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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Unisex names? Suggestions

60 replies

SimplySara · 16/02/2014 11:43

Any suggestions on nice names that would work for either a boy or a girl?

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nocheeseplease · 19/02/2014 13:00

How about Stevie. This is my sister's name although to be fair most people assume she's male when they hear her name. It's never been a problem though as far as I'm aware.

Frikadellen · 19/02/2014 13:12

No it doesnt make a difference on you growing up to be strong and independent or unique

You can be strong independent and unique with a cutsy girly name (look at Dr Pixie McKenna She is a strong independent woman who is so due to how she was raised and who "she" is not due to the fact she had a cutsey name.

I am another with a unisex name and add to that a rather unusual name (it is not on this list) I get mail to MR all the time even when I was very pregnant and it was from pg type places .. I have " patiently" had people explain to me that due to the computer saying it was a male name I HAD to be male.. I have had people insist I couldn't be called that as a female. I have to call up when I have been at seminars where I share rooms to ensure I am put down as a female Its a PITA. To make it even more infuriating the only kinda famous person with this name that people will know off now is a female (she spells it different to me though - and was married to Burt Renolds) I put the name up here for fun about a year ago or so. out of 15 responses 1 kinda liked it..

I have met anyone with a unisex name who LIKES it, and to have a look at this thread there are many others who feel the same way as I do.

My daughtes have feminine names I am still raising them to be strong independent and unique because that is what I wish for my children. I also wish them to not have to spend hours of their lives explaining to people that they really are female.

Martorana · 19/02/2014 13:45

And anyway, Pixie Mckenna's real name is Bernadette.

Martorana · 19/02/2014 13:46

My niece is a very high powered academic. Her name is "unisex"-read male. She is constantly being taken for her own secretary.

soontobeslendergirl · 19/02/2014 14:35

Piper
Elliott
Logan
Nairn
Brooke

I've also met a woman called Kevin which was quite unusual.

BlueChampagne · 19/02/2014 15:36

Lindsay
Julian

Martorana · 19/02/2014 15:45

Julian is under no circumstances a girl's name!

StumbledintoMayhem · 19/02/2014 15:58

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Bunbaker · 19/02/2014 16:03

I have a friend with a very deep voice. She has a unisex name and people on the phone always assume she is a man.

I don't "get" why you are concerned about people being pigeon holed by their sex. I used to work in telesales and I like to know whether I am going to be talking to a man or woman (I used to sell gender neutral products BTW)

Britishseamonkey · 19/02/2014 17:49

There are a few that work - joey/ Alex /Charli.
Or the more untraditional names like Phoenix or Blue. Not sure I'd choose those personally tho
But mostly I don't like them- I agree they don't come access as 'unisex' they come access as girls with boys names - think George in famous five which actually goes against feminist thinking IMO.
It doesn't work when men are called 'Stacey' or 'Shirley'. And I ctulu think its a symptom of an unequal society that its percieved as 'ok' to give a girl a 'boyish' name - bit not the other way around.

Also- IMO Scout is very much a girl!!!

I like Kit - as in Christopher or Catherine - unisex nickname but still leaves him/her with plenty of options X

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 18:01

Rowan
Blair
Kit (I have one who is Christopher but I've also known one who was Katherine)

Don't use something like Francis for a girl when it's very clearly spelt the boys way. Francis is very much a unisex name but is always spelt Frances for a girl and this is usually how people can tell. If you want to do it chose something that would be spelt the same either way.

Frikadellen · 19/02/2014 18:09

well Martona Bernadette is also very feminine and it didnt stop her.

HoneyandRum · 19/02/2014 19:06

George from the Famous Five was short for Georgina.

ItsWarmerInTheSouth · 19/02/2014 19:07

Jude. Love this name for a girl or a boy Grin

RalphRecklessCardew · 19/02/2014 19:13

Kit

cookingenthusiast · 19/02/2014 19:56

I hear the name Magnolia is very in this season

moonshinestar2 · 19/02/2014 20:01

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slightlyglitterstained · 19/02/2014 20:14

I gave my son a unisex name. He's still only 18 months so not old enough to ask what he thinks.

If he hates it, he can switch to his middle name easily enough. Or pick a name he prefers.

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 20:19

I have also met both boys and girls called Levi.

Martorana · 19/02/2014 20:20

As I said, once you can show me some girl's names that have become unisex I might be convinced. As it is, what we have is girls being given boy's names. And I don't care for that very much.

NancyJones · 19/02/2014 20:21

Pronounced as leevi usually although one boy pronounced it Levi with a short vowel.

mommy268 · 19/02/2014 20:24

How about Peni? as the plural of penis it could lend itself to some interesting situations…

canyourearme · 19/02/2014 20:27

George frankie charlie rowan

canyourearme · 19/02/2014 20:28

Alex sydney

Cringechilli · 19/02/2014 20:36

I would go with something like Jo/Joe. So that if your child in future wishes their gender to be identified on written stuff, it will be possible.

It's your child that has to live with this name - not you. Why don't you change your own name by deed poll to Jude or Sydney if you like unisex names so much.

I know that both my children would be either embarrassed or affronted if their gender was mistaken. I also know a child who hates their unisex name. He was allocated a locker in the girls locker room at school and felt humiliated.

At the end of the day, when your child grows up, they will be walking around with either boobs or a willy attached to their body and their gender will probably be obvious. I can appreciate that it isn't great for girls to grow up obsessed with their appearance etc but you can achieve this via other means.

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