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Original poster

Naming a girl after a man

45 replies

Opinion4321 · 10/03/2021 16:25

Hi, I posted in chat too but I'd really appreciate the honest opinions I often see on this board : )

My FILs name is Ray and if we have a boy we would use this as a middle name. However, I'm wondering if we could also use it for a girl, either with the English spelling of Rae or Rei/Rai (as my FIL is Japanese).

Would it be really odd to name a girl after a man? It would also potentially really annoy my MIL but my FIL is such a lovely man. I'm worried he might think it's odd.

My DH is very close to his dad but isn't sure if it's a strange thing to do.

Honest opinions welcomed! Thank you

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NancyPickford · 10/03/2021 16:59

I had a school friend called Ray, and now I have one who is spelled Rae. I Ray know is the normal male spelling but no one seemed to connect her with it being a man's name.

BraveBananaBadge · 10/03/2021 16:47

You've also got Rey in Star Wars (Daisy Ridley's character).

BlackPuddingEggs · 10/03/2021 16:45

Ray isn’t that out there as a women’s name, so I think as a middle name it is fine. Both my son and another family members daughter share a middle name - it was their grandfathers first name and works for both children.

littlemisschoclover · 10/03/2021 16:45

This was exactly our plan, Rae for a middle name for a girl and Raymond middle name if a boy. We ended up having a boy but would definitely still have gone ahead with that middle name for a girl x

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/03/2021 16:37

Raya
Railey
Hypenate a name with Rai
Eg Lily-Rai Sophie-Rai Molly-Rai Olivia-Rai. Poppy-Rai.
I know hypenating is predominently frowned upon on here but Real life would be different

Hadalifeonce · 10/03/2021 16:35

My DS's middle name is my FIL's, as it's a family name. Had he been a girl we would also have used it.

LolaOak · 10/03/2021 16:35

I love boy names for girls! I think Raina is such a lovely name which is more of a girly too

Hailtomyteeth · 10/03/2021 16:35

Yes to Rae.

Jelly4444 · 10/03/2021 16:34

Rae is lovely! How about Raya either?

EugeniaGrace · 10/03/2021 16:34

What is the custom in Japan about naming children after relatives? I’d ask you dh that first.

I know females with the names Rae, Raya and Rachel, none of which sound overly masculine to me. Raya’s term of endearment is little Raya sunshine. Smile

Anotherdaymoreofthesame · 10/03/2021 16:34

We did this with our daughter recently. Her grandad isn't with us anymore and was named Ray. We used the spelling Rae instead.

TalkToTheWind · 10/03/2021 16:33

I think this I beautiful... I love all of your ideas ( I know I am not being helpful)

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/03/2021 16:32

Ray/Rae is quite a common middle name round my way. I wouldnt be surprised to see it as a first name.

CoffeeRunner · 10/03/2021 16:31

Not an unusual middle name for a girl at all. I also think it would be nice to use the Japanese spelling as FIL is Japanese.

My DM always used to tell people about her old neighbours who had 10 sons & then a daughter. They named the daughter Georgina after her father, George. Now that might seem a little odd. But not using Rae/Rai as a mn Grin.

HeadlessGummyBears · 10/03/2021 16:30

I think it’s lovely.

rainbowninja · 10/03/2021 16:29

I think it's a lovely name for a girl and also a lovely recognition of your FIL

Ohdoleavemealone · 10/03/2021 16:28

It's fine. I wouldn't hear that name and think it was a boys name.

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 10/03/2021 16:27

I think it sounds lovely

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/03/2021 16:27

Not strange to me as it’s a girls name - I think middle names are meant to honour family members.

Happenchance · 10/03/2021 16:26

Could you call her Rachel? Ray for short.

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