Friend called their daughter what we want to call our son!

[lemonslemonslemons]

I'm due in less than 2 weeks and DH and I were pretty much decided on our son's name, Avery. We really like it and we're planning to go with it.

However, a few weeks ago I met a friend of a friend who had a baby girl 7 weeks ago. We have become really close in the last few weeks and she ha just moved to the same area of us. Problem is, she and her DH named their daughter Avery

My DH is still keen to call our boy Avery, but it feels kind of weird now. What would you do?

[lemonslemonslemons]

DH also suggested Deacon (Nashville!). Not such a fan of that name.

Weirdly we were going for A names, but Rowan is a strong contender for me.

Posting this thread has really helped actually because it's made me realise that when I hear the name Avery, I picture her little girl, not my son as I used to. Hopefully DH will go with something different. We actually had Avery's parents over for dinner last night so that might help change DH's mind.

[LadyAntonella]

That should be a lot of adults have her name - I don't actually have any friends with it (lest I might be pissing people off by copying their name)!

[lemonslemonslemons]

I've never heard Rowan as a girls name! I've heard Roanna (In The Club!)...

[Thinkswimmingnoodle]

I've not come across Avery before and my first thought was that it sounds quite feminine.

I much prefer Rowan, but it seems quite popular.

[MariaSklodowska]

I know two Rowans, a boy and a girl.

[1horatio]

If you really want to name your LO Avery then you should do that. Just explain it to your friend in advance.

Just a suggestion... According to behindthename Avery derives from Alfred or Alberich. What about Alfred? Avery could be a nn?

[LobsterQuadrille]

I'd be put off Avery because of the close connection and the fact that you want to be a little different. Rowan is definitely unisex - I have known a boy and a girl. What about Everett or Emery as kind of similar to Avery?

[TeenAndTween]

I've wandered on here by accident as I didn't get to choose my girls names at all.

But

If you really want a name no one else in your social circle has, why not just go for a simple classic timeless one.

e.g.
George
David
Christopher
Timothy

At my DD's 200 pupil primary there is not a single child with any of those names. I don't know of any child either of my DD's know with any of those names.

[elQuintoConyo]

Rowan is lovely (Rowan Atkinson!).

Our DS has a top-15 name yet we don't know anyone with that name, nor are there any in DS' whole primary school.

How likely are you to bump into the friend of the friend? It may not matter.

When I was pregnant, we told everyone we'd settled on Barnaby to piss my mother off so no one could give their opinion on his real decided name, or be tempted to nab it for themselves

[Titsywoo]

I have a friend who has a name that is used more as a girls name. It is honestly the bane of his life. He got into so many fights at school over bullies picking on him about it that he was excluded 3 times.

Give your son a name that won't mean he gets the piss taken out of him not a name that is unique just because that's what makes YOU happy.

Sorry, just my humble opinion.

[Tigerblue]

I've only heard of Rowan once before and it was a boy's name. You could always call him Rowan Avery - that way you've got both names.

[juneau]

You're welcome LadyA

I know two girls called Rowan and a guy called Rohan. Personally, I think that second spelling is more masculine. As a guy I'm not sure I'd want to be mistaken for a woman. We used to have an optician who had a very effeminate name and I assumed, the first time we went, that he was a she. I was embarrassed to have made that assumption (even though it was just to the receptionist).

[LadyAntonella]

I think George is quite popular where I live. I live behind a school and can hear the kids when they are on lunch break. I always hear George being called. Also hear Harry all the time and James quite a lot, but that's probably irrelevant.

[lemonslemonslemons]

We know an Everrett, Alfred (out anyway because next door's dog is called Alfie and is constantly being screamed at by owner), George, Emmerson (Emery makes me think of a nail file), Christopher is my cousin, not keen on David and a friend has a small one called Timothy.

[Pseudo341]

Don't give up your first choice of name because someone you've known a couple of weeks has used it, that's just silly. There were 8 couples in my NCT antenatal class, two of them gave their son the same name. No one thought it was in any way weird. We still get together many years later, it's still not weird, the boys are good friends. There just aren't 6 billion names to go round so you're going to end up choosing the same name as someone. Go for the name you like.

[catsrus]

The only Rowan I know is an adult woman, so for me it's a girls name. Why not go for Jackson, rather than Avery! If you're a Grey's fan?

[juneau]

Re: George, Christopher, etc. Depends where you live as to how popular those names are. In my DS's class (10 children) there are two Christophers and one Christian. There are also umpteen Georges in the school (but this is the affluent home counties).

[iseenodust]

Stick with Avery. It's lovely & so is Deacon.

[lemonslemonslemons]

Barnaby! That's a great story.

All the names I have suggested have been poo-pooed by DH. Also, this is the first boy on my side of the family in over 80 years. So I am feeling the pressure.

[lemonslemonslemons]

Any name ending in 'son' won't work with our surname.

[Dogolphin]

What about Bede or Bevan?

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

I think it's a pity they beat you to it but such is life, sounds like you are now keen on Rowan so hopefully nobody in your circle who likes it too has a due date ahead of you.

I know historically Avery was a boy's name but nowadays I hear it used for girls more.

(I am reminded of the same phenomenon with the name Ashley about twenty years' ago, and Jordan before that! dates self ).

[MadameCholetsDirtySecret]

I love Blaise.

[Sounbelievablydull]

Really interesting reading this, I just wonder if all those names are fashion names?
You know the way you precisely tell how old people are because of their name? Tracy Sharon Christine 50 years old
Darren's 30 s 40 s
Also as it's the first boy isn't it nice to give a name that means something? After your father for example.
I gave my children family names not fashion names and they are really happy with them late teens now and although it wasn't the intention they are the only ones with those names.
Just a thought really

[MyNewBearTotoro]

I love Rowan for a boy.

I have met a girl Rowan in the past but have met far more boys and my first thought on hearing of a child called Rowan would definitely be boy.