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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder why it's OK - even considered a positive thing- to give girls names that are traditionally considered boy's names but....

486 replies

BertrandRussell · 31/01/2017 13:01

.......not the other way round?

OP posts:
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Headofthehive55 · 31/01/2017 15:53

Often the shortened version can be unisex....Sam, Lou, Alex...
In fact I think there was a song about it in the 60s!

amusedbush · 31/01/2017 15:54

I know a Lee in his mid 20s

I'm 26 and went to school with several Lees. I also know a 20yo called Lee.

A previous boss was a female called Lee, which I found odd because I only know females who spell it Leigh.

DJBaggySmalls · 31/01/2017 15:57

Why? Because the worst thing you can call a man is woman.

reuset · 31/01/2017 15:58

I was about to jump in about the name Mackenzie, but a few others got there first and cleared it up Grin

DixieNormas · 31/01/2017 15:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BertrandRussell · 31/01/2017 15:58

Boys baby clothes and toys are never pink.

Some adult men wear pink, but I am prepared to be they are in a pretty small minority.

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 31/01/2017 15:58

The female Lee i know spells it Lee but the female Ashley i know it is Ashleigh does the Leigh make it more female?

Cellardoor23 · 31/01/2017 15:59

My DS has a unisex middle name, spelt with the masculine variant. It's also my middle name. I have never been embarrassed thinking it was too masculine when I was growing up and I don't think it's too girly for a boy either.

reuset · 31/01/2017 16:00

I think the fact that big sports brands make expensive competition wear in hot pink for men is a pretty good indication that girls' reign over pink is over.

Which sport is that?

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 31/01/2017 16:00

There's a footballer that plays for Celtic called Leigh Griffiths, but most other men I know called Lee spell it Lee. That said I know a few women who spell it Lee too.

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 31/01/2017 16:02

reuset the current Celtic 3rd kit and Scotland away kit, both football.

To wonder why it's OK - even considered a positive thing- to give girls names that are traditionally considered boy's names but....
To wonder why it's OK - even considered a positive thing- to give girls names that are traditionally considered boy's names but....
reuset · 31/01/2017 16:03

Ah, thanks Saor.

IrishTwin · 31/01/2017 16:03

I'm married to a Lee!

reuset · 31/01/2017 16:05

It's not something like Isabella though is it, cellardoor? Grin Would that be considered too 'girly?

SaorAlbaGuBrath · 31/01/2017 16:06

Both my boys actually asked for the pink Celtic kit (well the wee one pointed and clapped) it was DD who wanted the green and white one Grin

LarrytheCucumber · 31/01/2017 16:06

MacKenzie should only be a surname.Wink

HapShawl · 31/01/2017 16:06

Stade Français rugby team traditionally include bright pink on their kit

This does not mean that people are now typically putting baby boys in pink, which I think gives a better idea of where people are on the "pink is a gender neutral colour" suggestion. People are horrified by the idea of a boy being mistaken for a girl

DixieNormas · 31/01/2017 16:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EustaceClarenceScrubb · 31/01/2017 16:10

How about Beau, very popular for girls, but originally a boys name. That grates on me a bit.

x2boys · 31/01/2017 16:11

my son is called Alex which is obviously unisex we have never experienced any negative comments.

DixieNormas · 31/01/2017 16:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CotswoldStrife · 31/01/2017 16:15

I don't think it is seen as a positive thing to give girls traditionally masculine names tbh, it looks more like the parents don't know that the name is associated with a child of the opposite gender!

Whether you think gendered names is right or wrong as a concept is up for debate, but I don't see the parents who use names in this way as breaking a stereotype.

x2boys · 31/01/2017 16:16

i knew quite a few Lee,s when i was growing up but i,m 43 now it was more popular in the 70,s and 80,s i think.

WhenLoveAndCakeCollide · 31/01/2017 16:19

I have a male cousin named Madison. It has been used in my family, on males, for several generations. It was first used on my great(4)-grandfather. It was his mother's surname. It was subsequently passed on to his firstborn son, then his, and so on.

Great(4)-grandfather was born over 200 years before the movie Splash came out, which led to the Madison on girls boom. Grin

Cousin is constantly told he has a girl's name, but he smiles and reminds them the (sur)name is a 'son of' name.

sashh · 31/01/2017 16:20

There's a sort of, "Look my daughter's as good as a boy" mentality about giving a girl a boy's name.

I would opt for a gender neutral name, not because I don't think girls' are good enough but because I know there is still discrimination i the world and it gives someone less reason to throw out a CV.