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Baby names

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

Original poster

Using Evan for a girl

83 replies

missrubi · 06/09/2023 13:12

Hello,
Opinions welcome, thinking about using Evan for a baby girl. What does everyone think?

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Crunchymum · 06/09/2023 18:59

DappledThings · 06/09/2023 13:14

Silly. Use a girl's name. As silly as using James for a girl.

I actually disagree.

I think Evan is one of the few boys names that works for a girl (James definitely does not!!)

I quite like it.

whatausername · 06/09/2023 18:57

It's a bit un-special. Quite a plain sound.

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 18:57

@sparkedsparkle , Vivian is a man's name. I know a more male Kims than female.
@Orangetattoo , as I pp, it's a traditional anglicised Welsh form of John. Like John, it's a boy's name.

Orangetattoo · 06/09/2023 18:53

I like it, thought Evan could be used for a boy or a girl anyway! Confused

sparkedsparkle · 06/09/2023 18:52

Oh and a boy whose middle name was Vivian

sparkedsparkle · 06/09/2023 18:51

Change the spelling to Evanne.
During my childhood I knew girls called Teri and Jaimes
And a boy Kim

DinnaeFashYersel · 06/09/2023 18:48

There are a few Evanne's in our primary school.

I think Evanne works for a girl and is nice.

MeerkatsRule · 06/09/2023 18:47

I don’t like it as a girls name. I’ve known some girls to be called Heaven (I don’t like that either) and I think if I heard the name Evan on a girl (because I think of it as a boys name) I would assume the name was actually Heaven and the person was dropping the ‘H’. That might just be me though.
I knew someone who had twins called Evan and Elle and it sounded so much like Heaven and Hell to me that my brain probably associates it more with Heaven than most! 😂

Stressyfab · 06/09/2023 18:46

my friend growing up, her sister was an Evan. Never thought twice about it, I like it

hcarter8 · 06/09/2023 18:42

I don't like it for a girl but I think it's cute for a boy.

CurlewKate · 06/09/2023 18:38

"Or is it just a gut feeling people have that it's a boy's name?"

It's not a gut feeling! It's a Welsh boy's name.

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 18:24

I know an Evan and I like his name. It suits him.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 06/09/2023 18:22

No. There must be nicer names for a baby girl.

DinaofCloud9 · 06/09/2023 18:17

No it's not a nice name for a boy let alone a girl.

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 18:09

@wellandtruly , Siwan is the welsh form of Joan or Joanna. It's fairly popular in Wales. There are two ways of saying it:
SEW-ann (Sew to rhyme with New not So) - North Wales
SHOO-ann - South Wales
Both are correct.

Johnisafckface · 06/09/2023 17:57

I had a recruiter named Evin - thought it was a man but when we met found out differently. The name actually fit her. I also know a Devin that is a woman. That fits her too. I don't think Evan/Evin is very masculine sounding so to me its an ok name for a girl.

wellandtruly · 06/09/2023 17:42

Nameberry is hardly a source of accurate information.

wellandtruly · 06/09/2023 17:40

It’s the Welsh version of John. It doesn’t work as a girl’s name. How about the Welsh version of Joanna? Is it Siwan? That’s what Google says. Or there’s Welsh girl names like Megan and Bethan if you like the -an ending. Or old English classics like Susan or Marian.

HillyHollock · 06/09/2023 17:38

I know an E-Van. Spelled Aoibhean (irish) which is also sometimes pronounced aveen, A-vin or eve-een but I really like the pronunciation E Van. (Emphasis on the van, so not quite like evvvan's sound).

So I am a fan of Evan for a girl, however you pronounce it. I think it suits boy and girl.

Orange23 · 06/09/2023 17:35

schoolless · 06/09/2023 15:41

Horrible name for a girl. Why on earth would you want to pick it when there are thousands of much nicer girls' names out there?

Don't particularly like it for a boy, either, unless you're American.

Or Welsh... y'know, as the name originates?

BodegaSushi · 06/09/2023 17:33

I'd use it. Barely know any boys named Evan (in fact, apart from Evan Peters, I don't know anyone personally with that name). And I don't think it's remotely similar to naming a girl James, or where there are many about. Sounds a lot more feminine than James too.

Sandysandwich · 06/09/2023 16:59

Personally I wouldn't, it doesn't sound unisex and she would be assumed to be a boy. I had a friend whose name was misspelt the male way and she hated it.
Also it does sounds a bit 80s to me and would be like calling your daughter Craig or Jerome.

Hazelnut9 · 06/09/2023 16:47

No, sorry, it’s a boy’s name. How about Erin?

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 16:43

@zurigirl , it's not because it is a form of John. I like the name John. But if I had a daughter, if I wanted to use a form of John, I'd use Jane, Joan, Joanne, Janet, Jean or, more likely as I'm welsh, Siân or Sioned.

I'd not use a name that has been used for centuries as a boy's name for a girl.
The unanglicised Welsh form of Evan, Ifan is very popular in Wales, for boys.

AvocadotoastORahouse · 06/09/2023 16:41

I know two boys called Evan so it would seem very very odd to me to meet a baby girl Evan.

I think you have to think of her future, maybe by the time she's grown up all names will be used for both sexes. Or maybe it will date her as fast as Sharon or Claire date their generations.