Female versions of male names

31 replies

bassingtonffrench · 27/03/2014 11:03

In an idle moment I was thinking if our expected boy turns out to be a girl, would I be prepared to use the female version of the male name we have chosen.

But in most of the examples I could think of, the female version is now far less popular than the male version e.g.

Louis is really popular, hardly any Louises these days
Loads of Maxs, not many Maxines
Michael still a current name, but Michelle isn't
Jack is everywhere, but Jacqueline isn't

An exception would be Olivia and Oliver, which are both very popular.

So, my question is, are female versions of male names less popular these days and if so why?

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bassingtonffrench · 27/03/2014 11:37

That's interesting Uri. Surely there can't be many examples of that?

I know a little Roberta. She is Bertie. I like both.

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UriGeller · 27/03/2014 11:34

I think Nigella was the original. Nigella sativa is a flower. Nigel is probably the male version of that.

I quite like Roberta

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bassingtonffrench · 27/03/2014 11:31

Funny how you've both mentioned nigella. Yes its awful but it's not held her back has it?!

She had a sister Thomasina.

I actually really like Phillipa and Roberta.

Pippa is more popular than Phillip now I think.

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Innogen · 27/03/2014 11:31

George and Georgia seem to be doing ok.

squoosh · 27/03/2014 11:29

I'm not a fan of female versions of male names, they're so clunky.

Nigella
Thomasina
Phillipa
Roberta
and on and on

all awful.

akachan · 27/03/2014 11:20

Nigella

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