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Baby names

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

Original poster

"girl" names for boys

66 replies

SavannahMayfield · 22/07/2020 18:11

Me and DH are expecting a DS soon and were brainstorming ideas. My mother then told me I couldn't give him "girl" names. We didn't realise it at the time but our favourite names are seen as "girly". She said that he would sound more like a girl than his sister Benji (who when we talk about her is presumed to be a boy named Benjamin).
Some of our names include Laurie, Avery, Wren, Bea and Eli
What are your opinions??

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MidnightCitrus · 24/07/2020 08:40

Why can't you pick a name that fits him, and not pick a girls name.

Your post seems to be 'oh look how quirky and different we are'

Veterinari · 24/07/2020 08:06

@Allmyeye

I had a child in my class years ago who hated his name and regularly cried about it. He hated it because he said it was a girls name and tbh he had a point at that time. Many years later it is more used for boys now but that didn’t help him at the time. His parents were upset and said they were loath to let him change it as they had chosen it very carefully. They were considering it though because of his distress. He was 6/7. The other children thought it was a girls name which added to his distress. I’d be really careful before I gave my boy a girly name or visa versa.
I appreciate that this is reality but I still think it's sad that even by the ages of 6 our children are conditioned to view 'girly' things as negative.

I doubt very much you'd get the same issues with a girl called Elliot, Riley etc Sad

LinemanForTheCounty · 24/07/2020 08:03

MY NAME IS SUE.
HOW DO YOU DO?

RoseAndRose · 24/07/2020 08:01

Nova is the car, and it's a car which had to be renamed for the mainland European market as it means 'doesn't work / no go'

(Not just the meaning of the name IYSWIM - the actual translation of 'no va')

GreyishDays · 24/07/2020 07:56

Nova is still a small Vauxhall car in the Uk I’d say.

GreyishDays · 24/07/2020 07:56

Are you pronouncing Eli

Eel eye - boy name
Or
Ell eee - girl name

micc · 24/07/2020 07:52

My friend has a son called Ren :)
What about Nova? It's both and it's more of a popular Male name in easten Europe but more commonly girls in America.
Or maybe just Alex? Or Alexi?
I think Bea is a bit too girlie imo, but at the end of the day you have to choose what you like :)

Muppetry76 · 24/07/2020 07:24

I quite like Sabre for a masculine girls name/for a boy...

BeMorePacific · 24/07/2020 07:19

I really like Eli ♥️

MikeUniformMike · 23/07/2020 18:19

@Marble2302, that's Benjamin/Binyamin not Benji.

FartnissEverbeans · 23/07/2020 17:04

@LouiseTrees

I’ve known boys and girls named Ellis in Scotland, and a boy and a girl Laurie. In fact I think Laurie is quite established as a boys’ name in Scotland? It’s a Scottish surname, and a Scottish tradition (perhaps outdated now) to name a son with his mother’s maiden name.

Marble2302 · 23/07/2020 17:00

Benji is a boys name in Hebrew it means son of my right hand. This thread must be a wind up.

Reythemamajedi · 23/07/2020 16:35

Intrigued what is Benji short for?

Pippilangstrumpfie · 23/07/2020 16:28

I know a female Eli, short for Elinor.

BiBabbles · 23/07/2020 16:07

Of your names, I like Avery and Eli best, Laurie somewhat, and wouldn't use the others.

Woodentopper · 23/07/2020 15:58

To be honest I think all the names you've chosen are awful.

Thisismytimetoshine · 23/07/2020 15:57

Bea??
I'd assume Benji was a boy, too. Why are you so keen to give your daughter's boys names and vice versa? Such a pointless thing to do.

monkeyonthetable · 23/07/2020 15:53

I like Avery, Eli and Laurie. All male names imo.

Randomfires · 23/07/2020 15:51

I know a few female Wrens. And Bea is definitely a girls name - short for Beatrice. Laurie is also a girls name. Avery I’ve never heard but just makes me think of Aviary.

Eli is a boys name
Benji is a boys names

Flappingflamingo · 23/07/2020 15:44

I would assume eli is a boy, Laurie could be either, wren, bea and avery I would definitely assume were girls. Sorry

newreality1 · 23/07/2020 01:39

Eli is lovely

Tavannach · 23/07/2020 01:29

Bea and Wren are girls' names. I like the others.

Allmyeye · 23/07/2020 01:22

I had a child in my class years ago who hated his name and regularly cried about it. He hated it because he said it was a girls name and tbh he had a point at that time. Many years later it is more used for boys now but that didn’t help him at the time. His parents were upset and said they were loath to let him change it as they had chosen it very carefully. They were considering it though because of his distress. He was 6/7. The other children thought it was a girls name which added to his distress. I’d be really careful before I gave my boy a girly name or visa versa.

jemmawilkins85 · 23/07/2020 01:18

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BigBass1980 · 23/07/2020 01:15

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