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Baby names

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

Opinions on unisex names

101 replies

IceTippedMountains · 29/01/2019 06:31

DH and I are extremely keen on giving our DC a unisex name.

So far we have:

  • Jordan / Jordyn
  • Indianna
  • Kennedy
  • Quinn
  • Bailey / Bailee
  • Devon
  • Jesse / Jessie
  • Taylor / Tayla
  • Avery

Honest opinions! (and yes we are in the UK)

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Highlowpo · 29/01/2019 06:41

They aren't my style of names I'm sorry but I definitely prefer the spellings to the left of your list. The spellings on the right for Bailey, Tayla and Jordyn are terrible (sorry).

My sister has one of your names and she has hated it her whole life. It caused so many problems in school when looking at the register it would be presumed she was a boy and separated from her girl friends into groups with boys. She doesn't use the name now and only goes by a shortening. My parents definitely regret using it.

Nursiemum27 · 29/01/2019 06:41

Jordan / Jordyn - ok for a boy bit Katie price-ish fir a girl personally

  • Indianna - i kno it’s from Indiana Jones and he’s w huge alpha male but this just sounds like a girls name to me
  • Kennedy - like this, I knew a little girl called it and it suited her so well. Would also be nice for a boy
  • Quinn - very cool
  • Bailey / Bailee - like but prefer the male spelling for both
  • Devon - although I’m actually from Devon I really like this!
  • Jesse / Jessie - like these
  • Taylor / Tayla - not sure on tayla
  • Avery - brother in laws name didn’t kno it was a girls name as well!!
JaesseJexaMaipru · 29/01/2019 06:54

Those are all very American names. Nothing wrong with that per se but American names do often get perceived as somewhat crass and uncouth to British ears. a few historically unisex names which wouldn't suffer this:
Hilary
Leslie/Lesley
Robin
Aubrey
Francis/Frances
Laurie

halpert · 29/01/2019 06:55

I'm calling my DS Devon who is due in a week. I've always known girls called Devon but have fallen in love with it.

I like unisex names and your list is full of lovely names

ArtisanPopcorn · 29/01/2019 07:01

I like Rowan.

stellarfox · 29/01/2019 07:44

Not keen on any of them I’m afraid and I agree they are quite American sounding if that’s what you’re going for?

daisypond · 29/01/2019 08:03

Shouldn't Indianna be spelled Indiana, like the US state? Otherwise it looks very feminine.
Jordan is OK for both. So is Devon. I really dislike the others.
How about Eden? Rowan? Or names like Joss(short for Jocelyn)? Alex/Sam/Ellis?

tammytoby · 29/01/2019 08:34

Rowan and Taylor are nice and very unisex.

Quinn is a boys name imo and it sounds masculine like Finn or Flynn.

Indiana sounds feminine.

IceTippedMountains · 29/01/2019 08:47

Not really a fan of Rowan. Thanks for those suggestions Jaesse but they are not really my cup of tea, although Aubrey is nice.

Yeah it may be best to spell Indiana that way.

We probably are a fan of American names, we lived in Canada for a couple of years so grew to like those types of names. Really not keen on the current trends of baby names in the UK atm so are trying to be more unique.

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RedDwarves · 29/01/2019 08:53

I like some of them, but they're not popular in the UK. I'm in Australia - they would go down much better here than in the UK, I'm sure.

My favourite is Sawyer, followed by Piper. I also like Peyton. Rowan is nice too. Aster/Astor is another. Billie/Billy.

Notmissmoneypenny · 29/01/2019 08:59

I think your list is very masculine as oppose to unisex.

Jordan - only girl that comes to mind is Katie price, boys name for me
Indianna - Indiana Jones, boys name for me
Kennedy - this is probably the most girly name on your list but don’t know any of either sex
Quinn - I’d think boy but the only one who comes to mind is the Glee character
Bailey - boys name for me
Devon - boys name for me
Jesse - boys name, think breaking bad
Taylor - boys name for me
Avery - boys name diminutive of Alfred, you wouldn’t call a girl Alfred.

I personally dislike the alternative spellings too.

Some other ideas you might like:
-Sam
-Francis/Frances/Frankie
-Ashley
-Alex
-Casey
-Corey
-Rory

LemonBreeland · 29/01/2019 09:01

I don't like unisex names in general. I always find that if I hear of a girl with a unisex name, I think that's a boys name, and if I meet a boy I think the opposite.

What is your reason for wanting to give a unisex name? Why is it something you feel strongly about?

IceTippedMountains · 29/01/2019 09:35

I think Jordan is off the list, forgot about the Katie Price connection...

Love Sawyer! I like Ashley but my cousin is called Ashlee.

I have always loved unisex names, maybe because I think there is less focus on the gender with neutral names.

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IWouldLikeToKnow · 29/01/2019 10:02

I quite like unisex names. I know that goes against the grain on Mumsnet. Another one I really like is Eden.

Choosinganame · 29/01/2019 10:09

I like some of these.
Avery is lovely but I see it as more girly.
Indiana is really cool and Jesse. Jessie as a standalone name for a girl was actually really popular 100 or so years ago.
Quinn is nice for a boy but wouldn't call a girl Quinn.
I know a girl called Taylor and one called Bailey. I wasn't keen on either at first but they have grown on me. Taylor is feisty and strong willed and suits her name.
Jordan is awful and not keen on Kennedy. Devon is ok but will be called Dev which isn't nice.

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 29/01/2019 10:14

Of your list the only ones I like are:

Avery, but only for a girl
Devon for either sex
Jesse but only for a boy

Quinn always makes me think of quim.

What about something nature based? River? Ocean? Neither of them are really my thing but I'd buy them as unisex.

justchecking1 · 29/01/2019 10:28

Daryl?

tammytoby · 29/01/2019 10:29

Devon and Sawyer are good unisex names.

Jesse and Quinn are 100% masculine imo.

Yabbers · 29/01/2019 10:33

Jesse is unisex. I like it.

Yabbers · 29/01/2019 10:34

Quinn is also unisex.

IVEgottheDECAF · 29/01/2019 10:36

The female Taylor i know is spelt Taila

Peachbubble · 29/01/2019 10:40

How about Morgan or Jamie. Or Charlie (I know a little girl called Charlie and is registered as this on her bc). From your list, I like Avery the best.

LinoleumBlownapart · 29/01/2019 10:42

Some of those names make me think of the 90's.

How about Harper? Jesse is good and Taylor.

Shadow1234 · 29/01/2019 10:48

Really like Avery, (prefer this for a girl).
Quinn, (girl or boy)
Devon (girl or boy),
Jesse (prefer for a boy)
Kennedy (prefer for a boy because it would probably be shortened to Ken)
Not keen on Indiana

Upalln1ght · 29/01/2019 10:51

I'm sure you can find many different spellings for these, but some ideas:
Charlie
Ashley
Ellis
Max
Jude
Gene / Jean (or Jeanie)
Frankie
Laurie / Lawrie
George (ia)

There were boys at school called Kerry and another named Kim. I've also met a man named Meredith too!

Devon is lovely, it was on my list for a boy but our surname didn't go well with it!

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