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Baby names

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

Original poster

Austyn for a girl?

322 replies

Martha300 · 20/09/2023 01:06

Me and DH both love unisex names and Austyn happens to be our number one name for DD at the moment. Mother in law absolutely loathes the name and suggests we give her something more traditional and feminine for a girl like Catherine or Eliza etc. but we’re both set on Austyn. But to be fair we will give her a traditional middle name, so she’ll be something along the lines of Austyn Elizabeth or Austyn Marie to satisfy mothers in law’s wishes. We’ve decided on the spelling Austyn as opposed to Austin for a feminine touch. Other names we loved but decided against are Logan, Dylan, Robyn, and Riley.

Now, DH isn’t 100 percent sure if Austyn is the right name as Austyn was my idea first so we would like to hear your honest opinions on our chosen name.

OP posts:
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Moveoverdarlin · 20/09/2023 23:22
  1. It’s a boys name
  2. Spelling it incorrectly will just make life harder for her - everyone will spell it Austin.
  3. There’s lots Austins about, will she ok with having boys in her class with the same name?
  4. I agree with your mother in law
Saoirse82 · 20/09/2023 23:13

Its hideous for a girl, especially with the Y spelling. Just don't do it to your DD, she'll grow up hating her name.

JustAnotherCheeseburger · 20/09/2023 23:12

It will always be "Austyn with a Y", never just Austyn. Do you like "Austyn with a Y"?

AlexaCanYouHearMe · 20/09/2023 23:09

It looks (at first glance) like another word. I would rather not say what. 😬 But it begins with the same 2 letters and also has a T in it, and has a similar amount of letters. I feel she may be called names, and have people using this other word... to mock her name.

Just NO @Martha300 Don't use this name - for a GIRL, and not this weird spelling.

Feetupteashot · 20/09/2023 23:07

Austin/yn sounds v American so guess depends

Not keen

WhatHaveIDoneNo3 · 20/09/2023 23:05

It’s awfyl 😅

jazzyfips · 20/09/2023 23:02

Definitely sounds like a boys name. Agree with MIL.

EezyOozy · 20/09/2023 23:01

It’s terrible. It’s a man’s name. Adding a Y doesn’t change that. She won’t thank you for it!

MdNdD · 20/09/2023 22:54

If you like the name then go for it. Why bother to try to make it more feminine by changing a letter? Just name her Austin.

Cynicaldragon · 20/09/2023 22:54

Being mistaken for male in work emails might actually work in her favour!

oakleaffy · 20/09/2023 22:50

Austin is a Whippet's name.

Austin and Morris.

Not a name for a female.

Sparklecats · 20/09/2023 22:50

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 20/09/2023 22:45

I though this post was going to be about girls with autism!

😂😂😂

No, that’s just every other thread on MN.

OP if she is due by end of Nov Autumn could be perfect!

viques · 20/09/2023 22:49

If you want a car name for a girl then why not Mercedes? Or at a push Cleo.

LightlySearedontheRealityGrill · 20/09/2023 22:45

I though this post was going to be about girls with autism!

purplepencilcase · 20/09/2023 22:43

MerryChristmasToYou · 20/09/2023 06:20

Middle name suggestions:
Minnie
Princess
Allegra
Rover
Texas
Healey
Seven
Cambridge
Powers
Jane

Very good 😂😂😂

TiredCatLady · 20/09/2023 22:42

clarrylove · 20/09/2023 07:39

I'm not keen on the name for a boy so really don't like it for a girl but it's your choice. Are you happy with the shortening to Oz or Ozzy though? I know an Austin and he's only ever called by the short version.

This - as well as the misspelling being irritating, the name is inevitably going to be shortened. Oz, Ozzy, etc.
Oh and yes, Austin Powers.

Sparklecats · 20/09/2023 22:42

Sorry don’t like Austyn… Austen as an alternative spelling if you really had to.

Just don’t call her Austen Jane!

Love Robyn especially and Riley.

Other Au names

Aurora
Audrey
Aubree/Aubrey/Aubreigh
Autumn
Aurelia
Aurielle

Other tin/tyn names

Kirstin
Krystin

Daisylookslost · 20/09/2023 22:40

I prefer the spelling Austen but if you love it go for it! Gender neutral names are fantastic and so much better than something twee or overly feminine.
It’s a cool name forget what the MIL wants she had her time. Now it’s your time! Your LO will own it and then she’ll say she can’t imagine her being called anything else.

Cynicaldragon · 20/09/2023 22:37

No names are male or female, it's just what we see them as. I remember Shirley Crabtree, Lynn Davies etc. And there are men called Tracy.
I agree with others that I, personally, would go with 'Austen', purely to remove the hassle of it being misspelled.
All that being said, OP, it's totally your call.

beyourownchampion · 20/09/2023 22:31

As a person who HATES my own name (which could be boy or girl) please don’t do it to her. There’s nothing more annoying to a girly girl (me) than not having a pretty girly name. I’m seriously considering changing mine!

I do agree with others though, the name you choose is nothing to do with your MIL. It’s your decision but please consider spellings (take it from me, it’s very tiresome spelling your name every time you say it…. ) and don’t try to be ‘different’ with spellings, it just makes the parents look like they can’t spell or have made a mistake on the birth certificate ….

GirlsAndPenguins · 20/09/2023 22:31

Ok so it took me a minute to realise you meant Austin.
In my head it was going to be awe-steen.
Like others I personally feel it’s just an incorrect spelling.

Creamteasandbumblebees · 20/09/2023 22:29

Personally I think it's awful, it's just a misspelled version of Austin, it is however probably slightly better than the other names you were considering which (IMO) are very masculine.
I'm with your MIL on this one!

stonedaisy · 20/09/2023 22:23

Love the name

FunnysInLaJardin · 20/09/2023 22:22

if you like

tolerable · 20/09/2023 22:21

Its your baby. you do what you want.
the end.