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've not met any Merryns, but assumed it was a boy's name. But I do have a Cornish background.

It was one of my choices for a girl but I think its like Meredith, Leslie/ey, Rowan which are all boy or girls names. Personally I love it for either sex!

I really like it, having never heard of it before. It puts me in mind of Merry from Lord of the Rings which makes me smile even though it's not the same. Might add it to my rather overlong list...:-)

I love it! I have never met a Merryn before, it has been added to our list (I hope you don't mind)

Warning...Game of Thrones reference...(Meryn Trant; not a nice character)...!!!

Lovely name and definitely male

Girls name, isn't it Welsh? I know one, female.

One of my very best (female) friend's middle name is Merryn. I love it. In turn, she's given it to her daughter as her middle name too. Isn't it Cornish in origin?

I know two girl Merryns.

I have met one baby Merryn. A little girl. I would find it odd being a boy's name.

I've only ever known of girls called Merryn, so too me it's a girls name.

I've only ever known it as a girl's name but I think it is unusual and unisex enough in sound / spelling to be one of the few names that could work equally well for a boy. It does seem to be becoming more popular / widely used for girls so I suppose there is a risk that as he grows up, there will be an expectation from those who "meet" him first on paper that he will be a girl IYSWIM.

But you know, it's not as if you're planning to call him Susan.

Thanks for all your help, guys! Please do add it to baby name lists (maybe if we have a few more male Merryns then I can get my own way!). It's actually the Cornishness that's drawn us to it- we aren't Cornish, but lived there when we first got a house together, and it's a really special place for us.

I think we're definitely considering it.

FWIW the Scottish equivalent, Mirren, was originally male but the name is also used for girls.

I think Merryn is strong enough sounding to be masculine, even today. Best wishes.

When I read Merryn I assumed it was a boy's name, it sounds masculine to me. I like it personally.

I love it! Sounds male to me but then I have a DD with a Cornish name so have scoured the lists...

I also have a DD with a unisex name. Occasionally you get someone saying "that's a boy's name" but very rarely.

I think of it as s girls name but purely because it's my dd's name :)

Its a fabulous name, we are often complimented on it and it's quite unusual I think there were 35 merryns last year according to ons statistics.

If I were to use it as s boys name I would spell it merren I think.

Bit too femenine IMO.

It can be male, if you claim it as such. It's feminine only by association.

It's a very cool name for a boy.

Thought it was a girl's name myself. Not quite sure re the perceived gender mattering less with an unusual name. Maybe, but then again until he's a fair bit older it could be like being introduced to a 'Taylor' or 'Alex' & wondering what it is? A possible bullying handle if a feminine looking boy too? Though I think folk are probably correct that he'll come to own the name in time.