Naming your daughter a boy's name, yes or no ?

[Momto2girliess]

My sibling named her baby girl a classic masculine name ( Think John, Robert , Thomas). I am never going to say anything to her. I am just curious to know people's opinion on it.

She always wanted a boy.This is baby girl n°5. Do you think it is a bit strange to name your girl a very masculine name?

Dear God!

Is she in the UK? It might not be as bizarre in some countries.
How do you even tell people you have a niece called Christopher?

I think Hilary, Tracey and Stacey were originally male names that are now exclusively female but Christopher is a bit weird for a girl, for a start it’s a bit dated nowadays isn’t it? And there are already several feminine versions.

My grandpa had a sister who had a very male name. She was born in 1908. Huge hooha when she got married! In the press & everything.

I always wondered when Sydney became a girl's name. It was the name of the middle aged, male vicar that confirmed me & now it's the name of my friend's granddaughter.

It's not fair on the child who will soon figure out she was intended to be a boy. Cruel.

@TheRebelle

I think Hilary, Tracey and Stacey were originally male names that are now exclusively female but Christopher is a bit weird for a girl, for a start it’s a bit dated nowadays isn’t it? And there are already several feminine versions.

Likewise Vivian and Evelyn! Fun fact: the author Evelyn Waugh was married to a woman also called Evelyn. Apparently their friends referred to them as 'He-Evelyn' and 'She-Evelyn' to distinguish them...

@Jade308 can't be that many female Alfie's out there, so maybe!

I get really fed up of boys names being 'stolen' and used for girls. As a pp said, it never goes the other way, so the pool of boys' names seems to gradually get smaller and smaller.

Surely people have asked your sister why she has done this? What's her reason ?

Likewise Vivian and Evelyn! Fun fact: the author Evelyn Waugh was married to a woman also called Evelyn. Apparently their friends referred to them as 'He-Evelyn' and 'She-Evelyn' to distinguish them...

Clive James' original name was Vivian, but he later told his mum that he wanted to change it - he was quoted as saying "After Vivien Leigh played Scarlett O'Hara the name became irrevocably a girl's name no matter how you spelled it".

Christopher, though.

It's even a bit dated for boys now - you don't get that many little Christophers these days.

Surely people have asked your sister why she has done this? What's her reason ?

As is frequently suggested on MN - because it's such a good yardstick - why doesn't she change her name to Christopher and give the new baby her own now-vacated name?

I've known female Sydnees (so not the same spelling) and a female Bryan. But Christopher is just bizarre.

I'm guessing she called her James? Technically this can be used for boys or girls, but in reality it's very much a boys name and I would never call a girl any name along the lines of those that you mentioned. Why cause potential problems
such as teasing, bullying etc? Surely as a parent you want them to have an easy life?!

Also, how blessed she is to have 5 girls! I have 2 and would love more children, but after the fertility issues we went through I don't dare try.

Fun fact: the author Evelyn Waugh was married to a woman also called Evelyn. Apparently their friends referred to them as 'He-Evelyn' and 'She-Evelyn' to distinguish them...

Hevelyn and Shevelyn would have been far catchier.

I just googled, out of interest, to see if it had at some point been a female name. It made the top 1000 for a few years apparently!

Shes named her daughter Christopher. It seems to me like she's almost blaming the baby for not being a boy so inficting a boys name on her.
Why didn't she just go with Christine. A,mix of both masculine but still very pretty and elegant.
Other family members must have an opinion on this. Has no one said anything to her. I mean I get what people call their kids is up to them but there is a limit surely to God.
Has she been registered as the Registrar might disallow the name.

They are allowed to do that if they feel a name will bring problems to a child.

I love a unisex name or a unisex nickname but Christopher is very much as masculine name.

@Talkwhilstyouwalk

I'm guessing she called her James? Technically this can be used for boys or girls, but in reality it's very much a boys name and I would never call a girl any name along the lines of those that you mentioned. Why cause potential problems such as teasing, bullying etc? Surely as a parent you want them to have an easy life?!

Also, how blessed she is to have 5 girls! I have 2 and would love more children, but after the fertility issues we went through I don't dare try.

RTFT! She called her Christopher!

@FelicityPike

My grandpa had a sister who had a very male name. She was born in 1908. Huge hooha when she got married! In the press & everything.

Was she named after a very recently deceased male relative? I could imagine that happening to a girl in the Edwardian period.

As a woman with a traditional mans name I always urge people against this. I have spent my life correcting people it’s very frustrating

My mum's name could be for both but with slightly different spelling. She was having cancer treatment and nearly ended up on a male ward because someone thought it was a male name. Luckily they realised but poor child is going to have a lifetime for saying they are female.

So let me get this straight. 4 girls with names that are definitely female and their sister Christopher.
Your sister is horribly cruel.

Yes. But especially as a 5th daughter, everyone but everyone including the child will assume your sister is very disappointed not to have a boy. That was a shitty thing to do.