Is Merryn acceptable...

[DertieBertie]

...as a boy's name?

I absolutely love this name, but it seems to only be used as a girl's name these days, even though the saint was male. What does mumsnet think?

I have to be honest that when I the thread title, my first thought was "is that a boy or a girl's name?"

I like the name itself, but I'm wondering whether it could be confusing?

No, I'd say girl.

Lovely name though.

I think girl but live in England and the only one I've known was female. It does sound feminine to my ears though, it's the "merry"ness!

I went to school with a Merryn. A boy. Very cool & rather handsome. He's an actor now

The only one I ever met was a girl. Same as birdofthenorth said.

Absolutely! Like you said, it was originally the name of a Cornish male saint. I consider it to be a boys name and find it quite handsome.

If you like Merryn then there's also Merrion or Meirion which is the Welsh form of Marianus, and I also know a male Kirrin which is quite similar in sound.

it was at the top of my girls list....I'm not against it for a boy but I've not personally met a male Merryn

Very feminine sounding.

Sounds masculine to my ears. The -yn ending, I think.

I'd assume the feminine form was Marianne, Maria or Meriana .

I know one - little boy - very sweet and boyish: def a boys name, go for it.

Boys name to me...

I only know one who is a girl, around two years old. It sounds feminine to me, sorry!

I think because its so unusual it will just become "his" name. And people won't think of it. I went to school with a boy called Daryl and in my mind it was always a girls name because of Mallory Towers Darrell. Or we're the spellings the other way round?? But I never sat there thinking ha ha, he's got a girls name. It was just his name and suited him.

Its not like you're thinki g of calling him Mary.

Girls name to me.

I know one Merran and one Merryn...both girls.

Taught a Merryn (girl) and a Merrick (boy).

Both lovely kids, for what its worth.

I didn't even know it was unisex. I only know it as a girl's name. So, I would assume girl. But it sounds like it was originally male and I actually prefer it as a boy's name.

And a Murran (girl)

I like it - I know one, a girl though. But ironically when she was born and so named, my first thought was "sounds more like a boys name"! So, would agree unless it's Brian or Sharon, some names just "are" for the person, they're not so masculine to feminine particularly when they re not a common (popular) name.

It sounds very feminine, sorry.

What about Mervyn?

Grrrr I can see why it could sound feminine. But agree with above poster...he will be Merryn.

Dertie, if you love the name, that's all that matters

No!

I agree that with an unusual name the perceived gender matters less.

I would think girl first, but I wouldn't be surprised if a boy turned around either.

I have a friend who named her baby girl Merryn a few months ago. I just seem to have a hard time remembering it! It has such a soft sound. So yes I would consider it to be a girls name. It seems to be suddenly fashionable as I have never heard it before. Although I did know a young woman in the US called Merren.