Traditional boys name, for a girl

[Sixofseven]

Just wondering how mean it would be to give a girl a name which is traditionally for boy, like Matthew or Michael. Does anyone here (an adult woman) have a boys name and what was it like as a name? Did it embarrass you growing up?
I’d like to name my daughter after a male family member but it’s not a unisex name and I don’t want to make her struggle as my other daughter has a very feminine name.
TIA

Please don't. Your DD will go through life thinking that you really wanted a boy, and it will be a permanent source of confusion and embarrassment. If you can't find another way to honour this family member then at least make it her middle name.

You can't seriously be thinking of calling your daughter Malcom ? That's really unkind.

LifesNotEnidBlyton's post is excellent at the bottom of P1

Malcolm isn't really one of those unisex names. It really really isn't.

Use it as a middle name. Or maybe don't. But... just. No. Don't do it.

If you have another daughter with a very traditional female name then can you imagine trying to explain why you went waaaay over on the other side of the pendulum swing with Malcolm?

It's one of those names like Brian or Dudley or Dennis that really isn't unisex.

Much like Pandora or Lily or Pamela isn't.

Malcolm is from Máel Coluim, devotee of St Columba.

Mael is a name in its own right (although please don't call your daughter that either as people will mispronounce as Male) with a female form Maela or Maelle, would either of those work?

It would be good as a middle name but not as a first name.

Mallory

The lady who played the mum in The Waltons was called Michael.

Malandra? Keeps the Mal part.

I didn’t realise there was such a thing as “boys clothes”. Are there “boys colours” too?
I dress my DD in whatever looks cute, “boys” or “girls”.
Don’t mean to come off rude but being told that children should be put in, what someone else labels as gender appropriate clothes, really pisses me off.
And yes, I’ve had people think my DD is a boy in the playground with her blue dinosaur puddle suit on 😂

I know a teenage girl Malley, who was named after a Malcolm.

Everyone will assume you wanted a boy.

If you must, use a feminine version of the name e.g. Mattea or Matthea or Michaela or 'Michelle, or use it as a middle name.

Love Malley! I would’ve shortened it to Mally as a nn anyway but didn’t think of adding an ‘e’

Unisex name fine.
But one so definitely male as Malcolm, no.
As a middle name, ok.
Or find another way of honouring the deceased relative in your daughter’s name. Did he have a favourite place, eg Devon. That wouldn’t seem so strange as a middle name. A favourite colour eg Blue.

I have a unisex name and I hate it. I constantly get post adressed to Mr rather than Mrs.

Malley lovely :) I don't think the world is ready yet for a female Malcom.

There's an actress called Malandra - named after both her mum and dad.

I think I'd prefer to name my daughter Malcolm than Blue

@percheron67

Very odd thing to want to do. Shall you be dressing her in boy's clothes as well.?

I often dress my daughter in clothes from the "boys" section. She seems perfectly happy. It's not odd it just widens the section of clothes.

No. It's bordering on cruel.

Maybe Malina would be more suitable? It's listed here as a feminine variant. Malley is also good though sounds more a nickname to me.

Apparently Malcolmina is a name. Never heard of until I googled. Would still give you Malley nickname or Mina.

@PlanetPuddle

Malley lovely :) I don't think the world is ready yet for a female Malcom.

The world is not ready

Still not 100% convinced either way but great hearing from those with more masculine names that hated it. I just want to do what’s best for my DD, she may love her name or hate it, but that’s true of any name.
Thanks for all taking the time to post, your replies have been really helpful, thank you

Please don't call your daughter Malcolm.

Things I never thought I'd say #78

I think Mally/Malley sounds lovely to the ear -
I also like the spelling Mallie. Respects Malcom but also less likely to cause confusion as she gets older.

Similar to lots of lovely girls names: Callie, Sally, Hallie, Tally.

I’ve grown up with a male name which did cause a few issues growing up- being put down as a boy in school for lockers, having mr before my name, people expecting a male etc . Nothing major just a bit embarrassing . i do really like my name now.
In recent years the name has become a bit morn unisex (I was named after a friend of my parents who was female by the way ) If it’s something like Michael or Brian I would have to say no don’t do it.

Please don't call your DD Malcolm.