Female versions of male names

[bassingtonffrench]

In an idle moment I was thinking if our expected boy turns out to be a girl, would I be prepared to use the female version of the male name we have chosen.

But in most of the examples I could think of, the female version is now far less popular than the male version e.g.

Louis is really popular, hardly any Louises these days
Loads of Maxs, not many Maxines
Michael still a current name, but Michelle isn't
Jack is everywhere, but Jacqueline isn't

An exception would be Olivia and Oliver, which are both very popular.

So, my question is, are female versions of male names less popular these days and if so why?

Nigella

I'm not a fan of female versions of male names, they're so clunky.

Nigella
Thomasina
Phillipa
Roberta
and on and on

all awful.

George and Georgia seem to be doing ok.

Funny how you've both mentioned nigella. Yes its awful but it's not held her back has it?!

She had a sister Thomasina.

I actually really like Phillipa and Roberta.

Pippa is more popular than Phillip now I think.

I think Nigella was the original. Nigella sativa is a flower. Nigel is probably the male version of that.

I quite like Roberta

That's interesting Uri. Surely there can't be many examples of that?

I know a little Roberta. She is Bertie. I like both.

Jerry/Geraldine

Yes Nigella's sisters were Thomasina and Horatia.

Nigella, Thomasina, Horatia.

Sounds as though they were just thrilled to have daughters.

I know, but very googleable, no?!

Google and Googla, very zeitgeisty!

I lived in the Outer Hebrides for 10 years, where this sort of thing is common.

I'm a secondary teacher and taught girls called Thomasina, Murdina (from Murdo), Calumina, Donaldina, Donalda, Lewisina and Gordina.

Almost all of them chose to be called either Ina, Dene or Dina. The names are awful.

No, I don't think they are any less popular. I know quite a few of these:

Alexandra (Alexander)
Georgina (George)
Josephine (Joseph)
Florence (Florent)
Clementine (Clement)

I quite like these..

Louis and Lois

Alexander / Alexandra

Charlie / Charlotte

Samuel / Samantha

Daniel / Danielle

I love Philipa myself. Also a big fan of Andrea/Andi. what about a name that is a bit "out there" like Ryan for a girl? Sandra bullock's character in Gravity was Ryan and I actually grew to like it. Or Reese (witherspoon?) Cameron (Diaz) Bobbie, Billie? It's not exactly a "male" version but Bryony is fairly similar to Brian/

Claude / Claudia
Anthony / Antonia
Gabriel / Gabrielle/a
Stephen / Stephanie

Another I thought of is Jamie. I actually prefer this a girls' name! I also know a little Kendra who goes by Kenny. How about Alana/Alan? Christina also seems to be making a bit of a come back. I know a couple of little Chrissy's

I think there are far more called Victoria than Victor.

And it depends on your generation - if you were born in the 1960s, you probably had 2 girls called Louise in every year, plus oodles more IHT it in the middle.

And there are quite a lot of others: Stephanie, Thea/Dora, Carla, Felicity, Harriet, Henrietta, Nicola, Robyn, Simone, Jessica, and of course, Justine

What about Charlotte/Caroline? Fem versions of Charles?

I know a Roberta and an andrewina

I know a couple of Louisas of primary school age, no Louise or Lois though.

I am not fond of names that may imply "we hoped you were going to be a boy". But it's your DC!

Some really interesting examples here. I love Stephanie (Stevie), Nicola, Simone, Claudia

However, I think most the examples given prove that female versions of male names are deeply unpopular at the moment Samuel/Samantha is a particular good case in point I think! But there are some notable exceptions like Phillipa, Claudia, Georgia

I disagree with PP and I think Victor is much trendier than Victoria at the moment, though I admit I don't know the stats!

I didn't know that Florence was from Florent. I didn't know Florent was even a name.

Love the examples from the Outer Hebrides, well I don't actually love the names, but its very interesting culturally. I did meet a Davida once, but I think Donalda trumps that! forgive the pun.

How about Veronica with Ronnie as a nn? Also Eric - Erin/Erica. Morgan?Jesse- Jessie?

ooo Erica is lovely

Hilary
Lauren
Leslie
Sam

Denis Denise