Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Naming your daughter a boy's name, yes or no ?

181 replies

Momto2girliess · 12/06/2021 20:45

My sibling named her baby girl a classic masculine name ( Think John, Robert , Thomas). I am never going to say anything to her. I am just curious to know people's opinion on it.

She always wanted a boy.This is baby girl n°5. Do you think it is a bit strange to name your girl a very masculine name?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:48

Well, I asked a question rather than answered one 😂. But since you don't really have an answer I'll stop bothering

We just asked why? 😂. And you sound really defensive about it.

You used a question mark but I don’t see a question.

Beetlewing · 13/06/2021 13:47

James is fine Keith not so

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:46

It was me that said sometimes it's clearly done to make a point. I'm not saying you did it for this reason but the OPs sister clearly has and many others also do it to make a point.

Thanks for answering.

PurpleMustang · 13/06/2021 13:45

Sorry but this is mad. So not only is the child going to be constantly asked to repeat her name as people will assume they have heard wrong. On paper people will assume her to be a boy. She will get asked to spell it as people will assume there is some weird twist on it. The child will grow thinking what the hell my mum wanted a boy that much she did that! And then people that don't know her will be maybe assuming she has changed gender but not name, with the crazy world we live in now. Poor child

GreenCrayon · 13/06/2021 13:44

@UhtredRagnarson

I’m asking if your “clearly sometimes it’s done to prove a point” is about me, because it’s what you wrote in your respond to me. How is that defensive? Confused
It was me that said sometimes it's clearly done to make a point. I'm not saying you did it for this reason but the OPs sister clearly has and many others also do it to make a point.
GreyhoundG1rl · 13/06/2021 13:43

@UhtredRagnarson

I didn't say that, actually

Apologies, you answered a post I directed at another poster and called yourself “we” so I assumed it was fine to attribute the post to you as you seemed to be working as a pair. If you don’t want to answer questions directed at other posters, Umm, don’t answer questions directed at other posters.

Well, I asked a question rather than answered one 😂. But since you don't really have an answer I'll stop bothering 🤣🤣🤣
Sharingthesamedream · 13/06/2021 13:43

I think it depends on the name.My grandad was asked to register my aunt.He decided to pop over to the pub first,lost the paper and decided he’d register as Julian.Apart from being called Gillian a few times,no one seems particularly bothered…atleast to her face.She’s 65 now

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:41

I didn't say that, actually

Apologies, you answered a post I directed at another poster and called yourself “we” so I assumed it was fine to attribute the post to you as you seemed to be working as a pair. If you don’t want to answer questions directed at other posters, Umm, don’t answer questions directed at other posters.

MumofSpud · 13/06/2021 13:39

IMO Christopher isn't even a nice name!

There would be sooo many other names that could have been chosen!

Viviennemary · 13/06/2021 13:36

Its just silly, thoughtless and ignorant. They could have given her a gender neutral name.

GreyhoundG1rl · 13/06/2021 13:36

@UhtredRagnarson

I’m asking if your “clearly sometimes it’s done to prove a point” is about me, because it’s what you wrote in your respond to me. How is that defensive? Confused
I didn't say that, actually
UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:35

I’m asking if your “clearly sometimes it’s done to prove a point” is about me, because it’s what you wrote in your respond to me. How is that defensive? Confused

GreyhoundG1rl · 13/06/2021 13:34

@UhtredRagnarson

Well I'd hope it's because they loved the name but clearly sometimes it's done to prove a point.

You think I was trying to prove a point?

We just asked why? 😂. And you sound really defensive about it...
UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:34

MN is so incredibly insular, conservative and dull when it comes to names. The girls names offered on this thread are a perfect example. Ellie!! FFS Grin

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:31

And apart from one person on here who claims to have done it the other way around

“Claims to” Grin

“If I’ve never seen it, it’s never happened”

MadeOfStarStuff · 13/06/2021 13:25

I hate it. And apart from one person on here who claims to have done it the other way around, it’s always girls getting boys names. Hmm

It always smacks of parents who are desperate to be cool and alternative and/or they really wanted a boy. The parents aren’t the one who have to go through life as a girl called Christopher.

MustardRose · 13/06/2021 13:19

I'm Brian... and so's my wife.

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:17

@PixieDust28

That's just beyond cruel. My partner is called Christopher and I still think to myself why his mum called him it.
Confused

You wonder why your partners mum called him Christopher? Why? Is it a very strange name where you’re from?

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:16

Most people don't give their son's a girl's name

Not sure what point you’re trying to make.

UhtredRagnarson · 13/06/2021 13:15

Well I'd hope it's because they loved the name but clearly sometimes it's done to prove a point.

You think I was trying to prove a point?

TotorosCatBus · 13/06/2021 13:07

If I was a female Christopher I'd be changing to Christie or Kitty (female version of Kit) pronto.

PixieDust28 · 13/06/2021 13:01

That's just beyond cruel.
My partner is called Christopher and I still think to myself why his mum called him it.

Justgettingbye · 13/06/2021 12:59

Yes it's cruel. You can try and be 'quirky' or clever but everyone knows that John is traditionally a boys name and the kids at school will realise this aswell

GreyhoundG1rl · 13/06/2021 12:56

@UhtredRagnarson

Why?

Why does any parent use a name for their child?

Most people don't give their son's a girl's name 🤷🏻‍♀️
GreenCrayon · 13/06/2021 12:55

Blame the patriarchy. It won’t change itself. We have to make the changes we want to see. Which starts with removing the rules for applying names based on the child’s sex.

Which is fab but as others have pointed out its never the parent changing their name is it? It's always some poor kid who is left to deal with the issues that come with being constantly presumed to be the opposite gender.