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Baby names

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

Original poster

Zephyr for a girl

115 replies

mhck · 17/04/2023 10:45

I gave birth to a baby girl a week ago. My husband and I both love the name Zephyr and would like to give her this name. Years ago I knew a woman in the US named Zephyr so to me it's always been a name I've seen as a girl's name. Having looked into the name more it seems that in Europe it is mostly used as a boys name, although there are also some who see it as a unisex name as it is in the US.

I love the name and would really love to use it for our girl but I'm filled with doubt over whether the name is too much a boys name...

If we go for Zephyr I imagine her nickname would be Zeffie/Zephy.

Would really welcome hearing thought on Zephyr as a girl's name. Thanks so much!

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LouiseWhippy · 23/04/2023 07:25

To me it's a make of car

Elspethelf · 23/04/2023 07:07

I’ve never heard of it as a name, I love uncommon names. Be brave :)

postwarbulge · 23/04/2023 07:04

I think the school colours on our sports socks were called zephyrs

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 23/04/2023 06:21

urbanbuddha · 23/04/2023 05:30

I like it.

There aren’t many of them but she won’t be the only one.

You left out a crucial part of that graph: if she meets one of her namesakes they are four times more likely to be a boy than a girl.

Zephyr for a girl
cariadlet · 23/04/2023 05:32

I'm interested in Greek mythology so immediately thought of the West wind and that makes it a boy's name to me.
I don't like it in a modern context. I wouldn't use it for a boy and certainly not for a girl.

urbanbuddha · 23/04/2023 05:30

I like it.

There aren’t many of them but she won’t be the only one.

Zephyr for a girl
gerispringer · 23/04/2023 05:27

I taught a girl called Zephyr many years ago. She wasn’t very nice but I liked the name! I also taught a Mercedes and a Xanthe and liked both of them and their names.

lljkk · 23/04/2023 05:13

Only one I know is male and about 33 yo now.

Stressybetty · 23/04/2023 03:30

I've heard of Zephyrus used as a boy's name in the UK. I like the sound of it and Zephyr but not for a child.

Lullabies2Paralyze · 23/04/2023 03:20

PurpleishDahlia · 21/04/2023 12:21

It's a lovely name but for me it's definitely a male name, as I'm greek and I know it's a masculine word referring to the westerly wind. I'm sure non greek people would not be aware though.

Currently listening to Stephen fry’s mythos so yes I am aware and I’m and not Greek.

LadyJ2023 · 23/04/2023 03:08

Sorry but awful

IDontWantToBeAPie · 23/04/2023 01:47

Go for it. It's a type of wind I think. Nice.

Frobisherslament · 23/04/2023 01:32

I’m sorry op, maybe I’m showing my age but on hearing the name my thoughts go immediately to Zephir the monkey in the Babar the Elephant stories. I know it’s a different spelling but still … .

salamithumbs · 23/04/2023 01:12

I find it quite harsh sounding, and to me it just sounds like a random word rather than a name, sorry! If you want a similar-sounding name, how about:
Saffron/Sapphire (nickname Saffy)
Persephone (nickname Sephy)
Zara
Zena
Zelda
Zoe

Strangelisa · 22/04/2023 11:08

Not keen. Sounds like a shampoo ingredient.

Doveyouknow · 22/04/2023 10:58

I know a couple of zephyrs - both boys so I think of it as boys name.

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/04/2023 10:45

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 09:38

Mumsnet really is the wrong place to ask I'm afraid. Unless you call her Eva, Sophia or Isla everyone will hate it. Go with zephyr

If you suggested those names everyone would tell you they were nice but way overused.

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/04/2023 10:44

The only one I know is an American woman. I like it.

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 10:09

@IAcceptCookies each to their own!

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 10:08

@ZoyaTheDestroyer oh really is that out of favour now lol

CharlotteDoyle · 22/04/2023 10:06

Far back in my family tree was a lady (French) named Zepherine which I thought was lovely

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 22/04/2023 09:59

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 09:38

Mumsnet really is the wrong place to ask I'm afraid. Unless you call her Eva, Sophia or Isla everyone will hate it. Go with zephyr

Have a look at the current thread about Eva to test that theory.

IAcceptCookies · 22/04/2023 09:49

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 09:38

Mumsnet really is the wrong place to ask I'm afraid. Unless you call her Eva, Sophia or Isla everyone will hate it. Go with zephyr

🤨

And yet the other suggestions have been Zepherine, Zelda, Phryne and Zilpa

clpsmum · 22/04/2023 09:38

Mumsnet really is the wrong place to ask I'm afraid. Unless you call her Eva, Sophia or Isla everyone will hate it. Go with zephyr

IAcceptCookies · 21/04/2023 13:03

Awful, sorry.

Would you like to be called Zephyr, OP?