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Baby names

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

Original poster

Too feminine?

36 replies

joyserani · 12/08/2018 04:35

My husband and I are expecting a boy on the 18th, and we're considering the name "Hilary", as in Hilary Knight, a male illustrator. Hilary is traditionally a unisex name, and we love love love it, but could still use a second opinion regarding venturing into dangerous territory, what with it being so feminine now and everything--any thoughts?

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DameSquashalot · 12/08/2018 07:59

typer

What about Tyler though?????

DameSquashalot · 12/08/2018 07:58

I must be a slow Tyler 😊

DameSquashalot · 12/08/2018 07:58

...and Dr Hilary Jones

WildCherryBlossom · 12/08/2018 07:56

And Dr Hilary....

Heratnumber7 · 12/08/2018 07:55

There's Hilary Benn. The only man I know with the name, and he's in the public eye, so it's not unknown as a male name in the UK.

memaymamo · 12/08/2018 07:15

I couldn't do it.

sunsalutations · 12/08/2018 07:08

He will hate it when he's at school because the teasing will be relentless.

Ihuntmonsters · 12/08/2018 06:54

Hilary is very rarely used for boys now, and while many people seem to be giving their girls traditionally boys names the trend doesn't go the other way. Once a name is commonly given to girls it tends to cease to be used for boys. I really think that being called Hilary could be problematic for your son, however much you like the name. The only saving grace might be that Hilary is no longer used much at all so it's possible that while adults will think you've given your son a girls name his peers may well not make that connection. Personally I think it's middle name only territory.

RedDwarves · 12/08/2018 06:53

Whether it's too feminine or not is less of an issue than the fact that it will be far too closely associated with Hillary Clinton now. It doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you're on - it will be burden for a boy born in 2018 to carry.

LoveMoreSleepPlease · 12/08/2018 06:44

I don't think it's a particularly feminine name even for a female - I personally don't like it and wouldn't want to explain my name choice to anyone.

Your son has to have this name forever so imagine living with the name, whether you think he'd be happy with it and go from there.

FWIW the only Hilary's I know are 50+ year old women ...

AjasLipstick · 12/08/2018 04:47

Well I like it. It's very noble sounding. But you will get comments and some confusion. The question is, do you love it enough to let that go? Or do you worry it might mean your child is teased? If there's an IOTA of worry then I wouldn't choose it. There are so many lovely names.

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