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Baby names

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

Changing baby's name

112 replies

TulipPeony1 · 20/05/2022 17:22

Hello I have a 7 month old son which we thought we had named a unisex name as we liked it for a girl and for a boy. It turns out since naming him and introducing him to the world that no one has heard of a boy called this name and I have had so many comments from people assuming he's a girl. I am really gutted as it was the only name that me and my husband could agree on and I am really concerned that our son will have issues with this his whole life. I really wish we had named him something else, although I don't know what that would have been. I think about it constantly and hate introducing him by name to people now because I just anticipate their reaction. I have had it in baby group where the teacher called him "she" during one of the songs and I had to correct her. She said that she'd never heard of a boy called that before so thought he was a girl even though he was dressed in what would be described as 'boy clothes'. I've had people think he's a boy and ask "what's his name?" then when I answer they say "oh she's a girl" nope! It's really disappointing and I hate that it's being spoken about. My mum had issues at the hairdressers when another person overheard her talking and commented that it was a girl's name. It just feels like everywhere and I'm really upset that he will bear the brunt of this. I don't know what I want people on here to say really. I'm reluctant to say his name seen as no boy ever seems to have been called this before it would be completely obvious, but I just wanted to see if others would feel the same in my shoes and what you would do.

Thank you

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ZooMount · 22/05/2022 07:26

The way things are going in schools at the moment it's easy enough to just change the name that is given at birth. Loads of kids are asking teachers to call them by their preferred names of the other gender or gender neutral. Things are changing. I'd probably just keep the name you've given him and maybe give a different nickname if you really want to. It might be annoying but really does it matter what people think? I remember having a boy in my class called Courtney and I assumed before I met them that he was a girl, but then saw he wasn't and that was the end of that.

TulipPeony1 · 22/05/2022 07:34

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas on the situation. Its been helpful to hear other people's take on it.

OP posts:
TulipPeony1 · 22/05/2022 07:40

@Cazispazi Thank you for this 😊 The way you've explained it makes a lot of sense.

OP posts:
TulipPeony1 · 22/05/2022 07:43

@pinklavenders Thank you for your input, it's been most helpful.

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Cazispazi · 22/05/2022 09:22

No worries at all.

Trautz89 · 03/06/2022 04:40

I would love to communicate more about your babies name. I know you don't wanna give it on here, but we can connect another way if you would like. I am familiar with many names that people assume as one gender when they are both. Let me know if you want to chat more about it from a very understanding Autism mom. You are the parents and will always know what is best and the meaning behind the name to you as parents means more than any gender base scenario. My daughter has a girls name, but it is one that isn't common at all. My niece has a name that most think of as a boys name even though it can be both.

Enko · 03/06/2022 10:41

Op. I have a unisex name that's more commonly used for males than females. I have had people insist to me its a male name and I have to me a MR. I tell them not to be so rude and I've given birth to 4 children so my sex is not in question here.

It's not a name I would have picked for my children. I am not gond of unisex names personally. However its not the name. Its people being rude and ungracious when corrected.

If you love the name then keep it. When people say she correct with a big smile. Our "Morgan" is a boy its a unisex name.. and move on. People will learn. I briefly dated a guy called Tracy. He was OK with it said similar things as I do. People are rude and that's on them not on the name.

user3199 · 05/06/2022 23:10

I know a male Andrea - he's Italian and it's pronounced An-dray-ah. But when it's written it obviously looks female from a UK perspective. But once people know he's male I don't think it's really an issue. But that's where a middle name can be helpful -
Andrea Matthew Smith is more obviously male for example.

I think whether a unisex name is perceived as male or female depends on context. I saw a report a while ago that showed differences between Scotland and England in the use of unisex names (e.g. Rowan more commonly a girl in Scotland but a boy in England). Can't find the link now, sorry.

Overall, I think adding a middle name is a good option. Then stick with the name you love and introduce him with confidence - 'this is my son , his name's X'. Then there's no awkwardness or ambiguity. Unless it actually is a girls name - but if you thought it was unisex then I'm presuming it is used for boys.

whattodo2019 · 05/06/2022 23:18

Pick another name and change it asap. Don't let your child go through life with this problem....

ahwobabob · 06/06/2022 15:33

What have you decided to do OP?

peaceinourtime · 07/06/2022 00:12

I had a work colleague her name was Jesse, spelt the male way. I found out it was simply the male spelling because her mum didn't know that it was. Mistakes that happened all of the time and once people get to know the person and the name it comes together nicely.

bridgetreilly · 07/06/2022 17:50

Bet it’s Aubrey. Which was a perfectly good boys name until people started giving it to girls…

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