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Original poster

Gender neutral names

238 replies

dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 18:45

My husband is insistent on a gender neutral name for our twins, I’m happy with it in principle and there’s so many gender neutral boys names I love but I’m really struggling for girls!. The only one I like is Shelby but he doesn’t like it at all. My favourite girls name is Sylvia but obviously that isn’t gender neutral, I like soft sounding names and not a fan of the nick names like Stevie, Bobby, Riley etc. Any ideas?

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Original poster
dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:07

Chamallo · 19/10/2026 22:06

They definitely are. My FIL is Dominique.

OP, what about Andrea or Nicola?
Or if you’re open to adapting the spelling, Eve/Yves?
Kim

And though I’ve never heard it on a boy, I could see Sylvie working for both. Or Lark.

Edited
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I will try him with this, I like Frances a lot so will see his thoughts.

OP posts:
MyDucksAreHavingAParty · 19/10/2026 22:09

Chamallo · 19/10/2026 22:06

They definitely are. My FIL is Dominique.

OP, what about Andrea or Nicola?
Or if you’re open to adapting the spelling, Eve/Yves?
Kim

And though I’ve never heard it on a boy, I could see Sylvie working for both. Or Lark.

Edited
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Everyday's a school day! I've only known it as a girls name. Apologies.

Original poster
dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:14

Thank you so much everyone who was kind and helpful. I’ve got a lot more names to add to my list and will see if any fit when the babies come, I also won’t rule out non-gender neutral names as I’m sure if I am really dead against it he will come around.

I just want to say again, he’s not some cave man who only wants boys, he’d be more than happy with girls but as it’s a way of honouring his family he would like gender neutral names. Insisting was maybe too harsh of a word, but as they’re his children too I am happy to find names that I like within his criteria, and there are many that I love!. It’s also not a ‘woke’ thing as I can see some suggesting, although I suppose we are ‘woke’ in many ways!.

thank you again and I will be back to update you all when the babies arrive.

OP posts:
FairViewRosie25 · 19/10/2026 22:14

I have a 22yr old Carey (girl) she has owned it since she was 2. Could be a boys name - Carey Elwes (Princess Bride) or Carey Lowell (Bond girl). It was an old family surname and it just seemed to fit

Original poster
dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:20

FairViewRosie25 · 19/10/2026 22:14

I have a 22yr old Carey (girl) she has owned it since she was 2. Could be a boys name - Carey Elwes (Princess Bride) or Carey Lowell (Bond girl). It was an old family surname and it just seemed to fit

Carey is very cool!

OP posts:
ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 19/10/2026 22:21

Cassidy would go with Casey.

Temporaryname158 · 19/10/2026 22:23

Why does he he to have what he wants if you have a lovely girls name picked out? Why is his want more important than yours?

I think you need to sit down and discuss that first

BogRollBOGOF · 19/10/2026 22:24

dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:07

I will try him with this, I like Frances a lot so will see his thoughts.

Show quote history

Frances is a female name.
Francis is a male name.
(Both nice)

A lot of the "neutral" names have gendered typical spelling conventions. Not following them risks irritating long term misconceptions/ corrections that tends to irritate the person living with the name over the years. Something to consider.

FairViewRosie25 · 19/10/2026 22:29

I agree. She was going to be a Harriett after my dad Harry but my best friend nicked it first. I must say my god daughter Harriet is incredibly cool too !

Original poster
dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:34

BogRollBOGOF · 19/10/2026 22:24

Frances is a female name.
Francis is a male name.
(Both nice)

A lot of the "neutral" names have gendered typical spelling conventions. Not following them risks irritating long term misconceptions/ corrections that tends to irritate the person living with the name over the years. Something to consider.

Show quote history

We would definitely follow the correct spelling

OP posts:
Original poster
dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 22:35

Temporaryname158 · 19/10/2026 22:23

Why does he he to have what he wants if you have a lovely girls name picked out? Why is his want more important than yours?

I think you need to sit down and discuss that first

He doesn’t have what he wants, he isn’t getting his favourite name. We have sat down and discussed it.

OP posts:
Notasbigasithink · 19/10/2026 22:38

dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 18:45

My husband is insistent on a gender neutral name for our twins, I’m happy with it in principle and there’s so many gender neutral boys names I love but I’m really struggling for girls!. The only one I like is Shelby but he doesn’t like it at all. My favourite girls name is Sylvia but obviously that isn’t gender neutral, I like soft sounding names and not a fan of the nick names like Stevie, Bobby, Riley etc. Any ideas?

Robyn or Jamie? I hate them personally but I've known several girls called these names

Mumofgirls2017 · 19/10/2026 22:39

Hmm this feels difficult for you! My favourite gender neutral…

quinn
river
remy
romy
ocean
eden
rowan

BatshitIsTheExplanation · 19/10/2026 22:54

dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 19:11

Thank you so much for all the suggestions I wasn’t expecting so many!. Some that I like are:
Eden
Jude
Shelly
Frances
Billie
Aspen

I do also love Patsy, where I’m from it’s a gender neutral name but my husband only knows it for women. I’m trying to convince him on that one!.

I have Eden, Alex and Sam. Alex and Sam have longer versions; Eden doesn't!

Pingsung · 19/10/2026 23:10

Wren
Peta

LoudPlumDog · 19/10/2026 23:13

Jordan
Alex
Frances
Kim
Blair
Rowan
Brooke
Quinn
Rae

Calliopespa · 20/10/2026 00:08

Strangesally20 · 19/10/2026 18:47

Sorry I don’t really understand what you mean? Surely the “gender neutral boy names” that you like would work fine for girls since they’re gender neutral? Is that not the whole point in gender neutral names that they work for boys and girls?

This, Op! They are either gender neutral or they aren't.

Calliopespa · 20/10/2026 00:11

Leslie or Darrell

ifonlytheydlisten · 20/10/2026 00:12

Sam

Calliopespa · 20/10/2026 00:13

ladygindiva · 19/10/2026 20:54

If you like Sylvia/ Sylvie what about Sylvan ? I know a female one but it has a unisex feel, I'm pretty sure it's a boy's name in France. And yeah, a gender neutral name works for both and there's no such thing as a gender neutral name that doesn't work for girls ....

That's quite nice actually - and I am not really a fan of gender neutral names on the whole.

What about Winter?

user1492757084 · 20/10/2026 03:37

Lindsey
Kelly
Shelly
Dale
Patsy
Clancy
Bloom
Jordan
Pip
Kim
Alison
Lyle
Indianna
Noel
Shane

Mathair2 · 20/10/2026 03:43

dustysidetable · 19/10/2026 20:59

A bit out there but what do people think of Dana? I really like it, but worry about a mix of pronunciations. What’s more common in England, Dar-na or Day-na. I love both pronunciations

What about Dara?

user293948849167 · 20/10/2026 07:57

If you like Sylvia, how about Sylvie which is definitely still a girls name but a bit less feminine.
Also Sylvan could be gender neutral.
Or a bit out there but pretty - Silver?

IzzyGone · 20/10/2026 08:03

Lauren is overwhelmingly used as a female name today, though it originated as a masculine name derived from Laurence and Lawrence

LancashireButterPie · 20/10/2026 08:18

To add more nature names
Finn
Skye
Ocean
Cirrus
Oakley

Star and Skye?

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