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Baby names

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Original poster

Is this a girl's name now?

93 replies

cloudandmist · 04/10/2020 17:55

Blair

I'm really crushing on this name and both DH and I see it as a boy's name but the few people we've mentioned it to say they think of girls (Blair from Gossip Girl).

Is this a real issue or is it still very much considered a male name? I have never met any female or male Blairs so I can't even use that as reference.

Our other choices are Fraser, Ashley and Lachlan.

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MaverickDanger · 04/10/2020 19:07

I’ve met two Blair’s, both male and Scottish, would be late 30s ish.

I’m due in December and we’re planning on calling this one Lachlan.

Inthemuckheap · 04/10/2020 19:02

I see Blair as a unisex name BUT reminds me of Tony and being French, blaireau is a badger and a badger hair shaving brush.

VillageGreenPreservationSoc · 04/10/2020 19:00

My friend's dad was called Blair, and I automatically think of Blair Underwood when I hear the name. I think it's more boy than girl, but I quite like it for either.

honigbutter · 04/10/2020 19:00

It's a boy's name to me, in Scotland. I've known a couple.

I don't think anyone here would think of Tony Blair. Lots of boys' names here are surnames. if you don't live in Scotland it might be different.

BillysMyBunny · 04/10/2020 18:54

I have only ever thought of it as a girls name.

Yogaroll · 04/10/2020 18:50

I think of Blair from gossip girl but I like it for both really.

MartiniDry · 04/10/2020 18:47

The name Blair immediately makes me think of Blaire White, a tran identifying guy, so I'm no help to you there!

I very much like Ashley for a boy, and Fraser too, although i would spell the latter with a 'z' as a nod to my former headmistress.

Pinkshrimp · 04/10/2020 18:46

the few people we've mentioned it to say they think of girls

This is why i think it is better to keep your chosen name to yourself until the baby is here and you can present him already named. There will be (hopefully) fewer people to make comments on your chosen name and possibly ruin it for you, once it’s already given.

Name your DS what you want and ignore people who say they think of girls.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 04/10/2020 18:44

2 boy Blair's in my school class in 1974 Glasgow. Who are these people who have not heard of it as a boy's name?

It's a Scottish boys name so probably a lot more common up here than elsewhere. Hence why some may not have heard of it as a boys name. I also knew a good few boy Blairs growing up. But now it's kind of falling/has fallen into the popular mainstream as a girls name.

Cam77 · 04/10/2020 18:42

I guess not a factor for his peers, but certainly for the mid/older generations.

Cam77 · 04/10/2020 18:40

Most British people will immediately think of Tony Blair, and then of course by connection the Iraq war which unfortunately overshadowed his whole PMship. I wouldn’t choose it in a million years for that reason alone, but to each their own.

CarolVordermansBum · 04/10/2020 18:38

My first thought was the Blair witch

Original poster
cloudandmist · 04/10/2020 18:35

We really like Lachlan but the pronunciation thing is holding us back a bit. We are all for the Scottish way but worry it will get said a different way occasionally.

And then for Fraser we've had occasional comments on the show Frasier! Not sure why everyone we know has been watching so much American television (nothing wrong ofc but most references are based on that)

I am English. DH is half English, half Scottish if that helps. We also don't have any connection to the surname Blair, it's just a name we liked.

OP posts:
HowFastIsTooFast · 04/10/2020 18:33

I only know one Blair in real life and he's male.

ooohbananas · 04/10/2020 18:32

I know a girl called Blair

ArnoldBee · 04/10/2020 18:32

I guess I'm.a certain age as I think of Tony Blair or The Blair Witch Project. Ashley - Mary-Kate and Ashley and Lachlan that handsome doctor in Home and Away!

Brakebackcyclebot · 04/10/2020 18:29

I know of both a make & female Blair.

It makes me think of Tony Blair.

Fraser is a fab name.

Nousernameforme · 04/10/2020 18:29

The only Blair I know is Blair st Clair the drag queen I would never have pegged it as a boys name.

MikeUniformMike · 04/10/2020 18:29

Sorry, didn't read OP carefully enough.

The girl Blair I thought had an odd name when there were so many Clares around. I think it sounds like Blare so isn't that nice a sound.

I know female Ashleys.

Fraser is fine as is Lachlan said the scottish way.

NameChange30 · 04/10/2020 18:28

Cross post!

NameChange30 · 04/10/2020 18:27

Ahhh I misread. Yes I think you're all right.

This is the problem with "unisex" names or boys' names that become popular for girls... they get "tainted" by the association with girls and people don't want to use them for boys any more Sad

OP I think Blair would be ok for a boy but prefer the other names on your list.

It's not because it can be used for girls, it's because of the association with Tony Blair.

Original poster
cloudandmist · 04/10/2020 18:27

why all names are for boys*

Not sure how that typo happened, sorry

OP posts:
Original poster
cloudandmist · 04/10/2020 18:26

We are having a boy

Forgot to mention on the post and see people are making comments about the gender. We are having a boy. Hence why all names are not names.

OP posts:
user27378 · 04/10/2020 18:25

I think it's pretty unisex, though I've only ever heard it on girls, but even then very rarely. Personally I don't see the appeal, sounds like someone saying bleurgh in my local accent.

Ughmaybenot · 04/10/2020 18:24

I would think Blair was a girl, Ashley could be either and Fraser and Lachlan are both obviously boys.

I love Fraser and Lachlan, they’re our number one and number two choices 👌🏻

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