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Original poster

Leo for a girl?

61 replies

catalinablue · 20/05/2018 17:03

What do you think of using Leo for a girl?

Don't particularly like any 'longer' feminine versions (Leona, Leonie, Leonora, etc) but love Leo.

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IVflytrap · 21/05/2018 20:03

I like it as a shortening: Leonor (no a!) is my favourite long form. I prefer Leonor over all the other options, although Leonie is sweet. If by itself, I'd worry about her getting fed up of being assumed to be a boy and/or getting questioned on her name. I would foresee lots of people thinking her name was Leah...

Other names in a similar vein: Cleo / Clio. Juno. Hero. Leto. Calypso. Mireio. Nia. Luna. Lux.

17caterpillars1mouse · 21/05/2018 19:21

Love it as a shortening but wouldn't use it as a full name. I really like Leonora

ellalouise90 · 21/05/2018 18:28

Love it!

RosieCotton · 21/05/2018 14:21

My name is Leoni. And I have spent all my life hating my name. It always got shortened to Leo which was just as bad. I wouldn't use it for a girl. I was named after my uncle Leo which is the only reason I never changed it. (Always wanted to change it to Anne) please don't call a girl Leo, I dont think she'd apprciate it. I spent all my teen years being mocked for having a boys name, even though Leoni is a femine name.

Would be like calling a boy Sophie. IMO anyway.

LuluBellaBlue · 21/05/2018 07:39

I love Leo for a girls name :)

Sessy19 · 21/05/2018 07:29

Name your daughter what you like. It’s 2018, we are not tied to tradition any more. A hundred years ago, we gave girls a boys name with an a, but these days you can name your child after a country or a car if you like! A girl gets away with more unusual names in my opinion anyway.

If you’re aware of the rather outdated issues raised here, you can mitigate them as your daughter grows.

I think it’s beautiful and strong. Not for me, but she isn’t my kid! Grin

Pudding01 · 21/05/2018 06:37

Sorry OP but it doesn't work for me.

Lots of similar female names out there x

Nagsnovalballs · 21/05/2018 02:49

Female Leos tend to be Leonoras.

DontMentionTheWar · 21/05/2018 02:10

Leonora is beautiful and Leo is a great nickname for it but not a name for a girl on its own.

Discobabe98 · 21/05/2018 00:53

I love it but would go for Leonie/Leona officially. You could still call her Leo everyday, but makes it easier for her. Your choice though; I love the name Parker for a girl too though (with a really feminine middle name hahah) which most people would say NO and boy to, so I guess I have a similar mindset Grin

Tartyflette · 21/05/2018 00:46

No. It's not cool and it's not cute.
It's short for Leonard, middle-aged bloke's name

Kokeshi123 · 21/05/2018 00:45

As others have said, would you call your son Margaret?

Please don't.

There are plenty of similar female names, like Leah/Lia, Leila, Lina, Leonie, Leona or Leola.

Puffycat · 21/05/2018 00:44

You’ll be giving your daughter a terrible burden. It’s like a boy named Sue! Don’t do it!

SilverySurfer · 21/05/2018 00:38

It just screams 'desperate to be different.' If you love it so much change your own name to Leo and give your daughter a girl's name.

sycamore54321 · 21/05/2018 00:19

I am of the majority view. As well as being an obviously male name like James or Peter, it also describes a male noun; literally means male lion. No ambiguity there. Lia and Cleo are both great suggestions above.

Lilymossflower · 21/05/2018 00:17

I think it would be absolutely beautiful for a girl :) xxx

applesandpears56 · 21/05/2018 00:04

Lorna?

applesandpears56 · 21/05/2018 00:03

No!

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 23:53

Charlotte, Roberta and Veronica... Are Charlie, Bobbie and Ronnie.

Why do people not understand nicknames?

AyeWhySwim · 20/05/2018 22:35

Wow! Some really harsh and unpleasant responses on this thread. Sometimes I feel like people just like to jump in and have a go when they see a thread going a certain way.
So generally those people who find it ‘silly’ and a terrible idea to call a girl Leo are fine with it as long as the birth certificate says Leona or Leonora or something? Is there much difference to female Charlies? Billies? Bobbies? Ronnies?

llangennith · 20/05/2018 19:11

What a silly idea.

Racecardriver · 20/05/2018 19:09

Why can't you give her a girls name but just call her Leo. My favorite would be Leona because it reminds me of Leona Edminston.

Liadan · 20/05/2018 19:06

We have a dd called Líadan and we call her Leo as a pet name;)

Glumglowworm · 20/05/2018 18:56

Don’t do it

When people give their daughters Male names (not unisex or diminutives but actual male names) I just think they must’ve wanted a boy and are forcing whatever name they would’ve given their son onto their daughter as second best.

I say it that way around because you never encounter people wanting to use girls names for boys.

Leo for a girl short for Leonie or Leonora or whatever is fine. Not my choice but fine. If you don’t like the longer versions then you need to pick s different name and save Leo for a son

AmazingPostVoices · 20/05/2018 18:56

No. Just no.