Worried i have gave my son a girls name

[girlsnameboysname]

Name changed for this.

Please be kind, I'm feeling a little stressed.

My son was born 6 weeks ago and we struggled to pick a name. I chose Riley and I really like the name. OH took a bit of convincing as he felt it was very unisex. I had only really thought of it as a boys name though. After a couple of days OH 'gave in' and we named him Riley.

But since then we've had various comments about it being unisex and iv also now heard of 2 girls in my daughter's school with the name!

I'm also still following various baby name groups on FB and keep seeing Rylie/Rayleigh/Rylee etc being suggested for a girl.

I'm now feeling a bit of name regret and worrying that the name is now becoming a girls name.

It will bother me lots of there are other Riley's in his school group and even more so if they are girls.

Yes I'm aware this might be seen as ridiculous, but it's how I feel.

Ps, I haven't spoke to OH about this as I was the one rubbishing his (I feel now valid) concerns.

My advice to you OP is that no matter what anyone on here says, you are clearly not 100% content about your baby’s name.

Regardless of whether it’s unisex, a boy’s name or a girl’s name, all that matters is that you are having doubts.

You are already worrying about what might happen when he goes to school which is 4 years away. Do you really want to spend the next 4 years worrying about his name?

My advice is that if you are having this level of worry then I would just change it.

A poster above mentioned swapping his first and second names so he’s called Edward Riley and I think that sounds fab! When it comes to nicknames you may give him as a little one (or his school friends give him), he could turn out to be an Eddie or a Ted but both of them don’t leave any room for ambiguity. Nor does Edward.

By swapping the names round you are still having Riley but his main name will be one that is clearly masculine.

Was just about to say this. Written by Ian Broudie for his son. Wonderful song too (most famously used on Match of the Day during the goals roundup).

Only know boy Rileys - in my experience, as a teacher, sorry they’re always naughty!

I have preschool children and the only little Rileys' I've come across have been girls.

I definitely still see it as a unisex name though and think it's lovely for a boy.

I think of it more of a male name. I know a boy called Riley. Americans more commonly use boys names for girls, but I don't think we do it here so much.

I've only met boy Rileys. I think Riley for a girl is american.

I know only one Riley - a 15 year old boy.

Riley is lovely name for a boy but 'I have gave' is unforgivable.

I gave my yougest DS a girls name thinking it was unisex (its Welsh and the baby books frankly lied). Anyhow, he is fine with it, always has been, and it has really not posed an issue.

A neighbour’s lad is called Rylie. It would never have crossed my mind it was also a girl’s name. I haven’t seen the film mentioned though.

Yawn. I'm a teacher and I've taught Rileys -all boys, never a girl.
It's such a tired, limp trend; the aspirationally 'edgy' / cutesy appropriation of traditionally male names for girls: Tyler, Harley, Charlie, Darcy, Harper etc, calling them unisex.
You enjoy your Riley, it's a lovely name for a little boy.

I know of a few boys with the name Riley. I know one girl Riley, never heard another girl with this name. If you love the name then use it 🙂

I always thought of it as a boys name but the only Riley I know is a girl.

I’m derailing the thread here but have you seen them playing it together? It’s so sweet, Riley can’t keep the grin off his face!

I’m a primary school supply teacher and I can easily meet 100 children a week. I’ve never seen a female Riley.

I have a nephew called Riley. It’s predominantly a female name in the USA though

I have a DS Riley, with a few other boy Rileys at school. Dont know any girl Rileys except the girl in inside out

Anything goes nowadays! I doubt anyone will bat an eyelid.

If it's going to annoy you in his school if other children are called Riley, why did you pick a very common name?

I have only ever known boys called Riley.

You didn't ask for this comment and I apologise in advance..... But , I've never known a well behaved 'Riley' 🙈. It's a bit of a "naughty boy" chav name in this neck of the woods (sorry OP!)

I wouldn’t worry! You love the name, that’s enough. I’d have always thought of it as a boy’s name. FWIW my DS has a very typical boy’s name, I’ve never ever heard it as a girl’s name…. Until he started school and there was a girl with his name. I can’t get my head around it (won’t share as outing, but think Thomas), but just shows you it can happen with any name so what’s most important is you like it.

I know a Riley. Lovely boy!

My sons name is Riley. He's 12 now and never had any issues!

If it bothers you that much you should change it. Baby is only 6 weeks old.

Girl Rileys are very much an Americanism I feel. I would think that it originated as a boys name