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Original poster

Leo for a girl?

61 replies

catalinablue · 20/05/2018 17:03

What do you think of using Leo for a girl?

Don't particularly like any 'longer' feminine versions (Leona, Leonie, Leonora, etc) but love Leo.

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Sherlockmaystealyourpug · 20/05/2018 18:16

I know a lovely, brilliant female Leo (it's a shortening of one of the names you said you dislike but she mostly goes by Leo) and it's totally sold me on it. I really like it. If you do, go for it. You'll get very mixed opinions but I wouldn't let that sway you if you love it.

sonnyboo · 20/05/2018 18:18

I know a female Leo, short for Leontine. I like it.

LivininaBox · 20/05/2018 18:19

I have met a female Leo, short for a Greek name - I think it was Leoclides?

EllenJanethickerknickers · 20/05/2018 18:22

I know a female Leo pronounced Lay Oh short for Leonore who is from a Spanish speaking country.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 20/05/2018 18:23

I think it's very boring for a boy but AWESOME for a girl!

MistAmougstElephants · 20/05/2018 18:38

headsdownthumbsup because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name. I've met more males called Alex then females doesn't mean I think Alex is a male name.

RexManning · 20/05/2018 18:43

because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name.

Not in England and Wales, and not as a given name - it doesn't even register on the ONS stats as a female name, which means if it's given at all to girls, it's to fewer than three every year since 1997.

If you have encountered a lot of female Leos then I suggest that they are using it as a diminutive of Leonie, Leonora, Leona etc.

buttercup54321 · 20/05/2018 18:49

How stupid. Poor child. Use Cleo or just keep Leo until you have an actual boy. Unless of course you like Lucy for a boy by then.

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 18:49

It's like calling your daughter James.

Do, if you want. However your daughter may or may not appreciate having a man's name when she's a self conscious 11 or 16 year old starting a new school, during Freshers week at uni, or joining a new company at 36... She might totally "own" it and be fabulous, but you have to be aware she might always hate it and be deeply self conscious explaining that yes, she was born female, her parents just gave her a male name for some reason...

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 18:51

Mist Alex is a nickname for Alexandra or Alexander, female and male versions of the same name.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 20/05/2018 18:52

because it gets used by both males and females i assumed it is a unisex name.

I really don't think it does get used by both in the same way though. Some people may shorten it from a longer name as shown by those above to arrive at Leo as a nickname. However the name Leo on its own as the OP is suggesting is not a name which has ever been given to girls, boys yes but never girls and therefore I don't understand why anyone would think Leo is unisex.

AmazingPostVoices · 20/05/2018 18:56

No. Just no.

Glumglowworm · 20/05/2018 18:56

Don’t do it

When people give their daughters Male names (not unisex or diminutives but actual male names) I just think they must’ve wanted a boy and are forcing whatever name they would’ve given their son onto their daughter as second best.

I say it that way around because you never encounter people wanting to use girls names for boys.

Leo for a girl short for Leonie or Leonora or whatever is fine. Not my choice but fine. If you don’t like the longer versions then you need to pick s different name and save Leo for a son

Liadan · 20/05/2018 19:06

We have a dd called Líadan and we call her Leo as a pet name;)

Racecardriver · 20/05/2018 19:09

Why can't you give her a girls name but just call her Leo. My favorite would be Leona because it reminds me of Leona Edminston.

llangennith · 20/05/2018 19:11

What a silly idea.

AyeWhySwim · 20/05/2018 22:35

Wow! Some really harsh and unpleasant responses on this thread. Sometimes I feel like people just like to jump in and have a go when they see a thread going a certain way.
So generally those people who find it ‘silly’ and a terrible idea to call a girl Leo are fine with it as long as the birth certificate says Leona or Leonora or something? Is there much difference to female Charlies? Billies? Bobbies? Ronnies?

catinapatchofsunshine · 20/05/2018 23:53

Charlotte, Roberta and Veronica... Are Charlie, Bobbie and Ronnie.

Why do people not understand nicknames?

applesandpears56 · 21/05/2018 00:03

No!

applesandpears56 · 21/05/2018 00:04

Lorna?

Lilymossflower · 21/05/2018 00:17

I think it would be absolutely beautiful for a girl :) xxx

sycamore54321 · 21/05/2018 00:19

I am of the majority view. As well as being an obviously male name like James or Peter, it also describes a male noun; literally means male lion. No ambiguity there. Lia and Cleo are both great suggestions above.

SilverySurfer · 21/05/2018 00:38

It just screams 'desperate to be different.' If you love it so much change your own name to Leo and give your daughter a girl's name.

Puffycat · 21/05/2018 00:44

You’ll be giving your daughter a terrible burden. It’s like a boy named Sue! Don’t do it!

Kokeshi123 · 21/05/2018 00:45

As others have said, would you call your son Margaret?

Please don't.

There are plenty of similar female names, like Leah/Lia, Leila, Lina, Leonie, Leona or Leola.

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