Typically Boys Name for a Girl

[SummaLuvin]

Not expecting, just hypothetical (though I would 100% do this if DH approved it). What boys name do you love for a girl?

Mine is Claude.

I met a lovely girl called Lawrence at music school about a million years ago. If I'd had a girl I might well have used it.

Ah, I would see Claude as unisex - as you say, Claude was the name of a French queen! I think it's lovely and very graceful and refined.

Over my career, I have taught and looked after girls named Jayden, Cameron, Leigh, Frankie (not short for Francesca, she was Frankie), Taylor and Teddi. Teddi was American, it suited her.

I think a lot of “boys names used for girls” has come from America - Mackenzie and Taylor are traditionally boys names but I now associate them with girls as they seem to be common on American TV shows and SM.

I have also taught a boy called Paige - which I associate as a girls name. I’ve also met a boy and a girl Alexis. I suppose that’s more “neutral”

Harley seems to be becoming quite popular for a girl. I love Marley!

Me and my friend debated Willow once (another name I love) She thought it was generally gender neutral. I consider it a girls name bi I realise this is politically incorrect.

Why don’t we see it the other way round? Is it because girls sound “tougher” with a boys name whereas a boy will seem “weaker” with a girls name? Stereotypes isn’t it - we think nothing of girls playing with cars but if a boy picks up a doll many people sadly raise their eyebrows.

Rory

Frankie
Marley

Elliot and Ellis

Reece
Ray

Bertie

Ellis for a girl

I was disappointed to learn that Etienne is a boy’s name. I think it would make a beautiful name for a girl.

As a humourless feminist I’m not giving a girl a boy’s name. If it’s a symptom of sexism that boys are not called Sue, it’s equally a symptom of sexism that a boy’s name for a girl is desirable. Preferable to one of her own gender.

My name is a unisex dim of a longer name. The majority of other mes are male. I have been addressed as Mr my whole flipping life. It’s surprisingly annoying.

The Claudia I know is mainly called Claude. What’s wrong with that?

Rowan
Billie
Johan
Enda
Dara

None. But I love Hilary and Jocelyn for boys (I know they are unisex but seem to be much more common for girls).

@02Cattenberg

'I was disappointed to learn that Etienne is a boy’s name. I think it would make a beautiful name for a girl.'

Etain...lovely girl's name

My eldest son is named Ellis (sadly, he passed away just over a year ago, aged 24). He had a female friend also called Ellis. In his memory book she wrote, ‘we shared the best name!’.
I think she had a point.

@stitchinguru so sorry for your loss

I agree with @MrsTerryPratchett and @TatianaBis

There was a reason why Claude of France had that name.

The first Claude of France (1499-1524) was Duchess of Brittany in her own right, later a queen and wife of famous and much-admired King Francois I of France. The marriage was politically very important - it united Brittany with the rest of France for the first time.

Claude was given the name after her mother - whose 'duty' was to produce children, especially a male heir - suffered many pregnancy losses (some say 14). Only two of her children - both girls, Claude and Renee - survived.

Claude was born after her mother made a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Claudius of Besancon, to pray to him to give her a living child. Her mother gave the baby a French form of the saint's name, which was unusual for a girl.

Poor Queen Claude died aged only 24, after numerous pregnancies and an unhappy life at the royal court.

Her grand-daughter, Princess Claude of France (1547-1575, childhood friend of Mary Queen of Scots) was named after her prestigious grandmother. She died aged 27 giving birth to her 9th child, a baby girl also named Claude, who died in infancy.

Ashley

stitching guru That was a lovely comment from your son's friend. I am sorry for your loss.

Joey!

For boys, i like

Grace
Hope
Constance
Sage

I think Stephen would be nice for a girl. I haven't met any girl Stephens yet though.

I'm sorry for your loss stitchingguru. Ellis is a lovely name. xx

I secretly like Max (not Maxine) for girls as well as boys. And I like more typically unisex Rowan, River and Eden too.

Claude is so rarely used for boys now in the UK (and the historical Princess Claude fairly well known) so I don't think it would raise any eyebrows on a girl OP - although you might get a couple of people thinking it is a nn for the lovely Claudia too.

I also love Andy for a girl, but I hate Andrea and although I like Andromeda alot I think it's probably a bit pretentious, so couldn't use that one anyway.

I do like Claudia and wouldn't completely write it off, but something about Claude has a bit more about it - probably because it's a refreshing change from all the names ending in a, ia, and ie/y.