How do you feel about the name Jesse?

[DragonbornMum]

7 weeks to go and trying to find a preference on our shortlist.

I accidentally have set my heart on Jesse. My husband likes it but is hesitant because it's also a girl's name.

He really likes Gabriel/Gabe. I liked Gabriel enough to put on the shortlist, but I've almost immediately gone off it. I loathe Gabe as a nickname.

Thoughts/opinions? Older brother is Eli.

Thanks everyone, great to hear other people's opinions!

I have heard the expression "a big jessie", but in my mind it's a Scottish thing? In any case it's definitely not used in our area and I don't think it would be anyone's first thought if we landed on Jesse.

My initial response would be a girls nickname for Jessica

I love Jesse! Great choice for a boy.

Although some posters think it's effeminate,

Yes, I find it very soft and feminine sounding. Jess/Jesse/Jessie

I haven't heard anyone under 60 say "you great Jesse" so I think OP's baby will be just fine. It's a very old fashioned insult that's mostlhy died out.

Children are a lot more accepting of difference than they were 40 years ago, and a lot less tolerant of bullies. It was a much crueller environment when we grew up than it is now.

(Obviously today's children have different and terrible pressures, but name-bases teasong isn't one of them)

There was a lovely lad at Summer Camp called Jesse. So I always think of him.

I have no problem seeing Jesse and Jessie as different names, and there are plenty of names which are veyr close male/female, and we all manage perfectly well to understand them.

In church circles Jesse is a very popular and common boys name. I have a close friend whose son is Jesse and he has never had any teasing for his name.

If you like it go for it.

It’s lovely, has a cowboy vibe. I know a little Jesse, he’s a lovely little three year old

Love Jesse!

I love it for a boy.

I have no problem seeing Jesse and Jessie as different names

It's hearing them that it becomes more difficult

My DS had a Jesse in his last class and no one thought it was weird or teased him, despite there being a female Jessie in the class below.
Kids just accepted it and adults got used to it very quickly.

Yes this is my main association too, even though I know a male Jesse. I think I’m probably in the minority though 😊

heard of a few boys called this in the 80s inc a cousin of mine, I like it, I don't hear it so much now.

Jesse is a great name. Don’t think of that spelling as female at all

Too girly for a boy in my eyes

He'll get called the shortened version Jess which imo is very feminine sounding

It's very Country Music.

I agree.

I also think 'You big Jesse' said in an insulting way - and I'm not Scottish and have no Scottish family.

That said, if you can't stand 'Gabe' then you can't call him Gabriel. It would be like calling your ds Benjamin but not liking 'Ben'.

I always like Jesse after Jesse Quin who's bass player in my favourite band Keane.

I like it as Jessie for a girl but not keen as a boy's name sorry

It was my grandmother's name, so I like it!

I love both .

Personally, I’m not keen as I know a few girls called Jessie and also associate it with the derogatory term, having heard it growing up (though hopefully it’s no longer used).

It's cute for a girl and spelled Jessie