Do you feel less bold when choosing a boys name?

[PrettyInDecadence]

Sorry, couldn't think of a different way to describe it, but with this DC we're feeling very confident going for a slightly more unusual girls name (Romy/Romany) but for some reason don't feel like we could give a boy a similar type of name, IYSWIM? DS is Jesse so unusual but still a well known biblical name, but for some reason we don't feel comfortable going for a similar name this time. Has anyone else found this when choosing a name?

I guess our names shortlist for DC1 was a bit more adventurous for the potential girls names, some of them still fairly traditional though.

We've settled with fairly solid names for our two DSs.

Yes I do! Boys names are a conundrum... I am trying to find the perfect balance between classic/not too common and "manly"/not too harsh sounding (e.g. Victor, Gabriel...).
My girls names are all very unusual or vintage names (Octavia, Antonia, Victorine...).

Do you think that we somehow assume that boys "become" their names and girls make them?

In our case it is DS who has the more unusual name but it did worry me a little bit initially. BUT I just couldn't choose a name that I knew was really popular just to be on the safe side. I think it's nice DS is the only one in his school with his name and he likes it which is the main thing. If he's going to get bullied, he's going to get bullied irrespective of what his name is!!

PS I like Jesse

We too would have been more adventurous with a girl.

No, our ds's name is much more unusual (only used 9 times last year) than our dd's name. He is the only one in his school and, as far as I can tell, seems to love that. Also, most kids are pretty accepting of different names and couldn't care less whether their mates are called John, Jayden or Jocelyn for example. So, be as adventurous as you like and choose a name you love!

Do you think that we somehow assume that boys "become" their names and girls make them?

No, everyone makes their name imo.

Also, I don't consider Romy/Romany 'unusual' at all. It is a well known, classic name that is simply not overused as the moment. I really like it!

I don't, but DH does. I LOVE Caspar, and Ambrose, but DH thinks they're OTT whereas he likes Penelope and Tiger Lily for a girl. It seems odd to me that he'd like such elaborate girls names but not boys.

YES! I think girls can get away with it more but i hate that this is the case. So glad we had a girl - trying to agree on a boys name was really painful. We were brave and went with the strong unusual option in the end but can imagine unfavourable reactions from family. Saving it for next time!!

I actually think it's easier to be creative with boys, with girls if you stray too far from things that are considered feminine you get dirty looks! I think you could totally get away with Ambrose for a boy, but if you try to persuade your DP that Gervaise is a great name for a girl you get 'But isn't Molly lovely?' (as I have discovered through bitter experience!).

No, I found that my boys list was more "out there" than my girls list. I worried about a lot of girls names being a bit stripper like, God it sounds bad doesn't it?