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Baby names

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

Original poster

Would you consider these boys or girls names

118 replies

J3110 · 16/01/2024 20:52

We are currently set on the name Arlo for our baby boy due next month however I also love the names Sonny and Marley. Would you consider these boys names or girls names. I have personally only met one boy Sonny and no Marley's 🧐

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RafaFan · 18/01/2024 22:00

Marley is a very "in" name for girls aged around 5 where I live in Canada. I can think of 3 in my kids small school.

In Glasgow, all males under the age of 20 are called "sonny", regardless of what their actual name is...

RuthW · 18/01/2024 21:35

Arlo is nice.

Sonny is an awful boy's name.

Marley is a girl's name more suited to a dog.

MrsDrSpencerReid · 18/01/2024 21:21

I have a nephew Sonny
And I know several Marley’s and Arlo’s, all girls!

All2Well · 18/01/2024 21:20

I also taught a very dour Marley and everyone called him Jacob Marley... in my head I always associate with golden retrievers or Dickensian ghosts!

Mochacino · 18/01/2024 21:11

I’ve met quite a few boys called Marley, couldn’t get Jacob Marley or Marley and me out of my head.
Arlo is beyond popular now. Cannot get past the Good Dinosaur myself with that name but it is cute.
Sonny is nice. I only know one who was christened with it as his middle name but gets called it as his day by day name.

ActDottie · 18/01/2024 21:09

I know people who named their kids Sonny and Marley, both are boys.

All2Well · 18/01/2024 21:07

They're all boys or dogs to me.

I know two female Sunny's though. Sonny is literally a nick name for "son", or a naughty boy "c'mere sonny, you're in big trouble!".

I definitely wouldn't call a girl either name.

Beachywave · 18/01/2024 21:04

Marley is nice for Both but I only know boys called Marley.
Others are boys.

Original poster
J3110 · 18/01/2024 20:59

MrsMarzetti · 18/01/2024 20:58

My friends has 3 dogs, they are called Arlo, Sonny and Marely.

What a coincidence

OP posts:
MrsMarzetti · 18/01/2024 20:58

My friends has 3 dogs, they are called Arlo, Sonny and Marely.

Gillybee92 · 18/01/2024 20:40

All boy names in my opinion!

I’ve taught a “Marley” as a student before but quite a rare name- haven’t really come across it much!

My own boy is called Sonny 💙 and I love it. Thought it was unusual and all the famous people I’ve heard of with the name were cool too 🤣. I gave him the same middle name as his dad so that if he grows to hate it, he can be referred to as that in the future!

Arlo is cute. Heard a few kids called that at my mum and baby groups I’ve been to!

I think a baby kinda makes the name their own, whatever you choose! Xx

EarthyMangold · 18/01/2024 20:35

Marley - I know of 2, both girls... Otherwise I would think of Bob Marley more than A Christmas Carol.

Arlo - son of Woody Guthrie, American folk singer, definitely a boys' name, and very common in primary schools in the south of England, according to Mumsnet, although I never met one personally.

Sonny - doesn't sound like a real name, although I do know of one baby (a boy) named this currently. Sounds like a policeman in an old movie talking to a street urchin "Look here, sonny...." OK as a nickname, but on the birth certificate, seriously.....?

BoswellTheScribe · 18/01/2024 20:23

I would say they are all boys names. I know a few Marley’s (all boys) a couple of Sonny’s (boys again) and don’t personally know any Arlo’s but the ones I’ve heard of have been boys.
I think Marley can be used for girls but to me it’s more of a boys name.

whatsmyname123 · 18/01/2024 19:43

I know of a girl called Sonny, but I thought it sounded more a boys name to me.
Marlow sounds more boy to me, but think it's gender neutral.

candlelog · 17/01/2024 14:41

I know a female Marley

DuchessOfSausage · 17/01/2024 14:38

Arlo - Not keen on it but it would be ok if it wasn't so popular.
Sonny - nickname.
Marley - too closely linked with Bob, and a dog's name.

Alloveragain3 · 17/01/2024 14:30

For me, Sonny is a boy and Marley could be either but I'd guess boy

Love these names

Growlybear83 · 17/01/2024 14:29

Definitely all boys names, and I'm afraid I think they're all awful.

Sandysandwich · 17/01/2024 14:22

All boys but I wouldn't be suprised by a female Marley, I have just only heard it on boys.

Have heard Sunny as a girls name though, and a Suni short for Sunita. But Sonny looks more like a nickname for a son, so I would assume a boy.

PickledScrump · 17/01/2024 14:20

All boys names but also quite soft sounding names. Marley is dog or a Christmas carol, Sonny just sounds like a nickname and Arlo to me is the dinosaur from a good dinosaur, although it’s become very popular now.

DuchessOfSausage · 17/01/2024 13:57

Kalevala · 16/01/2024 21:24

Marley has the 'leigh' type ending usually used for girls.

So does Stanley, Charlie/Charley, Finley/Finlay, Kingsley, Oakley, Leslie etc

bobomomo · 17/01/2024 13:45

Dogs names, male dogs

DesertSnow · 17/01/2024 13:27

Boys. I think Arlo is the nicest

Sequinne · 17/01/2024 13:21

Boys names.

I also know a pup named Marley but I also know dogs called Luna, Jenny, Max, Ralph, Jesse, Freddie and Archie (and many more human names!) so I don’t think it matters a jot.

clpsmum · 17/01/2024 13:15

I know several boys sonnys and one girl sunny. I know one girl and one boy Marley