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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help, is it a boys or girls name?

37 replies

weeza13 · 01/04/2014 19:10

I have worked with children for the last 20 years so I am finding choosing a boys name hard as nearly every name links to a child I know. I found the name Leighton on a boys name list, never heard it before and I like it but when I googled it I keep finding female Leightons. There is no way my DH will allow the name if he thinks its a girls name. Can anyone help?

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ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 03/04/2014 18:20

Love Slave, gender immaterial.

spiderlight · 03/04/2014 18:06

Boy - I was at school with one.

JustDanni · 03/04/2014 08:10

I think of it as a boys name.
I also think of Professor Layton.

Writerwannabe83 · 02/04/2014 20:44

Definitely a male name Smile

ImpOfDarkness · 02/04/2014 20:35

Grin newt

NewtRipley · 02/04/2014 19:35

Or Leyland, a classic from the 1970s?

Original poster
weeza13 · 02/04/2014 17:26

Thank you all for your info, will have to mull it over and call the bump by name for a bit to see if it works.

OP posts:
Lesleythegiraffe · 02/04/2014 17:22

I've never heard of Leighton being used for a girl

ImpOfDarkness · 02/04/2014 17:16

I had a Welsh boyfriend called Leighton back in the day.i think it's an American thing to use boy's names for girls, like Jamie and Aubrey and Reece and Evan.

ToffeeJungle · 02/04/2014 09:39

I'd say it's a boys name.
The only ones I've heard of are Leighton Baines (footballer) and Lleyton Hewitt (tennis player) - both male.

Chloerose75 · 01/04/2014 23:54

I think it can be either, see Leighton meester (f) or Leighton Denny (m) as mentioned up thread. I agree it does sound more masculine however Leighton meester was my first thought!

AllBellyandBoobs · 01/04/2014 23:47

Leighton Baines is the Everton and England left back.

Ludways · 01/04/2014 23:40

Def, boys name.

soontobeslendergirl · 01/04/2014 23:36

I know one, male, he's a shite bag.

I still reckon it's in line to be the first text name - L8on.

ChazzerChaser · 01/04/2014 20:30

Boy, Leighton Hewitt

squoosh · 01/04/2014 20:29

I was going to mention the tennis guy too. I'd assume it was a boy's name.

mrsbug · 01/04/2014 20:28

Is it pronounced lay-ton or lee-ton?

If the former then definitely a boy's name, if the latter I'm not so sure

DebbieOfMaddox · 01/04/2014 20:26

Yes, if you love the name I'd go for Lleyton which I think is going to stay in the "boy" camp.

Confuseddd · 01/04/2014 20:26

Grin Newt Ripley

pinkandsparklytoo · 01/04/2014 20:20

The one I know of is Lleyton Hewitt, a male Aussie tennis player.

Seminyak · 01/04/2014 19:57

I know a baby Layton, boy, really like it. There is a male tennis player called Leighton something too.

Never heard it for a girl but quite like it!!

JonathanGirl · 01/04/2014 19:51

Hope your surname isn't Buzzard!

IMO, if a name is unisex/ever used for girls, it will probably get more and more female dominated over time, it doesn't seem to go the other way, especially with a more unusual name.

HandragsNGladbags · 01/04/2014 19:45

Boy, I know a male Leighton

NewtRipley · 01/04/2014 19:44

What about Leytonstone, that is more feminine?

NewtRipley · 01/04/2014 19:43

It is one of those American style surname name names that should be for a boy but is used for girls.