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Baby names

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

'Unisex' names - too boyish?

127 replies

thede · 28/08/2022 19:52

These are all names declared 'unisex' that I do love for girls, but they're all more commonly associated with boys (IMO).
Which of these - if any - would you say are acceptable to use on a girl at this point/which do you like (again, if any?)
Or do you know any girls with these names now?
I love them but feel I may be in a minority? Blush

Alex
Blake
Bodhi
Eddie
Evan
Finley
Frankie
Joey
Lennox
Logan
Luca
Noa
Perry
Quinn
Stevie
Tate

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Purplemagnolias · 16/12/2022 16:25

Alex - Unisex (Alexandra or Alexander)
Blake - unisex
Bodhi - boy
Eddie - boy
Evan - boy
Finley - boy
Frankie - girl (Francesca)
Joey - unisex
Lennox - boy
Logan - boy
Luca - boy
Noa - girl
Perry - boy
Quinn - boy (often short for Quentin)
Stevie - unisex (unless short for Stephen)
Tate - boy

peaceinourtime · 17/12/2022 03:38

Bodhi is terrible as a male name which it or to consider as a unisex name. It reads and sounds bad.
Shawn and Ryan or spelt as Ryen which I don't like are popular as a unisex name.

staybyyou · 17/12/2022 04:14

Stevie
Tate
Noa

ArthurDentsTowel · 17/12/2022 04:33

My dd is Frankie - name on birth certificate is Frances as I wanted to give her options. I've never called her Frances - always Frankie (in fact usually Franks to her family and close friends). She completely suits it.

I know of more girls called Frankie, although all with the full name of Francesca.

Also love Alex and Stevie (considered both of these names as well).

mathanxiety · 17/12/2022 04:39

I know a gazillion Alexs. I much prefer Alix as an abbreviation of Alexandra for a girl and also as a stand alone name.

I know a few Tates and several Quinns who are girls.
One of the Tates is a Tatiana.

The rest of your list I would put squarely in the boy camp.

LSSG · 17/12/2022 06:45

Most of these are pretty awful imo, but Alex is obviously fine (bit boring to me though), Frankie is fine, I quite like Stevie though it is a bit 'not really a proper name' and I personally think Evan works nicely for a girl.

Elspethelf · 17/12/2022 06:51

I think they all work for girls. My fave is Perry :)

Esra was on my girl list, but we are having a boy

bruffin · 17/12/2022 07:01

Stevie Nick's real name is Stephanie

bluebird3 · 17/12/2022 07:39

I have a friend who was given a male name (think Brandon, Jacob, Brett, etc) and she absolutely hates it. In school teachers always assumed she was a boy from the register and now as an adult people often think she is trans which has led to more than one awkward encounter.

I think it's fine if it's a nickname like Frankie for Frances, Joey for Josephine, etc.

Most of these are just boy names you want to give to a girl. Names I would say are actually unisex:
Jamie
Ashley
Robyn
Taylor
Riley
Casey

Figgypudding123 · 17/12/2022 09:08

I like Alex and Stevie

Think Noa just looks like the parents can't spell. And Perry just reminds me of 'Kevin and Perry'...

FayCarew · 17/12/2022 13:18

and now as an adult people often think she is trans which has led to more than one awkward encounter.
This.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/12/2022 14:22

Alex - unisex. But I really would give her a full name - Alexis, Alexia, Alexandra
Blake - boy unless in US
Bodhi - boy
Eddie - BOY

Evan - BOY

Finley - BOY - but Fenn could work for a girl
Frankie - unisex but she needs a full name - Francesca, Frances

Joey - it’s still a playground insult so I wouldn’t. Josie or JoJo

Lennox - BOY
Logan - BOY

Luca - Unisex, though mostly used for boys now so might be irritating

Noa - it’s a girls name. Noah is the masculine

Perry - Unisex
Quinn - Unisex but too close to quim

Stevie - Unisex as a nn but needs Stephanie as a full name

Tate - BOY

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/12/2022 14:28

I think the trans point above is important, as is the fact that giving a girl a boys name, is a very strong flavour thing to do, which she really may not appreciate - so make sure that it is genuinely unisex, and/ or that she has a feminine full name if it’s a unisex short form

Genuinely Unisex

Robin
Rowan
Jocelyn
Arran
Morgan
Carey

You might also want to look at girls names which are quite plain

Lois
Laurel
Inez
Erin
Aeryn
Aislinn
Catrin
Mirren
Carys
Manon
Ellen

CharitySchmarity · 17/12/2022 17:51

Alex, Frankie and Stevie are the only ones I would consider calling a girl, but only as a short form of another name which would happen to be more obviously feminine.

There aren't many names I would consider to be genuinely unisex in the UK right now - maybe Rowan and Jordan. There are others I can think of that have been used by both sexes but much more commonly by one, like Lee (probably boy) and Courtney (probably girl nowadays - I think my DS may have been at school with the very last male Courtney, but he preferred to be called CJ by the time he was about 8).

aoibhacado · 21/12/2022 16:11

my favourites are:

alex: a classic, and i love the full version alexandra. also, alexandra is very versatile, so lexi, lexie, alexa, sandra, xandra, sandy, sandie, andra, andy, and andie are all possible names to go by.

evan: slightly too masculine for my taste, but points for versatility. evanna is a good full version and can also be shortened to eva, eve, evie, anna, annie, ann, and anne. personally i prefer ivana or ivanna to evanna, however evanna is much more versatile.

Biscuit
aoibhacado · 21/12/2022 16:14

also stevie short for stephanie is a beautiful name, ive always loved the name stephanie and recently fell in love with the nickname stevie. finley and frankie are also favourites!

frampan6 · 21/12/2022 16:16

Love Noa, Stevie and Frankie they all work really well as girls names

aoibhacado · 21/12/2022 16:18

quinn and perrie are also cute names. to add to the list, ash is one of my favourites, and full forms of it could be ashley (or any other spelling, personally love "ashlie") aisling, ashlyn, asha, etc. ashton is typically male but ive seen it gaining popularity. i also love robin and hayden!

Spookywhale · 21/12/2022 16:23

Like them all- my fave girls name was Scottie but I’m not having anymore!

my little boy has a unisex name that is weighted more to girls, but we love it!

Daisy62 · 21/12/2022 16:25

From your list, Alex, Frankie and Stevie sound ok to me - but as abbreviations, not full names. So Alexandra/Alexis/Alexia, Frances/Francesca, Stephanie

hlc123 · 21/12/2022 16:41

In real life I have met girls with the names:
Alex
Finley
Frankie
Logan
Stevie

From your list, my favourite is Frankie

MiniTheMinx · 21/12/2022 16:46

I know a Sid. Fantastic name.

My favourite from the list is Frankie, but I also think Blake and Jamie are nice.

The shortened version of my name is a boys name. Several times people have asked to speak to me when they are in fact speaking to me, or said 'oh I thought you'd be a bloke" or "haha you don't look like a ....."

Perhaps very obviously pretty names are more fashionable now, but then so are pink lego and pink nerf guns Confused

I rather like gender neutral names such Leslie/Lesley and more so traditional boys names for girls. IMO Fred or Freddie would be fab for a girl.

chineapplepunks · 21/12/2022 17:05

I'm biased towards Lennox because that's what my DD is called. Stevie was our second choice so love that one too. I think it's a great list!

Mamamia32 · 21/12/2022 17:28

Alex, Blake, Perrie and Quinn are the only ones I'd use for a girl.

JamSandle · 21/12/2022 17:30

I like Blake and Quinn