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Baby names

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

Noah - for a girl?

142 replies

DreamOrange · 23/08/2016 23:53

Hi, thoughts on the name Noah? There's a female Noah in the bible, so it's definitely unisex.

Noah Kate?

Thanks!

OP posts:
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AmysTiara · 24/08/2016 20:36

Nice for a boy, awful for a girl.

florascotianew · 24/08/2016 22:04

This is going back to an earlier comment but Morgan was NOT originally a boy's name. There is a character (beautiful witch) in Arthurian/Celtic legend called Morgan or Morgana Le Fay. (Both spellings are used. Le Fay = (bad) fairy.) Welsh speakers may want to correct me, but, so far as I know, Morgan is a Welsh surname also used as a first name for boys.

FWIW I totally agree with earlier poster, the Bible wasn't written in English so any distinction based on the spellings of English translations is pretty meaningless.

ReallyExhaustedLlama · 24/08/2016 22:07

Nia as an alternative?

chocoLit · 24/08/2016 23:48

Our third DD has a name more traditionally used for a boy and she totally rocks it.

I also wanted to use James for a girl but DH said no.

If you love it, use it. End of. Just be prepared to have to explain yourself time and time again.......................

calzone · 24/08/2016 23:56

Pregnancy hormones have a lot to answer for ......

It's ridiculous. Just don't.

SoupDragon · 25/08/2016 14:16

If you love it, use it. End of. Just be prepared to have to explain yourself time and time again.......................

No. You need to be prepared for your child to have to explain your choice time and time again.

Don't just choose a name because you love it, give some thought to the person who has to live with it for their whole life (or until they change it)

pennyunwise · 25/08/2016 14:44

I know a girl with a boy's name. When I met her, the conversation went like this:

"Your name is [boy's name]? That's your actual name?"
"Yes"
"No, but it's a nickname right? So what's it a nickname for? Like, what's your actual name?"
"It's my actual, real name. It's not a nickname"
"But it's a boy's name!"
"I'm aware. Do you want me to show you my driver's license to prove it?"
(By this point she's obviously lost patience with me)
"No, it's okay. Sorry. You must get this a lot"
"Yes. Every time I meet anyone, ever"
"Sorry"

I felt sheepish, she felt mad. Great way to meet somebody.

chocoLit · 25/08/2016 15:25

soupdragon she loves it. She has options. It suits her. There is reason & meaning behind it. She loves the story behind why we chose it.

All my girls have three names each and will eventually choose which derivative they want to use but for now they love their names and use them.

I was given the most female name possibly. Seriously couldn't get MORE 'girls name name' and I have hated it my WHOLE LIFE. Having to say it, explain it repeat it. Horrid. Just not an option for me to do it to my kids and DH agreed. He doesn't go by his 'given' name either.

All my DDs love their names and each other's regardless of MN's opinion of them. Apparently DD1's is too common. DD2's is too Z-list slab/ chav and DD3's should never be used for a girl.

Hasn't harmed my three one bit Smile

BertrandRussell · 25/08/2016 15:34

Why is it ok to call a girl James but not a boy Susannah?

ParkingLottie · 25/08/2016 15:51

Is that question rhetorical, BertrandRussell?

The same reason that men don't wear 'girlfriend jeans' and when women's boxer shorts became all the rage, men did not start wearing lacy thongs.

Status. Mem would be seen to be demeaned by these things, their maleness diminished or threatened.

Maybe this tells us that female identity is stronger , or maybe it doesn't .

Only1scoop · 25/08/2016 15:54

Ok for a boy

Dislike for a girl

TurtlesAreAwesome · 25/08/2016 17:45

I wouldn't call a girl a name that could be easily be confused with a boy's name. It might sound nice, but there are other nice names out there which are more girl friendly. Ultimately, it's your baby and your choice, so I wouldn't tell you what to do. Smile

ClockMakerSue · 25/08/2016 19:23

Dislike it. Yes she is your daughter BUT she is the one who has to face all the issues with having what most of the population identify as a boy's name. I'm not a fan of the argument, 'call her what you like because she is your child' and am thankful this place exists for others to help us think of how it may be for the child.

(I had a few ridiculous name idea when pregnant and thank goodness close friends helped me see sense!)

gillybeanz · 25/08/2016 19:29

Why do people call their kids such idiotic names, don't they think about the poor kid going to school and getting bullied?

OP, Noah is a boys name whether you agree or not, the bullies won't care
Please pick something normal for your child's sake.

TheDowagerCuntess · 25/08/2016 22:27

There's nothing wrong with giving a girl a boy's name, per se. It's pretty common in the US.

But this seems determinedly contrary, purely because there's a feminine equivalent which is a lot nicer and as such, you're basically setting her up for a lifetime of clarifying, and spelling out, and explaining. At best, it will be tediously annoying for her.

If you were to call her Morgan, or Bryce or Stevie, or any other traditionally male name that I've heard on girls recently, it's a lot more clear cut.

Tutuloves · 25/08/2016 22:49

Where's the female Noah in the bible? I've never seen it. King David had a wife called Michael (Sauls daughter) so why not go the full hog and call her Noah Michael? On a serious note though, people don't see Noah with a 'H' at the end as a unisex name,so it's up to you if you want to put your child in the position where people are expecting her to be a boy.

zombiemum123 · 25/08/2016 22:58

HaloGrinLOVE IT

FrancisCrawford · 25/08/2016 23:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AbyssinianBanana · 25/08/2016 23:44

Because Francis, speshul snowflake.

Rest of us mainstream wouldn't understand and couldn't rock it

Tartyflette · 25/08/2016 23:51

Noah is not a good name for a girl. I have to say I dislike the trend of giving boys' names to girls. It's not cute, as I've heard some people say, it's trying-too-hard and cringeworthy. (see post upthread about the pissed-off woman always having to explain her male name)
I particularly dislike that it's only ever one way -- these days it's very rare to call boys formerly unisex names like Evelyn or Hilary, never mind Rosie or Martha.
As a pp poster said, it's also to do with perceived status, so if you fondly imagine you're giving your DD a unisex name, bear in mind that as more girls are called Morgan, or Taylor, fewer and fewer boys will be, so it may well end up as a girl's name anyway.

suit2845321oie · 26/08/2016 00:00

Noah is a beautiful name, DD is 14 and There are 2 in her year of 399. Equally Noa is gorgeous for a girl.

chocoLit · 26/08/2016 06:52

franciscrawford none of my 3 DDs are called James.

LilaTheTiger · 26/08/2016 06:59

What about Norah?

Or Noa is much nicer.

OliviaStabler · 26/08/2016 07:01

Just don't.

Seekingmiracles · 29/08/2016 08:08

I love it spelt Noa, it's at the top of my list. HATE it for a boy and don't like the Noah spelling for a girl. But I don't see the issue with people thinking she's a boy, they'll realise soon enough when she talks/wears a dress etc! And there are plenty of unisex names out there.