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Original poster

Robin for a girl

105 replies

FantaHouse · 21/04/2024 16:14

DD is due in 8w.

I love the name Robin (as in the bird) but DH thinks it's Robyn for a girl and Robin for a boy.

I hadn't known that. I thought Robyn was just an alternative, American?!, spelling.

I thought Robin was for boys and girls. I'm really not keen on the y spelling. Not sure why!

DH is persuadable but would DD spend her life correcting the spelling if we go with Robin?

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menopausalmare · 21/04/2024 16:16

-in is usually for boys and -yn is for girls.

BreadAndWineFeelingFine · 21/04/2024 16:17

As above.

SwankyPants · 21/04/2024 16:18

My friend has a daughter called Robyn. Its a lovely name

pbdr · 21/04/2024 16:19

I've met both make and female Robins. I think the above rule is the most common spellings for girl/bit, and I've never seen a male Robyn, but I think Robin can be unisex. I prefer Robin to Robyn.

Aardbeien · 21/04/2024 16:20

I went to school with a female Robyn, however I had assumed she changed the spelling herself and that it was actually Robin. I don't think it doesn't work for a girl, I'm biased because that girl was really lovely.

muddyford · 21/04/2024 16:20

I have a female cousin called Robin, short for Robina. I loathe Robyn.

OliveTheaBough · 21/04/2024 16:21

Normally yn for a girl, but either works, and its a lovely name

ByTheNine · 21/04/2024 16:22

My daughter is called Robin and apart from correcting MIL on the day she was born we've never had an issue. I think Robyn is fine, but I specifically wanted to name her after the bird and also feel that it is somehow a prettier name spelt -in.

CuriousGeorge80 · 21/04/2024 16:22

Our DD has Robin as a middle name. I just don’t like it with a y. There are plenty of girls and women with it spelt Robin.

CoffeeWithCheese · 21/04/2024 16:24

I have a Robyn... the spelling's never been queried more than "with an i or a y". Nickname Bobbi.

Think I just liked the spelling of it more that way when we were picking names.

LadyDaisy42 · 21/04/2024 16:24

Call her Robin if you want but she'll go through her whole life having to correct misspellings of her name.

miniaturepixieonacid · 21/04/2024 16:24

I love the name. I prefer Robyn for a girl and would assume a Robin was male until I met them but either spelling is fine for a girl, imo.

UnalliterativeGeorge · 21/04/2024 16:25

I have a Robyn and she still spends time correcting people it's with a y not an I so I'd just go with your favourite 😆

Jemimapuddleduk · 21/04/2024 16:26

I absolutely adore this name for a boy or a girl. I’d use Robin for either boy or girl, not keen on the ‘y’

princessbeetroot · 21/04/2024 16:27

This is why we took the name Robin off our list for DD. I love the name, and Bobbie as a nn, but don't like the 'y' spelling either really, I think because it seems like a bastardisation of the bird name. But DH wouldn't have the 'i' spelling for a girl.

Personally I think Robin can be either boy or girl, but most people on here will tell you that the 'y' is for a girl.

Notreat · 21/04/2024 16:29

I agree with your husband. Robyn for a girl and Robin for a boy.

Evenstar · 21/04/2024 16:32

I have a friend who is Robin with that spelling, we were born in the 1960’s and I don’t think it has ever been a problem for her. Also I have met a Finch and a Wren in recent years so I think the bird names are more common now.

VibeOnWithMyGalPals · 21/04/2024 16:33

The trouble is, if I saw her name on a list, I’d presume she was a boy. Maybe not a huge issue, but I presume it would be annoying for her nonetheless.

I’ve only ever come across it spelt as ‘Robyn’ for a girl. It’s a lovely name, btw

dinmin · 21/04/2024 16:33

In my experience female Robins have been American.

platespinner44 · 21/04/2024 16:35

Yeah it's Y for a girl. And it's a beautiful, timeless, strong name. Go for it (with the Y).

JaninaDuszejko · 21/04/2024 16:47

All the female Robins in my family are spelt with an i like the bird. Agree than y is an abomination (like the Kathryn spelling) but don't think we can blame the Americans for it, Robin in HIMYM is spelt with an i.

valorie · 21/04/2024 16:48

Robin with an i.

Not keen on the y - looks very 1970's to me for some reason.

JaninaDuszejko · 21/04/2024 16:49

VibeOnWithMyGalPals · 21/04/2024 16:33

The trouble is, if I saw her name on a list, I’d presume she was a boy. Maybe not a huge issue, but I presume it would be annoying for her nonetheless.

I’ve only ever come across it spelt as ‘Robyn’ for a girl. It’s a lovely name, btw

Having a genuinely gender neutral name has only been shown to be advantageous for women, particularly in the workplace where you are likely to be treated with more respect.

Rosscameasdoody · 21/04/2024 16:50

I think your DH is right. The female iteration is Robyn.

ginasevern · 21/04/2024 16:51

Before the 1980's Robin was firmly a boy's name in the UK. If I remember rightly there was an American series sometime in the 80's where the female protagonist was called Robin (or Robyn) and the name took off over here. Likewise Jamie which was unheard of for a girl in the UK until the American series the Bionic Woman hit the screens. There was subsequently a mini explosion of girls called Robin and Jamie in this country.