Changing baby's name

Bet it’s Aubrey. Which was a perfectly good boys name until people started giving it to girls…

I had a work colleague her name was Jesse, spelt the male way. I found out it was simply the male spelling because her mum didn't know that it was. Mistakes that happened all of the time and once people get to know the person and the name it comes together nicely.

What have you decided to do OP?

Pick another name and change it asap. Don't let your child go through life with this problem....

I know a male Andrea - he's Italian and it's pronounced An-dray-ah. But when it's written it obviously looks female from a UK perspective. But once people know he's male I don't think it's really an issue. But that's where a middle name can be helpful -
Andrea Matthew Smith is more obviously male for example.

I think whether a unisex name is perceived as male or female depends on context. I saw a report a while ago that showed differences between Scotland and England in the use of unisex names (e.g. Rowan more commonly a girl in Scotland but a boy in England). Can't find the link now, sorry.

Overall, I think adding a middle name is a good option. Then stick with the name you love and introduce him with confidence - 'this is my son , his name's X'. Then there's no awkwardness or ambiguity. Unless it actually is a girls name - but if you thought it was unisex then I'm presuming it is used for boys.

Op. I have a unisex name that's more commonly used for males than females. I have had people insist to me its a male name and I have to me a MR. I tell them not to be so rude and I've given birth to 4 children so my sex is not in question here.

It's not a name I would have picked for my children. I am not gond of unisex names personally. However its not the name. Its people being rude and ungracious when corrected.

If you love the name then keep it. When people say she correct with a big smile. Our "Morgan" is a boy its a unisex name.. and move on. People will learn. I briefly dated a guy called Tracy. He was OK with it said similar things as I do. People are rude and that's on them not on the name.

I would love to communicate more about your babies name. I know you don't wanna give it on here, but we can connect another way if you would like. I am familiar with many names that people assume as one gender when they are both. Let me know if you want to chat more about it from a very understanding Autism mom. You are the parents and will always know what is best and the meaning behind the name to you as parents means more than any gender base scenario. My daughter has a girls name, but it is one that isn't common at all. My niece has a name that most think of as a boys name even though it can be both.

No worries at all.

The way things are going in schools at the moment it's easy enough to just change the name that is given at birth. Loads of kids are asking teachers to call them by their preferred names of the other gender or gender neutral. Things are changing. I'd probably just keep the name you've given him and maybe give a different nickname if you really want to. It might be annoying but really does it matter what people think? I remember having a boy in my class called Courtney and I assumed before I met them that he was a girl, but then saw he wasn't and that was the end of that.

If the name would cause your son embarrassment or bullying I would change it .

Hi there,

I absolutely love names that can be either gender. Especially in today’s environment where gender and gender roles are no longer considered to be so, “black & white”.

In my experience kids grow into their names so well you can’t imagine them as anything else.

In the late 90s it became quite the trend in this part of the world to give girls names traditionally for a boy, and the names have majorly evolved over time.

This I’m sure will be the same, what may be less common than you think now - will be “trendy” later.

I know your situation is the reverse of what I have described, but it’s progressive and it really doesn’t matter in todays world, no matter how many granny’s at the hair salon give a sideways look - they’re the older generations and the minority these days.

My sister’s name “Evelyn” was originally a boys name, not that anyone would remember that now. Whereas my son “Jordan” I had people assuming he was a girl because there are so many female Jordan’s. He was nearly named Brooklyn, but now I have a niece named Brooklyn.

I simply use words like “my son Jordan”.

There are people out their that name their kids after some pretty unique things, like in my sons school class we have names like “Legacy” and “Beautiful”.

I’ve had friends named Kelly/Keli of both genders and Casey girl’s and Casey boys. Once you know a person their name is just their name.

I hope you’re not discouraged. I think it’s wonderful.

We live in 2022, where people can be or identify with whatever they like, so you could almost argue that giving a name has no gender at all and therefore their argument about it being a girls name is entirely a moot point.

Stay Strong Mumma xx all the way from New Zealand 🇳🇿.

I think the best thing to do in this situation is to add a middle name or two to the bc and then if his first name causes him embarrassment when he’s older, he can change it. Therefore you’re keeping the original name you both chose for him and giving him options too.

I know an male Eden pronounced
Eh-den rather than ee-den.
Is there a pronunciation change you could make or is it literally the same name?
I would change it honestly, your son shouldn't need to start off life with constantly explaining himself or possibly even being made fun of. Kids are cruel, and adults are worse.

My friend called her son Madison.
I went to school with boys called Stacey, Kelly and Courtney.
I worked with a woman who had a son called Jayde.
Anything goes.

Lindsay, Beverley, Skye? Did you know John Wayne's real name was Marion? Couldn't help but think of the song 'A Boy Named Sue' by Johnny Cash. Could you call him a shortened version or derivative of the name.

I cant believe I came all this way and still don't know his name 🤦‍♀️

I also know that children are bullied/teased/picked on about lots of different things and we could choose another name and people may have a different issue with that.

Yes. Most kids are pretty open minded about different names. If bullies decide to bully another child, they'll find a reason and it's rarely the name!

The only boy I've ever seen teased about his name was a William who got called Willy in primary school.

I haven't read the whole thread but it's honestly hard to judge without knowing the name. Some names are "technically" unisex but are basically only used for girls anymore in this country. Dana for example is a unisex name in America but I've only heard of girls with that name in the UK. If the name you chose is one of those, then yes, I would consider changing it. Have you checked how many boys vs girls are given the name each year in England (or wherever else you live)? But things like people asking why he's dressed in boy's clothes will stop when he's older, clearly looks like a boy and can speak to for himself.

I think that if it’s along the lines of Harper/Cassidy/Darcy then it’s probably going to be problematic for him and I’d consider changing it.

For more obvious unisex names - Alex, Charlie. Ashley then I would never assume the sex as they are quite obviously unisex names.

I went to school with a Lee (f) and she was forever being put in the boys PE classes etc. because they’d chosen the male spelling. That was bad enough. Obviously Leigh/Lee is fine when you say it but she was always assumed to be a boy on paper.

I knew a girl with Russian parents who called her son Sasha (diminutive of Alexander in Russia). We pointed out that Sasha tends to be a girl's name in the U.K.