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Baby names

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

Original poster

Cecily on a boy?

157 replies

AnneBoleyn6 · 03/09/2021 23:25

So my wife really likes Cecily for a boy (usually pronounced Sess-ill-lee, but comes out more like Sess-lee when talking fast).

I love the name Cecily, but I don't know about it for a boy. We both don't really like Cecil. We do like traditionally girl names on boys, though.

I just am not completely sold. What do you think? Can you help me love it?

OP posts:
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KeyErro · 03/09/2021 23:49

YY to ChardonnaysPetDragon, surely you're considering Sue?

GiantCheeseMonster · 03/09/2021 23:48

FFS, everyone knows that Cecily is a girl’s name. Doesn’t matter how rare it is. Esmerelda is uncommon but we all know it’s a girl’s name. You’re naming a human being, not a pet. Most parents want to minimise the chances of their child being bullied. Why don’t you?

HasaDigaEebowai · 03/09/2021 23:48

so most people wouldn't immediately know it was a girl name?

Of course people would know it’s a girls name. Quite frankly they will pity your child and think you are idiots.

Gloschick · 03/09/2021 23:47

How about the Spanish version of Cecil - Cecilio? You still get the Cecily sound with an o at the end to make it more masculine, and he could shorten it to Lio.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 03/09/2021 23:45

Sue is much better.

alexdgr8 · 03/09/2021 23:44

is this a joke ?
why do you want to give a boy a girl's name; not unisex, definite girl's.
and of course everyone has heard of cecily,
it's a well-known classy girl's name. cecily courtnadge comes to mind.
i've just looked it on google: every one a female.
give him a good strong name, like manchester.

saraclara · 03/09/2021 23:43

There are some unisex names. Like Lesley/Leslie, or Alex, or Lindsey. But Cecily isn't one of them.

The question to ask is "do you want our son to have a happy and uncomplicated school life?" Because a male Cecily is highly unlikely to.

kikipie · 03/09/2021 23:42

Are you mad?

Palavah · 03/09/2021 23:41

Is this a joke or are you trying to prove a point about the one-sidedness of using girl's names for boys but not vice versa?

Wineandroses3 · 03/09/2021 23:36

Sorry it’s a definite NO from me.

Original poster
AnneBoleyn6 · 03/09/2021 23:36

@Ticklyrain Yeah, I know it's really feminine. She said it's fairly uncommon, at least where we live, which I'd say is true, the only Cecily I know is Cecily Strong from SNL, so most people wouldn't immediately know it was a girl name? The area we live there are a lottt of people with names usually associated with the opposite gender.
I'll mention the Sissy thing to her tho. Maybe that'll get her to think of others.

OP posts:
DartmoorChef · 03/09/2021 23:36

That would be cruel. It's dreadful.

HasaDigaEebowai · 03/09/2021 23:35

It would be an awful thing to do to your child. Why on earth would you.

Kanaloa · 03/09/2021 23:34

You like traditionally girls names on boys? Why? That makes it sound like it isn’t even about the name specifically, it’s about you making a point by choosing a ‘girls’ name.

If you love the name Cecily, change your name to Cecily. Let your little boy have a boys name.

LargeBouquet · 03/09/2021 23:34

@MyOtherProfile

I don't usually doubt the veracity of an OP.
Grin
EnjoyingTheSilence · 03/09/2021 23:32

Why????

DotDotDotDotDot · 03/09/2021 23:32

I think it would be very unkind to give your son a girls name, my question would be why? There are more gender neutral names around now which are fine but Cecily is definitely not one of them.

AuntieStella · 03/09/2021 23:31

As you don't like it, just say so.

It's really very normal to have to abandon names you like because your partner doesn't. Stop trying to love it. Keep up the search fir a name you both really like.

What other names do you like?

MyOtherProfile · 03/09/2021 23:31

I don't usually doubt the veracity of an OP.

HonoreDeBallsack · 03/09/2021 23:31

@OhWhatsTheDifference

It's not even a really nice name on a girl 🤷🏻‍♀️
Oh yes it is!

It's a massive no for a boy, though.

If you want a girl's name which is also a boy's name, you'd need to have something like Leslie, Robin, Charlie or some such. Or even a daft non-name like River or Star. Do not under any circumstances lumber a boy with a name which is very, very obviously a girl's name.

DramaAlpaca · 03/09/2021 23:31

Don't be daft.

Mybalconyiscracking · 03/09/2021 23:31

Gawd, this is why I wouldn’t trust some people to name a hamster, never mind a child!

TalesOfDrunkennessAndCruelty · 03/09/2021 23:31

I assume you’re turning the tables on the “I want to call my daughter John/Nigel/Hugo” brigade.

Gilmorehill · 03/09/2021 23:30

Absolutely not! I’ve never heard of a boy with a similar name. I work in KS2 as a TA. Bullying is awful.

saraclara · 03/09/2021 23:30

It is 100% a girl's name. Please don't do this..

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