Robin or Robyn

[MunchPunch]

My maiden name is Robinson and DH's mum is Robyn. I would like to use Robin as a middle name for our daughter and he wants it to be Robyn. His argument is that I'm already not having Robinson and so actually Robin doesn't fit Robyn or Robinson, whereas Robyn is still a nod to my maiden name but is actually his mum's name and a better girls' name.

I actually prefer Robin anyway, as it makes me think of nature and the bird ❤️

Yes, I agree.

No, fair point you are allowed to name your dd after the bird. So long as you acknowledge that it's normally the masculine spelling (which you did)

The y is just to distinguish it, so in written language you know which is which.
Rene is the male spelling and in this case an 'e' makes it feminine. Renee would be the feminine spelling.
I know a great many Rene's that are girls, but it doesn't mean it's not the boys spelling.

I guess my point is you can do things differently, but it doesn't mean that it suddenly isn't a boys name/spelling

I prefer Robin too. And I think it'd be so nice to pass on your maiden name to your DD in some form.

I think his argument that "you're already not having Robinson" should actually be more reason to use Robin! Otherwise 2 names are coming from his side of the family and none from yours!

No, fair point you are allowed to name your dd after the bird. So long as you acknowledge that it's normally the masculine spelling (which you did)

Are you the naming police?

I know two girl Robins! I personally find the y version a little tacky, but that’s prob just because I’m a snob who’s keen on birds!

I much prefer Robin for either sex, I think Robyn is a fussy 70 invention because the older female Robins I know are spelt like that. I think it’s also usually Robin for either sex in the US (Robin Wright etc).

I am not sure it’s a hill I’d die on though.

Robin is NOT “normally” the masculine spelling. It’s perfectly fine for a girl and about a million times better than Robyn. Actresses Robin Wright and Robin Tunney; Robin from the Strike books; Robin from the Chalet School books; Robin from Stranger Things….

Robin was originally a pet form of Robert - it is not traditionally a stand alone name, male or female.

The older female Robins I know (now now in their 80s) are both Roberta.

Exactly, I know this. It is a diminutive of Robert and that's my point though isn't it?
Thats you're welcome so say you nmed your kid after the bird, but reality is the name is what it is.

It's not like Francis/Frances.

Robyn is a very modern variation (and a bit of a naff one in my opinion) so any po faced people who solemnly think only a boy can be Robin are being a bit silly. Robin Wright and Robin Stevens manage just fine.

I'm assuming your child will have her father's (and grandmother's) surname? Absolutely use the Robin spelling in that case as a nod to your former surname. Not everything has to be about honouring the paternal line!

Robyn, I agree robin sounds like a boys name

I prefer Robin too. I think it's no longer fashionable to change the spelling of gender neutral names, so Robin is becoming more popular for girls.

I’ve always thought of Robin as a boy’s name and Robyn as a girl’s name so personally I prefer Robyn for a girl. That’s not an actual rule though so go with whatever spelling you prefer. Just be aware that people may think it’s a boy’s name when they see it written down, though that probably won’t be too much of an issue with a middle name.

Traditionally in the UK Robin with an I was the male spelling and Robyn with a y was the female spelling. However in the US it was almost exclusively a female name spelt Robin - hence many of the famous female Robins referred to upthread - most of those are American.

Same!!!