‘boy’ names for a girl?

[MaiaRay]

What’s your opinion on using a traditionally/commonly used ‘boy’ name for a girl? Too weird or do you like it?
I’ve heard names like Wyatt, James, Billie, Jude, Rory etc all being used for girls and wondered if this was something you loved or hated!

I just wonder why

Like is it that you genuinely can't think of any girls name you like better
Or are you trying to be cool and make a statement about how cool you are
Or do you think it's preferable at first paper glance people assume she's a boy

My real name is quite ordinary and boring but it is feminine and I doubt a male anywhere would be given it. I am not ashamed of it. When I see some of the stupid (in my opinion) child names given by celebrities I just feel sorry for them and amongst them are female names for boys and vice versa.

Off the main topic but are any of you blessed with an unusual first name? Obviously not asking what it is unless you insist on sharing.

Blake Livelys daughter is called James and I much prefer it for a girl than a boy!

I really like Sydney for a girl.

As a female with a boys name .... don’t do it. It’s just plain annoying : being asked your real name, kids mocking it, people expecting a male etc etc ..

Lots of girls names have a masculine shortening so you could put the full name on birth certificate but use the nick name in day to day life. I think this would be kinder to your daughter and give her more options in life if she decides she doesn't like having a boys name. Eg
Georgina/George
Josephine/Jo
Theodora/Teddy
Harriet/Harry
Roberta/Bob
Nicole/Nick
Philippa/Phil
Christina/Chris
Michaela/Mike
Davina/Dave
Samantha/Sam
Bernedette/Bernie

Really not keen on traditional boys names being used for girls - there is such a wide variety of choice for girls names (far more names in use for girls than boys, according to ONS figures); so it seems a bit lazy not to search for a girls name you like the sound of.

As pp have mentioned, you can always use one of the many feminine versions of a masculine name with a "boy" nn eg. boy - Henry, girl - Harriet, nn for both - Harry. Or use a common unisex name eg. Rowan.

Plus if many people use a traditionally masculine name for girls, then people stop using it much for boys and the pool of boys names narrows further! (Parents being more likely to worry about boys being teased for having a "girly" name rather than the other way around).

Oh and of your examples - I've only heard of girls named James and Wyatt in the US, where it seems a celeb led trend. Jude can be a nn for Judith, Rory for Aurora and Billie traditionally for Wilhelmina (although Billie has become more of a unisex given name, thanks to the actress).

I really like it but get it's not everyone's cup of tea, ever since reading Mallory Towers I've always like Darrell.
Also work with a Jaymi and a Robyn and both names suit them very much.

You mean like
Evelyn
Shirley
Lindsay
Jessamy
Beverley

I absolutely adore Luca for a girl

I've got a boys name, spelt differently to the male version.
All I got growing up was "thats a boys name"
Everyone spells it the male way even if it's right in front of them and I get lots of post addressed to Mr.
But I actually didnt mind it too much and I really like my name, I wouldn't change it.

What @Monsterjam said

don’t do it. It’s just plain annoying : being asked your real name, kids mocking it, people expecting a male etc etc and I'd add, being asked " why did your parents' give you a boys' name ?"

I think it's a ridiculous trend.

It's also strange how it isn't done the other way round, girls' names for boys.

I would really love to see parents having to change their names for 6 months to understand why certain trends will affect their children. Spend a while called jaimghes (obvs pronounced James) as a female adult, then reassess the need to saddle your kids with yunique.......

I think it’s a bit sexist tbh. Like there is literally not a single girl’s name you like so you had to choose a boy’s name. As PP has said, it doesn’t work the other way round. Anyway just my opinion which you are free to disagree with!

Obviously some names are unisex (but those are often a bit naff, sorry) but I can’t imagine calling a girl James. Or Oliver. Or Alfie. Or anything like that.

Billie, Noa, Ollie & Stevie are on our list of names for girls.

Off the main topic but are any of you blessed with an unusual first name?

I did...and grew up hating it! I changed it by deed poll at 18. It just didn’t mesh with my identity. Don’t underestimate how shitty or exhausting having a unique name can be.

I don’t mind it in some cases, although wouldn’t have chosen a boy’s name for my DD.

Have an American ex-colleague with two daughters called Bryce and Elliot (nn Ellie).

Why isn’t it done the other way round? I think it is.

I went to school with Ashley, Beverley, Lindsay, Gale, Leslie, Reece, Alex, Charlie, Kelly, and Stacey.

Tell me which were boys and which girls?

I like it! I also prefer quite a few girl names for boys also.

Wyatt is Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's Daughters name.

I love James for a girl, more so as a middle name though.

I've always known Billie and Rory to be unisex.

I'm not a fan of Jude in general but it could definitely work for either a boy or girl.

I do feel some names like William or Nathan wouldn't suit a girl though.

I'm not a fan of this in general, though the occasional shortening of a girl's name can be masculine-ish and work quite well. For example:

Samantha - Sam
Alexandra - Alex
Georgina or Georgia - George.

Other than that, not really a fan. Your child will have a lifetime of explaining their name to others.

Don't be too yoonique.

I have what I consider to be an 'old-fashioned' unisex/traditional boys name - old-fashioned in the sense that its been used for both boys and girls for many years relatively popular in the 80's but definetly still more boys that girls though and is in no way a trendy name! Lol! Technically there is a boys spelling and a girls spelling but the boys spelling is more prevalent and is often just used used for girls too (especially in America it seems - think of a famous twin!)

I occasionally get emails/letters addressed to 'Mr' which don't really bother me - its more irritating when the name is actually spelt wrong in the body of emails - when literally the correct spelling IS in the email address itself but that is more of an irritation because of people being careless rather than anything else

I wouldn't. Now there is so much gender-neutrality correctness that the poor girl would just be assumed to be an effeminate boy, or transitioning, etc.

Kids have enough issues to deal with, especially as teens, that why would you add another?

Going to hide in a closet now, since I may have added too much heat to this topic.