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How would you react if you saw someone of the opposite gender with your name?

56 replies

Jordana · 23/03/2011 14:59

Please try to be honest. Would you find it odd, laugh at them, laugh inside but not let them know you were finding it funny, tease them, be angry or upset, feel sorry for them.

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NettoSuperstar · 23/03/2011 19:30

I'd think they had cruel parents.

My Dad had a girls name, my Mum always said it was mean to give him that name, and he was known by the short version all his life, and hated it.

mathanxiety · 23/03/2011 20:02

I'd think someone had absolutely no clue about Irish names. I don't know what I would hope to achieve by saying something though.

ladyintheradiator · 23/03/2011 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

freshmint · 23/03/2011 20:09

I would assume they were in the middle of gender reassignment surgery

Or from a place far, far away where the same sounding name was used for boys.

usualsuspect · 23/03/2011 20:09

I wouldn't care ..its just a name

freshmint · 23/03/2011 20:10

Oh btw I had a great-uncle Mary apparently.

Irish Catholic country folk. Poor bloke

SecretNutellaFix · 23/03/2011 20:10

Unless they were Hispanic/ Italian and it was attached onto another, masculine, name I would be a bit Hmm

freshmint · 23/03/2011 20:11

I also know a bloke called Tracey.

It was a boy's name before it was a girl's apparently in ye olden days. He was like the billionth in his family.

nickelbabyhatcher · 24/03/2011 12:32

yes, Jean-Marie is quite a popuar boy's name in France

ninedragons · 24/03/2011 12:40

I know a few people at various stages of gender reassignment so would assume that was the case, even though my name is along the Emily/Isobel/Olivia lines.

PollyDecker · 24/03/2011 12:40

I can't seem to link to it as am on my phone, but look up Johnny Cash singing A Boy Named Sue. It's bloody brilliant Grin

mathanxiety · 24/03/2011 13:42

Mary as a mn for boys used to be considered fine for (Catholic) boys in Ireland. Same idea as Jose-Maria or Jean-Marie in France, but no hyphen usually.

Iklboo · 24/03/2011 13:46

My name is sometimes used in the States as a man's name as well as a woman's name.

Figgyrolls · 24/03/2011 13:50

I know a Tracey as a man Grin, I also know a young male Vivien Hmm but it suits him and is very unusual for a boy I would have thought?

My name is actually an old scottish boys name, and I am not scottish or a boy. Oh well, it is unusual though!

ShatnersBassoon · 24/03/2011 13:56

I would be very, very surprised. I might think it's a nickname eg men with Davis as a surname sometimes get called Mavis, and would ask what their real name is.

Stars22 · 24/03/2011 21:25

My name is Sophie, i should hope there wasnt any males out there with the same name.

MamaLazarou · 25/03/2011 09:49

What an odd question. I would find it funny of course.

nickelbabyhatcher · 25/03/2011 09:52

ah now, Figgy - I knew a young man with a name very similar to yours when I was a uni.
I was surprised when you told me your name! (i think it was by email originally, and I didn't know if you were a man or a woman)
sorry Blush

for the record, she's definitely a woman, and a gorgeous one at that! Grin

Sleepingonthebus · 25/03/2011 09:52

My son has the same name as a girl in his class. Causes no end of confusion, but it doesn't bother him.

Milngavie · 25/03/2011 09:58

My name is unisex. Orginally it was masculine but over time became unisex and I think it is more feminine now. Having said that I have met a few guys with my name Smile. Doesn't bother me at all.

Baffledandbewildered · 25/03/2011 10:03

I have the same name as my FIL weird!!!!!!! But so used to people saying oh I thought you were a man......not when we have met I might add, only going on the name LOL

babylann · 25/03/2011 10:04

I have a boys' name. I see boys with my name all the time. In fact, one of my closest male friends has the same name as me. It means people call me "Girl X" instead of just "X", but they don't call him "Boy X", he's just "X". I would never think to comment on the fact that they have my name but are an opposite sex, because it's traditionally a boy's name, so they have more reason to comment than I do.

It's annoying. People think I've shortened my name from something glamorously long and feminine and ask me, "Oh, is that short for something?" At school, I was always put on the boy's PE register which was so embarrassing for me. And despite being very clear when I fill in forms etc, I always get letters for "MR X Surname" (I'm not a big fan of my surname either, I used to think I had a horribly embarrassingly ugly name).

Only since becoming an adult have I got used to my name and started thinking it's actually quite cool in a tomboyish kind of way.

nickelbabyhatcher · 25/03/2011 10:06

I love the boy shortening of my name! (i know i have the choice, so it's not quite the same as you, babylann )
but then, i was a bit of a tomboy, so....

Lancelottie · 25/03/2011 10:15

I've met a male version of my name. Full name, not just first name. Now that was a bit of a shock.

NoHunIntended · 25/03/2011 14:01

I am an Abi, short for Abigail. I know a male Abi, short for Abdul. I quite like calling him up and saying "Hi, Abi, it's Abi!"! :)