like Noah - traditional biblical boys' name, which sounds quite pretty and would suit a girl too.

nightcircus · 18/09/2013 17:27

Zara
Esther
Maya
Chiara?

Original poster
Cocolikeschocolate · 18/09/2013 16:49

It's not the only name on the list so will keep trawling through the options - thanks for the feedback.... just off to feed Mary, my son!

OP posts:
SkodaLabia · 18/09/2013 11:38

What about Aphra?

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