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Baby names

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

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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HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 20/05/2018 18:52

because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name.

I really don't think it does get used by both in the same way though. Some people may shorten it from a longer name as shown by those above to arrive at Leo as a nickname. However the name Leo on its own as the OP is suggesting is not a name which has ever been given to girls, boys yes but never girls and therefore I don't understand why anyone would think Leo is unisex.

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 18:51

Mist Alex is a nickname for Alexandra or Alexander, female and male versions of the same name.

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 18:49

It's like calling your daughter James.

Do, if you want. However your daughter may or may not appreciate having a man's name when she's a self conscious 11 or 16 year old starting a new school, during Freshers week at uni, or joining a new company at 36... She might totally "own" it and be fabulous, but you have to be aware she might always hate it and be deeply self conscious explaining that yes, she was born female, her parents just gave her a male name for some reason...

buttercup54321 · 20/05/2018 18:49

How stupid. Poor child. Use Cleo or just keep Leo until you have an actual boy. Unless of course you like Lucy for a boy by then.

RexManning · 20/05/2018 18:43

because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name.

Not in England and Wales, and not as a given name - it doesn't even register on the ONS stats as a female name, which means if it's given at all to girls, it's to fewer than three every year since 1997.

If you have encountered a lot of female Leos then I suggest that they are using it as a diminutive of Leonie, Leonora, Leona etc.

MistAmougstElephants · 20/05/2018 18:38

headsdownthumbsup because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name. I've met more males called Alex then females doesn't mean I think Alex is a male name.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 20/05/2018 18:23

I think it's very boring for a boy but AWESOME for a girl!

EllenJanethickerknickers · 20/05/2018 18:22

I know a female Leo pronounced Lay Oh short for Leonore who is from a Spanish speaking country.

LivininaBox · 20/05/2018 18:19

I have met a female Leo, short for a Greek name - I think it was Leoclides?

sonnyboo · 20/05/2018 18:18

I know a female Leo, short for Leontine. I like it.

Sherlockmaystealyourpug · 20/05/2018 18:16

I know a lovely, brilliant female Leo (it's a shortening of one of the names you said you dislike but she mostly goes by Leo) and it's totally sold me on it. I really like it. If you do, go for it. You'll get very mixed opinions but I wouldn't let that sway you if you love it.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 20/05/2018 18:11

I love it! I thought it was a unisex name.

How can anyone think Leo is a unisex name? The likes of Sam, Alex and Frankie I understand (although most called these names would still have a longer name on their birth certificate regardless of gender) but I really cannot wrap my head around how anyone could think Leo is unisex?

Canone · 20/05/2018 18:06

I love Leo, boy or girl.

NameChange30 · 20/05/2018 18:01

FFS

If you had a son would you call him Sophie?!

Juanitajune · 20/05/2018 17:58

Tony Blair's son

kaytee87 · 20/05/2018 17:53

It's a boys name, and not a particularly nice one at that.

Boooommm · 20/05/2018 17:52

I love it. I would be tempted to have a longer version on birth cert just in case they want to use it.

MistAmougstElephants · 20/05/2018 17:52

I love it! I thought it was a unisex name.
If your worried though how about a hyphen with another name? Two first names? Leo Rose or Leo May etc.

NataliaOsipova · 20/05/2018 17:51

I wouldn't. Save it for a future son. As others have suggested, use Leah/Lia or Cleo or Leona instead.

SemperIdem · 20/05/2018 17:47

No

Somersetlady · 20/05/2018 17:39

Not fair on your child.

JaretsGirlfren · 20/05/2018 17:36

I really like it actually, and have never been keen on it for a boy maybe because I got bit by one when I was a nursery nurse sounds like a strong female name to me, I’d go for it!

AyeWhySwim · 20/05/2018 17:32

I love it. Also knew a female Leo growing up and always thought it was a great name - strong but nice sounding. I think hers was short for Leonora.

zzzzz · 20/05/2018 17:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

barfotoliv · 20/05/2018 17:24

I know a female Leo very well and I love it. In my mind Leo is a girl's name now. However she is not from the UK - I don't know if you would get away with it to the same extent here!

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