Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Zephyr for a girl

115 replies

mhck · 17/04/2023 10:45

I gave birth to a baby girl a week ago. My husband and I both love the name Zephyr and would like to give her this name. Years ago I knew a woman in the US named Zephyr so to me it's always been a name I've seen as a girl's name. Having looked into the name more it seems that in Europe it is mostly used as a boys name, although there are also some who see it as a unisex name as it is in the US.

I love the name and would really love to use it for our girl but I'm filled with doubt over whether the name is too much a boys name...

If we go for Zephyr I imagine her nickname would be Zeffie/Zephy.

Would really welcome hearing thought on Zephyr as a girl's name. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Strangelisa · 22/04/2023 11:08

Not keen. Sounds like a shampoo ingredient.

salamithumbs · 23/04/2023 01:12

I find it quite harsh sounding, and to me it just sounds like a random word rather than a name, sorry! If you want a similar-sounding name, how about:
Saffron/Sapphire (nickname Saffy)
Persephone (nickname Sephy)
Zara
Zena
Zelda
Zoe

Frobisherslament · 23/04/2023 01:32

I’m sorry op, maybe I’m showing my age but on hearing the name my thoughts go immediately to Zephir the monkey in the Babar the Elephant stories. I know it’s a different spelling but still … .

IDontWantToBeAPie · 23/04/2023 01:47

Go for it. It's a type of wind I think. Nice.

LadyJ2023 · 23/04/2023 03:08

Sorry but awful

Lullabies2Paralyze · 23/04/2023 03:20

PurpleishDahlia · 21/04/2023 12:21

It's a lovely name but for me it's definitely a male name, as I'm greek and I know it's a masculine word referring to the westerly wind. I'm sure non greek people would not be aware though.

Currently listening to Stephen fry’s mythos so yes I am aware and I’m and not Greek.

Stressybetty · 23/04/2023 03:30

I've heard of Zephyrus used as a boy's name in the UK. I like the sound of it and Zephyr but not for a child.

lljkk · 23/04/2023 05:13

Only one I know is male and about 33 yo now.

gerispringer · 23/04/2023 05:27

I taught a girl called Zephyr many years ago. She wasn’t very nice but I liked the name! I also taught a Mercedes and a Xanthe and liked both of them and their names.

urbanbuddha · 23/04/2023 05:30

I like it.

There aren’t many of them but she won’t be the only one.

Zephyr for a girl
cariadlet · 23/04/2023 05:32

I'm interested in Greek mythology so immediately thought of the West wind and that makes it a boy's name to me.
I don't like it in a modern context. I wouldn't use it for a boy and certainly not for a girl.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 23/04/2023 06:21

urbanbuddha · 23/04/2023 05:30

I like it.

There aren’t many of them but she won’t be the only one.

You left out a crucial part of that graph: if she meets one of her namesakes they are four times more likely to be a boy than a girl.

Zephyr for a girl
postwarbulge · 23/04/2023 07:04

I think the school colours on our sports socks were called zephyrs

Elspethelf · 23/04/2023 07:07

I’ve never heard of it as a name, I love uncommon names. Be brave :)

LouiseWhippy · 23/04/2023 07:25

To me it's a make of car

Strugglingtodomybest · 23/04/2023 07:49

AngeloMysterioso · 18/04/2023 23:27

Fly away owwwwwwwn my zephyr…
it’s no Under The Bridge.

Show quote history

Just what I was thinking, and now I've got the song stuck in my head!

Op, I wouldn't think it was a boy's name if I heard it, as I've never heard it as a name before. I know it as a hot air balloon.

WhatEasterEgg · 23/04/2023 08:17

I like it! I think of it as a girl name and also have positive associations with the chillis song. And OP for all the negative opinions here (which are valid) remember they are just opinions and most names will be divisive. If we all liked the same thing it would be so dull. Call your little girl Zephyr if you love it. I'm sure she'll suit it beautifully.

ladygindiva · 23/04/2023 09:59

I think it's lovely. I have a friend with a ds Zephaniah , Zephy for short which I think is lovely and works for both sexes.

cariadlet · 23/04/2023 10:10

Are those talking about hot air balloons thinking of zeppelins?

Strugglingtodomybest · 23/04/2023 12:13

cariadlet · 23/04/2023 10:10

Are those talking about hot air balloons thinking of zeppelins?

Possibly 😁

StopStartStop · 23/04/2023 12:54

My grandad drove a Ford Zephyr.

ejbaxa · 23/04/2023 12:59

Sorry but it sound a bit like the name of a Pokémon

Sleepyandconfused · 23/04/2023 13:07

Lovely. I know a female Zephyr (Zephy). Think it’s beautiful and rare.

PappedOot · 23/04/2023 13:12

It’s a motorbike? I think

or windy 💨😂

CatsTheWayToDoIt · 23/04/2023 14:21

My advice, as a mum of three whose names have never been in the top 400 for popularity, is that if you love the name go for it!!! No, not everyone likes it. But remember when you were picking names and you both had names you hated? For instance I hate Susan and Laura as the bullies at my school had those names. You can not please everyone. And not should you try. (For what it’s worth I like zephyr, never heard of the car, do actually know a couple of boy zephyrs but then again I live in Brighton).