Giving girls boys names?

[purplebridgett]

What do you think?

Are boys names on girls a complete no-no? Or are they ok as long as they are spelt differently e.g. Teri, Toni, Ashleigh, Jaime? Or can you just go for it e.g. like Sean Young (the actress in Bladerunner) or Ashley Judd? (Or do you have to be an American to get away with it?!)

I kind of like James, Finley, Tristan and Toby for a girl.

I know a female Tristane (emphasis on the ANE) and a Finlay.

I also know a Charlie (short for Charlotte), Alex (Alexandra) and Sam (Samantha). People quickly learn to whom to associate a certain name.

I like(d before X Factor) Frankie for a girl.

I like James for a girl. Also, Adrienne.

I know a female Elliot, nickname Ellie.

Oooh, I love Elliott! Mind, not keen on Ellie, and probably couldnt stop others using it

If they are used by both they are unisex names not boys or girls names. IMO lots of names usually used for boys work well on girls eg drew, Cameron, reece, Ryan, Sam.

I like unisex names, but I think if it is simply a boys name, and there's no obvious reason to choose it (eg family tradition) then people might get the impression that you didn't really want a girl?

I know a female Hayden although not sure how she spells it.

Having said that, so many girls shorten to boys' nicknames (Frankie, Freddie, Bobby, Johnnie et al) that people probably wouldn't think anything of it, so if you like a name, why not just go for it.

Ashley I think is unisex anyway (and a great name, IMVHO)

My DD is called Francesca but everyone calls her Frankie - we love it (and everyone will v soon forget all about twat factor Frankie surely???) also gives her scope to be Fran or Chesca too but to us she will always be our darling Frankie

I know a Frederique and she gets called Freddie. It suits her!

I also know a Frank, nickname Frankie - it works for both genders imo.

I never liked Elliott for a boy but it's grown on me as a girls' name since watching Scrubs.

James, for me, is a step too far. But I know a female Jamie, and that seems fine to me! Also know a Terri, short for Teresa, her choice of nn.
NickNacks, is this the Hayden you know? :)

I love feminine names with a tomboy twist:
Francesca - Frankie (always loved that Sister Sledge song!)
Samantha - Sam
Jacqueline - Jackie

I guess I think having separate names for girls and boys is sexist. And it'll never change unless people are brave enough to start using boys names for girls (and I suppose vice versa). Also a lot of girls names are so pretty and flowery and feminine, yet girls aren't always like that and why should they be? I'm not at all feminine and it's fortunate that I have a sturdy, not especially feminine (Biblical) name, I would've cut a ridiculous figure if I'd been called Isabella or Amelie or any other of the names that are fashionable at the minute. I want any daughters I may have to feel they can do anything, achieve anything, and are as good as any man.

You would have cut an even more ridiculous figure if you'd have been called John though.

I know a leigh. Very pretty name i think. But not to everyone's taste. Her parents went on to have a Sara and a kathryn though so not sure if they encountered ishoos with given her a 'boys' name. Leigh is a Girls name in it's own right as well as the female version off lee

I know a Leigh whose married to a Tony - and I always get mixed up and call him Lee and her Toni!

I know a female Julian.

Please don't. She would be mocked and judged. And if you give it a 'quirky' spelling, she'll never thank you. Tacky, trashy. Sorry.

Some names that started as boys names have pretty much crossed over to be girls names - Shirley, Marion, etc

Others have gone the other way - Christian, Julian, etc

But a lot of the ones that have been mentioned are found as surnames - Elliot, Ashley, Ryan, Cameron ....

There are so many fantastic girls' names, I'm not sure why you'd want to appropriate a masculine name.

Peter used to be a girls' name, and so did Toby. If you look at 16th and 17th century baptism records the rules used to be much less defined. It's just cultural convention after all. I love the name Toby for a girl...

I don't get it either. Having a name you have to explain and or spell your whole life just makes everyday normal things such as making a hair appointment more complicated. Having to explain yourself unnecessarily can be very wearing.

You don't have to have Fifi, there are plenty of strong female names. Like Joan. We should be happy to be women. I know I am.

Alternatively, Randy is a unisex name.