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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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Missj25 · 15/11/2025 17:51

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!

I love it 👌 It’s just cool 😊
I know a girl named Rudy , also a boys name
fab for a girl !

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 17:40

@Notmyreality , Karis Jagger is one.

DiscoBeat · 15/11/2025 17:38

It's a very average surname!

luckylavender · 15/11/2025 17:37

Notmyreality · 15/11/2025 09:42

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

It’s Welsh & spelled Carys

HayceeDeeCee · 15/11/2025 17:36

God no, it's a Surname, Please don't burden a girl with this.

GlasgowGal2014 · 15/11/2025 17:35

usedtobeaylis · 15/11/2025 11:00

The thing is, it's not a common name for boys. Hardly anyone has it as a first name outside of Scotland, and in Scotland it's not that common either, it's not a 'mainstream' name. It's on a par with something like Brodie. It totally works as a girls name imo.

Also as someone who sees job applications daily, I don't bat an eye at any name.

Harris and Brodie are both common names for children in Scotland now! Harris was number 9 most popular and Brodie was number 16. I know numerous kids who go by both those names.

powershowerforanhour · 15/11/2025 17:34

Bomber

GlasgowGal2014 · 15/11/2025 17:33

ActYourAge · 15/11/2025 09:41

It's daft and made up

It's not made up. It's the name of a Scottish island. Quite a big one, next to Lewis. Like Lewis it's a fairly common given name for boys in Scotland. It was in the top ten last year.

muddyford · 15/11/2025 17:30

I sniggered when a friend named her lurcher Harris. As in 'move your arse.'

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 17:23

Traditionally, yes, but I don't think it was seen as a male name in Pennsylvania in the late 1980s.
It's not 1989 now, and it's considered unisex.

Milliemoons · 15/11/2025 17:21

(Also I posted my eldest child’s name on here a few years ago asking what people’s opinion was and got the same sort of response but in real life people love it)

Milliemoons · 15/11/2025 17:20

I actually love it. And it sounds like you do too. Personally, I’m go for it but I can already see that’s not the popular vote.

I think there will be a lot of confusion her whole life. But my kid has a foreign name that is hard to pronounce in English, and I feel this is the same problem, it being misheard or assumed to be something else.

Throwntothewolves · 15/11/2025 17:13

Harris is a well known boys name in Scotland. It's not a name for a girl.

Zitroneneis · 15/11/2025 17:08

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 16:19

@Zitroneneis, Isn't Taylor from tailor, and a tailor could be female. Harris is from son of Harry, which is masculine, or Na Hearadh, which isn't. Also Haris is an Islamic name for a boy.

The term "tailor" traditionally referred to a male specialist, often focusing on menswear. A female tailor might have been called a "tailoress or “seamstress”

Taylor Swift’s parents obviously didn’t care that they gave their daughter a male name!

Ihavepaidalotforthisstory · 15/11/2025 16:56

Harris is a surname and will have people assuming male.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/11/2025 16:55

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 16:19

@Zitroneneis, Isn't Taylor from tailor, and a tailor could be female. Harris is from son of Harry, which is masculine, or Na Hearadh, which isn't. Also Haris is an Islamic name for a boy.

Wouldn’t a woman be called a seamstress rather than being accorded the title of ‘tailor’?

cramptramp · 15/11/2025 16:47

Poor, poor child. I’d feel very sorry for her.

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 16:36

Haris (given name) - Wikipedia

SpringingOn · 15/11/2025 16:27

I know several Muslim boys called Haris. It is really common. It is from the Arabic for protector or guardian rather than the English son of Harry.

Emanwenym · 15/11/2025 16:19

@Zitroneneis, Isn't Taylor from tailor, and a tailor could be female. Harris is from son of Harry, which is masculine, or Na Hearadh, which isn't. Also Haris is an Islamic name for a boy.

susiedaisy1912 · 15/11/2025 16:04

No op it’s an awful choice for a girl. And isn’t it how the Americans said harass .?

ParmaVioletTea · 15/11/2025 16:02

CurlewKate · 15/11/2025 15:49

So long as you’re happy to call a boy Kate then go for it. But you won’t be. Unisex names only go one way.

Remember the song “A Boy Named Sue” ?

ParmaVioletTea · 15/11/2025 16:01

Tweed.

If you like the sound, why not Harriet? Or Karis in fact.

Blueuggboots · 15/11/2025 15:56

It’s horrible!! Carys is a girl’s name. Harris is a boy’s name or a last name.

CurlewKate · 15/11/2025 15:49

So long as you’re happy to call a boy Kate then go for it. But you won’t be. Unisex names only go one way.

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