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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sky or Hazel for a boy

132 replies

toastofthetown · 29/01/2023 14:19

I like Sky and Hazel for boys, and was wondering what the general opinion was on their usability. Sky has been consistently used for boys in England and Wales, albeit fewer than ten babies a year, though Hazel has never registered as a boys name. I do like softer boys names generally and many like like Rowan, Robin, Sacha which are also well used for girls. For these names, I don't like them as girls names.

These aren't names I'm seriously considering using, mostly as I like other names more and it's a no from my husband anyway, but just wondered what other people thought of them

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AnotherNameChangeYes · 29/01/2023 15:42

I really dislike the name Hazel, to me it’s a frumpy 80s name of someone with a perm.

But never for a boy, unless of course you hated your child and wanted them to be bullied forever.

Wasn’t the male character in Mamma Mia called Sky?

blisstwins · 29/01/2023 15:37

No. I would not give my child a name that might be confusing or a burden. Julian is a beautiful soft name.

User17498765 · 29/01/2023 15:36

Hazel was popular in the 60s for girls.

HagridTheGiant · 29/01/2023 15:36

Hazel is a beautiful name, for a girl. (Sky, not so much, but it's a "normal" sort of name, as in nobody would raise their eyebrows)
Don't do it to a son, for all reasons above.

SallyWD · 29/01/2023 15:33

Please don't. No teenage boy or grown man wants to have a female name. Think about your child and the impact it will have on their life, not what you think is cool.

PolarBlair · 29/01/2023 15:24

Both are girls names

Sandunesandseashells · 29/01/2023 15:16

Or just ‘H’ as known to the Duchess or from Steps 😬

Sandunesandseashells · 29/01/2023 15:14

Or Haz - our ‘favourite’ Prince’s nickname

Sandunesandseashells · 29/01/2023 15:13

You could use Hazem which is Arabic or Haze which is Dutch

grayhairdontcare · 29/01/2023 15:12

Can i throw
Heath
Moss
River
Forrest
Linden
In the mix if you want something earthy

Reinventinganna · 29/01/2023 15:10

I don’t like either name for boys or girls.

BCBird · 29/01/2023 15:10

I agree with your husband. I always think dont give a child a name they have to constantly explain- not good. They're for girls I think.

xJoyPeaceHealthx · 29/01/2023 15:09

I quiite like the unisex vibe on boys' names, like Jesse, Sandy, Kim, Sacha, Casey
But Hazel is not a boy's name
Nor is sky really but it's not quite as obviously feminine.

TerfOnATrain · 29/01/2023 15:08

I know one of each.

Sky is a young woman aged 26
Hazel is also a woman, aged 60

No for either from me.

IntentionalError · 29/01/2023 15:07

FFS, you are naming a grown man here, who will have a career and possibly hold senior positions of authority & responsibility in his life. Naming him Hazel, which everyone knows is a female name, would be completely stupid and cruel. Sky isn’t much better.

Doveyouknow · 29/01/2023 15:07

Honestly, Hazel in particular is a girls name. I get you want to look interesting / different but you don't need to do it through your kids name.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/01/2023 14:59

I couldn't guess either way whether Sky was male or female. The man in Mamma Mia is called Sky.

Hazel I only know as a girls' name (apart from the rabbit).

Sunbird24 · 29/01/2023 14:58

Dominic Cooper’s character in Mamma Mia is called Sky, and there’s Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls, who was played by Marlon Brando (very manly!) in the film.

strawberriesarenot · 29/01/2023 14:56

I suppose there's Basil and Linden, but I wouldn't.

I like Martin myself, but it's well out of fashion.

There are very few good nature names for boys.

tornadoinsideoutfig · 29/01/2023 14:56

toastofthetown · 29/01/2023 14:40

Interestingly, I also like Willow for a boy, and as with Sky there are a small but steady number of boy Willows born. Maybe Willow is more accessible as Will is an obvious nickname.

I'm not really wanting to call my son Hazel, as I said in my OP there are other names I prefer anyway and I wouldn't want to give my child a name which is burdensome or controversial, so they probably wouldn't be on my final list anyway. Just wanted to see what other people though and if anyone else would see the appeal, or if it's just me.

Show quote history

If it is small numbers then it likely depends on who you mix with. If you are going to buy a smallholding and unschool your children alongside similar families then it is likely to suit. It still may be difficult for your adult child later on if they don't continue with that lifestyle but they can always use another name. I would pick something that would be accepted in your community for the first 18 years at least.

Suedomin · 29/01/2023 14:54

I see Sky and Hazel as girls names especially Hazel which is a very well known established name for a girl
Rowan, Robin and Sasha have always been used for fine boys so not at all like Hazel

elloelloellooooo · 29/01/2023 14:53

Those are both girls names so why would u lumber your poor child with a girls name when he's a boy?

theworldhas · 29/01/2023 14:53

I wouldn’t choose either of those names. By going for something weird, awkward youd be putting him at a disadvantage. Society judges others on their name (however unfairly).

TheBirdintheCave · 29/01/2023 14:52

Buffypaws · 29/01/2023 14:51

I love Hazel for a boy. I love Watership Down. It’s true it won’t work on a man though.

Omg I forgot about this! :D

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 29/01/2023 14:52

Sage or Moss are nature names with more masculine vibes to me.