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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unisex Name for girls

115 replies

MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 04:20

We're looking for a name for a baby girl and I like names that are unisex or can be shortened to a unisex name. I would like for them to be able to sign an email with no one knowing their gender. I do like classic names but not too pretentious or rare.

There are two catches. One is, we live in Germany and I would like to have a baby name that can be pronounced in German and in English.

Secondly, I don't like it when nicknames are the given name. E.g. I wouldn't ever christen my child Lilibet because it's a nickname for Elizabeth, so she should be christened Elizabeth, and then can be called Lilibet anyway.

We have thought of

  • Charlotte (Charlie) (a bit pretentious but front runner)
  • Alexis (Sasha) (exists in close family ATM though)
  • Robin (a bit modern)
  • Jamie (I really like this name but it does not really work in German)
  • Samantha (Sam) (reminds me of SATC)
  • Josephine (Joe) (super old fashioned)
  • Jacqueline (Jack) (a relative we dislike has this name)

Any other ideas?

OP posts:
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Theoldwoman · 04/10/2023 03:14

Jessica/Jessie
Alexandra/Alex
Jordan
Lee
Blair
Melanie/Mel
Luca
Cobey
Philippa/Phil
Ashley

Workawayxx · 03/10/2023 06:33

Lenora - lenny
michaela - mick/Micky
roberta - Robbie/bobby
Georgina - George/Georgie
Judith - Jude
Harriet - Harry

dayofcheese · 03/10/2023 06:23

Christie

TheHorneSection · 30/09/2023 17:50

I love the shortening of Alix. Wish I’d done that spelling for DD but by the time I heard that spelling we’d already gone for the traditional E spelling.

sandalsinthebin · 30/09/2023 17:43

I really like Jonnie / Johnnie for a girl

dontforgetme · 30/09/2023 13:37

I have a Toni. Her name is just Toni but I do really like Antonia.

Mumofgirls2017 · 30/09/2023 13:37

Quinn
river
eden
Stephanie ‘Stevie’
harley
marley
marlow
Roberta ‘bobby’
catherine ‘kit’
rio
eleanor ‘leni’
olivia ‘oli’
oakley
remy
philippa ‘pip’
riley
rowan
phoenix
alexandra ‘Ali’

Original poster
MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 13:28

Wrongsideofpennines · 30/09/2023 13:18

Aubrey
Rowan
Sorrel
Ashley
Casey
Avery
Cameron
Jordan
Taylor
Morgan
Bailey

I've also met a female Brooklyn recently - combination of Brooke and Lynn to honour relatives.
Don't know if any of these work in German though, and a lot are down the 'surname as first name' trend which you might not be so keen on.

Thanks (and all with suggestions actually), and yes, none of those work in German unfortunately. My surname is quite countryside German and so is my partner's (though he isn't!) so I don't like a too modern or English name with it, one that works in German and holds up well internationally would be best. Front runners still Charlotte and Robin with Robin being a tad too modern for my taste already. I really like Rowan actually but it just wouldn't fit.

OP posts:
cherryassam · 30/09/2023 13:22

I think part of the issue is there really aren’t many truly ‘unisex’ names - and especially not more classic names

I think the closest would be Rowan maybe

In terms of ‘unisex’ nicknames, I think Sam, Alex or Jo would be the closest from my experience. But Joe would be male.

rickandmorts · 30/09/2023 13:20

I think Dylan is nice for a girl and Dill/ Dilly is a cute nickname.

Wrongsideofpennines · 30/09/2023 13:18

Aubrey
Rowan
Sorrel
Ashley
Casey
Avery
Cameron
Jordan
Taylor
Morgan
Bailey

I've also met a female Brooklyn recently - combination of Brooke and Lynn to honour relatives.
Don't know if any of these work in German though, and a lot are down the 'surname as first name' trend which you might not be so keen on.

KirstenBlest · 30/09/2023 13:13

If you want a unisex name, go for something that is genuinely unisex like Kim, Eden or Rowan.
If you want a woman's name with a boyish diminutive, go for something like Jocasta (Jo), Jacinta (Jac), Katherine (Kit), Jemima (Jem) etc

NigelTheCrab · 30/09/2023 13:05

Ashley
Courtney
Taylor
Lesley
Cameron
Roberta - nn Bobby
Elliot
Kim
Lindsay

booksandbeans · 30/09/2023 13:04

Lindsey

Whataretheodds · 30/09/2023 12:59

@MmeSimone if it's bothering you so much why don't you stop being unnecessaroly snippy with people who are offering their opinion on unisex names on a public forum, and engage with/ acknowledge the people who are giving you tons of suggestions?

