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Baby names

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Original poster

Harris…for a girl?

313 replies

tiramisufiend · 15/11/2025 09:38

AIBU?

I misheard the name “Karis” a few weeks ago and thought, ‘Harris as a girl’s name, how cool.’

I’ve done some superficial research and it seems that Harris is mostly used a boy’s first name, if at all, as it is a surname, really.

But I think it’s very fresh and cosmopolitan, and I like the unisex vibe.

What comes to mind when you think of a girl called Harris? Thoughts welcome!

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Alpacajigsaw · 15/11/2025 10:23

I know a female Harris. She’s in her early 20s

Snorlaxo · 15/11/2025 10:22

I thought Carys was a well established Welsh name ?

kittywittyandpretty · 15/11/2025 10:21

No

WarrenTofficier · 15/11/2025 10:21

Ddakji · 15/11/2025 10:15

Do you say that for all names beginning with an H? No Harriet, Heather or Henry?

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Well first of all 'Arriet, 'Eather and 'Enry aren't rhyming slang for arse so it is less of an issue.
Secondly yes I did take into account that some accents pronounce certain sounds in ways that impact the whole sound of a name. I dropped Nathaniel/Nathan from my boy list because it would inevitably be pronounced Nayfun around here, which to me is a bad day out in Yorkshire rather than a name.

Coffeeishot · 15/11/2025 10:19

Isn't Blake lively and Ryan Reynolds Dd called James?

MrsArcher23 · 15/11/2025 10:17

at least she’ll be able to use ‘a girl called Harris’ as her social media handle… Why not call her Gary?

Coffeeishot · 15/11/2025 10:16

usedtobeaylis · 15/11/2025 10:14

Lindsay is (or was) a boys name in Scotland and Ireland but generally thought of as a girls name now. No reason Harris can't work the other way.

I mean the op can name her girl what she likes, I just think people were commenting that it was a boys name. (Or not a name at aĺl)

Ddakji · 15/11/2025 10:15

WarrenTofficier · 15/11/2025 10:14

OP do you live somewhere that people are likely to drop their aitches? Harris is one thing 'Arris is a whole other level.

Do you say that for all names beginning with an H? No Harriet, Heather or Henry?

WarrenTofficier · 15/11/2025 10:14

OP do you live somewhere that people are likely to drop their aitches? Harris is one thing 'Arris is a whole other level.

usedtobeaylis · 15/11/2025 10:14

Lindsay is (or was) a boys name in Scotland and Ireland but generally thought of as a girls name now. No reason Harris can't work the other way.

Coffeeishot · 15/11/2025 10:09

KnickerlessParsons · 15/11/2025 10:07

“Karis” is actually spelled Carys, which I like. Karis and Harris are both awful.

Karis is a perfectly acceptable spelling Carys is the Welsh version..

Bananafofana · 15/11/2025 10:08

I would assume I’d misheard and the name was Claris

KnickerlessParsons · 15/11/2025 10:07

“Karis” is actually spelled Carys, which I like. Karis and Harris are both awful.

Coffeeishot · 15/11/2025 10:01

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 15/11/2025 09:58

Harris is a versatile name used for both males and females. See Harris Faulkner Fox News anchor

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She is American though. Where it is common for girls to have surnames.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 15/11/2025 10:00

It's your child OP, you can call them whatever you like. But it will get shortened to Harry.

I called my eldest a very beautiful and traditional name, but it's ALWAYS shortened and makes me really cross - so with the other 3, I went for something that can't be!

TheNightingalesStarling · 15/11/2025 10:00

It means SON of Harry.

estellacandance · 15/11/2025 09:59

It’s the name of Darlene & David’s first born girl in Roseanne/the Conner’s.

Donnyoh · 15/11/2025 09:58

What about Harriet? nn Harry?

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 15/11/2025 09:58

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/11/2025 09:53

Neither is Harris. It’s a boy name or surname.

And ‘unisex’ is almost always ‘boy names for girls’. The obvious, depressing reason is that boy is a promotion and girl is a demotion.

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Harris is a versatile name used for both males and females. See Harris Faulkner Fox News anchor

Salvadoridory · 15/11/2025 09:54

I like it! Its an actual name and smelled properly. Whats not to like? I dont like taiylerh-maeyeye type yoonike names but this is much nicer.

Ddakji · 15/11/2025 09:53

I’m not keen on it for winter a minor a girl - it has quite a harsh sound and look to it for me. Though I think Karis is nice so I’m not making much sense!

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/11/2025 09:53

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 15/11/2025 09:49

What a daft comment, they are not known unisex names.

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Neither is Harris. It’s a boy name or surname.

And ‘unisex’ is almost always ‘boy names for girls’. The obvious, depressing reason is that boy is a promotion and girl is a demotion.

MyAcornWood · 15/11/2025 09:51

Notmyreality · 15/11/2025 09:42

Harris is better than Karis. What kind of name is that?

A butchered version of Carys, is it not? I quite like Carys myself.
Harris is not, in any way, fresh or cosmopolitan to my ear. Harris hawk, Harris tweed… nothing too flash about that! It’s just not a very nice name, for a girl or a boy, imo.

Edinburghdaze · 15/11/2025 09:50

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 15/11/2025 09:49

What a daft comment, they are not known unisex names.

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Neither is Harris!

Coffeeishot · 15/11/2025 09:50

As a pp said it is popular in Scotland but it is a boys name,