Noah - for a girl?

LOVE IT

Where's the female Noah in the bible? I've never seen it. King David had a wife called Michael (Sauls daughter) so why not go the full hog and call her Noah Michael? On a serious note though, people don't see Noah with a 'H' at the end as a unisex name,so it's up to you if you want to put your child in the position where people are expecting her to be a boy.

There's nothing wrong with giving a girl a boy's name, per se. It's pretty common in the US.

But this seems determinedly contrary, purely because there's a feminine equivalent which is a lot nicer and as such, you're basically setting her up for a lifetime of clarifying, and spelling out, and explaining. At best, it will be tediously annoying for her.

If you were to call her Morgan, or Bryce or Stevie, or any other traditionally male name that I've heard on girls recently, it's a lot more clear cut.

Why do people call their kids such idiotic names, don't they think about the poor kid going to school and getting bullied?

OP, Noah is a boys name whether you agree or not, the bullies won't care
Please pick something normal for your child's sake.

Dislike it. Yes she is your daughter BUT she is the one who has to face all the issues with having what most of the population identify as a boy's name. I'm not a fan of the argument, 'call her what you like because she is your child' and am thankful this place exists for others to help us think of how it may be for the child.

(I had a few ridiculous name idea when pregnant and thank goodness close friends helped me see sense!)

I wouldn't call a girl a name that could be easily be confused with a boy's name. It might sound nice, but there are other nice names out there which are more girl friendly. Ultimately, it's your baby and your choice, so I wouldn't tell you what to do.

Ok for a boy

Dislike for a girl

Is that question rhetorical, BertrandRussell?

The same reason that men don't wear 'girlfriend jeans' and when women's boxer shorts became all the rage, men did not start wearing lacy thongs.

Status. Mem would be seen to be demeaned by these things, their maleness diminished or threatened.

Maybe this tells us that female identity is stronger , or maybe it doesn't .

Why is it ok to call a girl James but not a boy Susannah?

soupdragon she loves it. She has options. It suits her. There is reason & meaning behind it. She loves the story behind why we chose it.

All my girls have three names each and will eventually choose which derivative they want to use but for now they love their names and use them.

I was given the most female name possibly. Seriously couldn't get MORE 'girls name name' and I have hated it my WHOLE LIFE. Having to say it, explain it repeat it. Horrid. Just not an option for me to do it to my kids and DH agreed. He doesn't go by his 'given' name either.

All my DDs love their names and each other's regardless of MN's opinion of them. Apparently DD1's is too common. DD2's is too Z-list slab/ chav and DD3's should never be used for a girl.

Hasn't harmed my three one bit

I know a girl with a boy's name. When I met her, the conversation went like this:

"Your name is [boy's name]? That's your actual name?"
"Yes"
"No, but it's a nickname right? So what's it a nickname for? Like, what's your actual name?"
"It's my actual, real name. It's not a nickname"
"But it's a boy's name!"
"I'm aware. Do you want me to show you my driver's license to prove it?"
(By this point she's obviously lost patience with me)
"No, it's okay. Sorry. You must get this a lot"
"Yes. Every time I meet anyone, ever"
"Sorry"

I felt sheepish, she felt mad. Great way to meet somebody.

If you love it, use it. End of. Just be prepared to have to explain yourself time and time again.......................

No. You need to be prepared for your child to have to explain your choice time and time again.

Don't just choose a name because you love it, give some thought to the person who has to live with it for their whole life (or until they change it)

Pregnancy hormones have a lot to answer for ......

It's ridiculous. Just don't.

Our third DD has a name more traditionally used for a boy and she totally rocks it.

I also wanted to use James for a girl but DH said no.

If you love it, use it. End of. Just be prepared to have to explain yourself time and time again.......................

Nia as an alternative?

This is going back to an earlier comment but Morgan was NOT originally a boy's name. There is a character (beautiful witch) in Arthurian/Celtic legend called Morgan or Morgana Le Fay. (Both spellings are used. Le Fay = (bad) fairy.) Welsh speakers may want to correct me, but, so far as I know, Morgan is a Welsh surname also used as a first name for boys.

FWIW I totally agree with earlier poster, the Bible wasn't written in English so any distinction based on the spellings of English translations is pretty meaningless.

Nice for a boy, awful for a girl.

I also think of it as a boys name, and a very popular one at that (I know 5 and there are at least 3 in my DS2's school year which is only 2 classes), might be tricky for her if there are more than one in her year at school and the rest are all boys? Oh and it makes me think of a beardy bloke on a big boat ;)

I personally don't like biblical names, that's just my preference.
I do like unisex names though.
I actually prefer Noah for a girl than a boy.
But I think the name Noah is way overused at the moment in the UK so that would defiantly put me off even if there aren't as many female Noah's. She's still be one of many in her year at school probably.

No don't do it to your daughter

I came on to say what Jessie said - the O.Testament would've been in classical Hebrew then probably Aramaic.

Anecdotally, I know lots of Noas and Noahs - I'm Jewish and as you can imagine it's a popular name for us - and in English it is almost always Noa for a girl.

You do know that the Bible was not originally written in English and that the spellings of names and translations of concepts are subject of huge debate (eg was Mary actually a virgin or is the word just used to mean "young girl"?). The fact that in some English edition of the Bible a female character's name was written as "Noah" means absolutely nothing. It could just be a typo!

Not quite sure what you were hoping to get from this thread to be honest. Titling it "Noah-for a girl?" then denying that you wanted to discuss whether it was a suitable name for a girl is a bit bonkers.

People will probably look at her and assume she said "Norah".

We've had this discussion before

What a lovely name!

...for a boy.

I'd avoid Noa(h) of any spelling right now, there are just so many small ones about.

I know 5 boys named Noah, all under 5.
I have met 2 people named Noa, both women who will now be in their 40s.

Noah/Noa spellings are established conventions, and "Noah" at least is not the original Hebrew spelling anyway, if you are concerned about authenticity.