KirstenBlest · 30/09/2023 12:57

@MmeSimone , @theduchessofspork wasn't telling you to change your preference.

The reason I'm saying it is because I know people with names like Nick, Chris and Alex who are women and they say things like they turn up for an interview and that it's obvious that the interviewers were expecting a man, and that had they applied as Nicola, Christina or Alexandra they wouldn't have been invited.

Names like Jamie, Jack and Joe aren't unisex, they are boys' names.

Original poster
MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 12:53

Lucy377 · 30/09/2023 12:42

If it's a boy you really want people to half think he might be female?

OR

If it's a girl you really want people to think she might be a male?

Whichever feeling is stronger might help you decide.

I honestly don't have a problem to decide. I want a unisex name. I'm not sure why this is so hard to understand.

OP posts:
Lucy377 · 30/09/2023 12:42

If it's a boy you really want people to half think he might be female?

OR

If it's a girl you really want people to think she might be a male?

Whichever feeling is stronger might help you decide.

Original poster
MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 12:36

theduchessofspork · 30/09/2023 12:27

It’s a forum

If you ask for input you’ll get it - some will be a direct answer to your question, and some won’t, some you’ll like and some you won’t.

That’s just how it works - if you don’t want opinions just use google

Show quote history

I find it a bit strange when you state your preference and ask a simple question and people start questioning why this is your preference. They could say "I don't like unisex names" or "I like girly names for girls" or "this name sounds naf" and that's fine but who are you, random stranger on the internet, to tell me how my child will feel like and that I should change my preference?

OP posts:
theduchessofspork · 30/09/2023 12:27

MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 12:24

I really don't care for your opinion and I didn't ask for it. Also I'm looking for unisex names not for boy's names.

Show quote history

It’s a forum

If you ask for input you’ll get it - some will be a direct answer to your question, and some won’t, some you’ll like and some you won’t.

That’s just how it works - if you don’t want opinions just use google

theduchessofspork · 30/09/2023 12:25

Also…

Ariadne - Ari
Antonia - Andie, Toni

Original poster
MmeSimone · 30/09/2023 12:24

KirstenBlest · 30/09/2023 12:11

@MmeSimone , Alexis is a form of Alexander, but I thought that Sasha/Sascha came from the Xander part, which isn't present in Alexis.

Some of us find the giving boy's names to girls a bit sexist, and I'm not sure that it is an advantage to have a name that seems to be a man's name.
It is only an opinion, and you are welcome to ignore my opinion, but I suspect I am not the only person who thinks this.

I really don't care for your opinion and I didn't ask for it. Also I'm looking for unisex names not for boy's names.

OP posts:
RiaOverTheRainbow · 30/09/2023 12:23

Teresa - Terry
Louise, Lucy - Lou
Joanna - Jo
Julia, Juliette - Jules
Erica - Rick
Claudia - Claude
Harriet - Harry
Matilda - Matt

theduchessofspork · 30/09/2023 12:23

I like Robin - if you give her Roberta as a full name it’s very traditional

Alexis and Charlotte are nice too - why on earth is Charlotte pretentious?!

Jamie is a boys name, unless you are in the US. Jack is a boys name anywhere. Joe is spelt Jo for women. Your daughter isn’t likely to want to use an actual male name.

Arran
Rowan
Jocelyn
Frances / Francesca - Frankie, Fran
Joanna - Jo
Stephanie -Stevie
Maxine/Maxima - Max
Alexandra - Alexis, Alix, Alecky, Sandie, Sacha, Ally (If you use the full Alexandra she gets more options, and Sacha makes more sense)
Artemis / Artemisia - Artie
Archana -Archie (it’s very much a Hindu name, so you probably won’t want to - but Archie is sweet)
Theodora - Theo
Leonora / Leonie - Leo
Roberta - Robin, Bobbie
Davinia - Davey, Vinnie (I don’t see why not!) - or Lavinia for Vinnie
Antonia - Toni
Laura / Lauren - Laurie
Georgina, Georgia -George, Georgie
Domenica, Nicole - Nico
Thomasina - Tommy
Benedicta - Ben
Philippa, Phyllida - Pip
Harriet / Henrietta - Harrie, Hen

KirstenBlest · 30/09/2023 12:11

@MmeSimone , Alexis is a form of Alexander, but I thought that Sasha/Sascha came from the Xander part, which isn't present in Alexis.

Some of us find the giving boy's names to girls a bit sexist, and I'm not sure that it is an advantage to have a name that seems to be a man's name.
It is only an opinion, and you are welcome to ignore my opinion, but I suspect I am not the only person who thinks this.

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