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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unisex names? Suggestions

60 replies

SimplySara · 16/02/2014 11:43

Any suggestions on nice names that would work for either a boy or a girl?

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MummyBeerest · 20/02/2014 21:33

Interesting thread. There are a few names I'd genuinely use for either a boy or girl:

Blaine
Blair
Finn
Flynn
River
Rory
Rowan

HoneyandRum · 20/02/2014 21:15

Isn't Gillian/Jillian a corruption of Julian? I believe I read somewhere there lots of versions of Julian (f) such as Juliana/Gillian were v. Popular in the Middle Ages.

Martorana · 20/02/2014 14:34

But they started off as boy's names.

PosyFossilsShoes · 20/02/2014 13:00

Martorana - how about Carol, Tracey, Jessie or Lesley? They're all unisex names that are mostly used as girls' names.

I have a unisex name and I really like it.

Martorana · 20/02/2014 09:29

But we have no idea what her name was- she's only called Julian because her hermit cave or whatever they are called was in the grounds of a church or an abbey named after St Julian.

I wonder if we would still have known her real name if she had been a man.

SilkStalkings · 20/02/2014 09:19

St Julian the medieval hermit was a woman.

Martorana · 19/02/2014 22:42

When was Julian a girl's name?

Catrin · 19/02/2014 21:28

I have a unisex name.
I hated the question 'male or female?' if unsure I was the person. To add insult to injury, I also have to spell the sodding thing.
WRT to your point about gender specifics... no matter how you raise your child in a gender neutral environment, nature will always dominate at some point. While I have had my more gender neutral/tom boy phases, I am actually quite a girlie girl, with a very quiet personality, so a unisex name doesn't suit me as a person. Better if you prefer to give a longer gender specific name that can have a unisex nickname.
But this is just my opinion!

slightlyglitterstained · 19/02/2014 21:15

Julian used to be a female name.

SunnyL · 19/02/2014 20:45

Sorry you feel like we're ganging up on you OP.

As I said I grew up with a unisex name and can only give you my opinion based on my experience. I am not a girly girl at all. I was very much a toy boy growing up. But even still I disliked having a unisex name.

The wirst thing for me was the one and only boy at my school who had the same name as me was put in my class at high school. So for 6 years I was known as 'Girl Sunny' and he was known as 'Boy Sunny'. It was rubbish.

Cringechilli · 19/02/2014 20:36

I would go with something like Jo/Joe. So that if your child in future wishes their gender to be identified on written stuff, it will be possible.

It's your child that has to live with this name - not you. Why don't you change your own name by deed poll to Jude or Sydney if you like unisex names so much.

I know that both my children would be either embarrassed or affronted if their gender was mistaken. I also know a child who hates their unisex name. He was allocated a locker in the girls locker room at school and felt humiliated.

At the end of the day, when your child grows up, they will be walking around with either boobs or a willy attached to their body and their gender will probably be obvious. I can appreciate that it isn't great for girls to grow up obsessed with their appearance etc but you can achieve this via other means.

canyourearme · 19/02/2014 20:28

Alex sydney

canyourearme · 19/02/2014 20:27

George frankie charlie rowan

mommy268 · 19/02/2014 20:24

How about Peni? as the plural of penis it could lend itself to some interesting situations…

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 20:21

Pronounced as leevi usually although one boy pronounced it Levi with a short vowel.

Martorana · 19/02/2014 20:20

As I said, once you can show me some girl's names that have become unisex I might be convinced. As it is, what we have is girls being given boy's names. And I don't care for that very much.

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 20:19

I have also met both boys and girls called Levi.

slightlyglitterstained · 19/02/2014 20:14

I gave my son a unisex name. He's still only 18 months so not old enough to ask what he thinks.

If he hates it, he can switch to his middle name easily enough. Or pick a name he prefers.

moonshinestar2 · 19/02/2014 20:01

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cookingenthusiast · 19/02/2014 19:56

I hear the name Magnolia is very in this season

RalphRecklessCardew · 19/02/2014 19:13

Kit

ItsWarmerInTheSouth · 19/02/2014 19:07

Jude. Love this name for a girl or a boy Grin

HoneyandRum · 19/02/2014 19:06

George from the Famous Five was short for Georgina.

Frikadellen · 19/02/2014 18:09

well Martona Bernadette is also very feminine and it didnt stop her.

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 18:01

Rowan
Blair
Kit (I have one who is Christopher but I've also known one who was Katherine)

Don't use something like Francis for a girl when it's very clearly spelt the boys way. Francis is very much a unisex name but is always spelt Frances for a girl and this is usually how people can tell. If you want to do it chose something that would be spelt the same either way.