Beckett for a girl

[Sultanainasalad]

Am interested in people's views.

For context, we have a dd with quite an unusual, gender neutral name. I'm not necessarily trying to go for that again, we just happen to like this name. We live abroad where it's not too unheard of to have different names. But I know family and friends will not love it....

Does anyone like it or is it too weird/ masculine?

I like Beckett. Always preferred "boy" names for girls; if we'd had a daughter, she would've been Dante. Do make sure you know what you want her NN to be, though, and introduce its usage from the get go. Hazel is lovely too.

I don’t love it but don’t dislike it. There’s also Bennet which is a ‘proper’ name - am not a huge fan but you might like it?

Bucket.

Bertrand I had this debate with a friend who wanted to call her son Atticus. Because he was such a great moral character. Of a book she’d never read...

Bennet is an insult where I come from

I would put money on most people who use the name Beckett for their daughter never having heard of Samuel Beckett!

To people complaining that this girl will have a lifetime of explaining to people how to spell/pronounce her name, I'd like to say that there is no safe-guarding from that.

I have a fairly common name, but there are several ways to spell it or pronounce it. I often have to explain it too. And as for bullying, if kids really want to bully your kid they will find a way. Compromising on a name you both like just sets a bad precedent.

You will always encounter some people who are going to be shitheads, but you just can't go bending your life or the lives of your kids around what makes them feel better. Plus that just encourages them to keep up the bad behavior.

I like the name Beckett. It's strong, straight forward and very original. I haven't seen it used yet as a first name, but you can't always do exactly what other people do. If you both like it, go for it!

Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest.

That’s what comes to mind with me.

Thanks so much to everyone for taking the time to comment.

Some fairly strong opinions there which I expected. I think I was just interested to see was it a unanimous no (don't worry, we're very aware of Samuel Beckett to those who worried we weren't).

internet I tend to agree with you about the spelling/bullying arguments.

Ah it's annoying that we're finding it so hard to agree m, by we'll get there

I’ve only ever heard it as a name Summett - didn’t mean to offend / invoke the rolly eye.

I like it. It just means a small stream doesn't it? There are loads of Brookes, why not Beck(ett)?!

Ooh. I think Beckett’s great. Never come across it before. I really like how it sounds. And NNs could be Kit, kitty, Becky etc too.. Lots of options.
Marina seems kind of a flat name next to Beckett. I once knew a lovely Marina but now it makes me think of Boris Johnson’s wife.

I love it. My first thought was Quantum Leap though, just to lower the literary tone. Oh boy...

Unless you really like Samuel Beckett then why would you? It's not aesthetically pleasing as a sound or written down imo. And yes, very American. Some surnames work quite nicely as first names. And some boyish names as girls' names do too, just not keen on that one.

Unless you really like Samuel Beckett then why would you?

It's a pretty common surname. That's like saying you shouldn't use the name Jackson unless you really like Michael Jackson.

Have you seen Castle? The woman on there is called Beckett. It's her character surname but as she's a cop they use last names.

'Why does "gender neutral" always mean male?'

This.

Robyn is lovely. Sabrina is, too.

You could call her Rebecca with Beckett as a nn? She'll end up as Becky regardless and people will assume it's short for Rebecca.

I dislike surnames as names anyway, especially for girls (it's not gender neutral, you're choosing a masculine-sounding name...), and especially in this case as it's strongly associated with a man (Samuel Beckett) as it's not a particularly common surname. If you love SB then go for it, but if not then maybe think about whether you want that association.