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Original poster

Worried i have gave my son a girls name

179 replies

girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 19:06

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.

OP posts:
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TaranFollt · 04/07/2025 22:20

I only know it as a boys name. I know 2 boy Rileys.

OohhhhhBigStretch · 04/07/2025 22:20

It’s like saying Alex is a girls name, it is, but far more commonly used as a boys name

Original poster
girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 22:20

Moveoverdarlin · 04/07/2025 20:16

Much prefer Edward Riley anyway. Could you swap them?

There are two girls in my daughter’s preschool called Riley. Riley Rose and Riley Rae. Until meeting them, I associated Riley with male
teenage scallywags.

Show quote history

No definitely not. I don't particularly like Edward. It's a nod to his papa who passed away 40 years ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 22:21

BreatheAndFocus · 04/07/2025 20:51

Leave it, OP 😊 Riley is largely a male name here. more than that, if he does meet a female Rylee, I bet he won’t even see it as the same name, and not only because of the spelling. Reading your thread, I’ve only just realised I have a male friend and a female friend with the same name. The name is Alex. I don’t see the two of them as having the same name at all, even though they do. I see them as a man called Alex and my funny, chatty female friend Alex. Hard to explain, but it won’t be an issue x

Thank you. I totally get where you are coming from with that!

OP posts:
Lobsterteapot · 04/07/2025 22:23

its a great name and he has his own song!

Original poster
girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 22:24

BedChem · 04/07/2025 22:10

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 didn't realise it was so common. It was a panic choice in a way tho as we were struggling and he was already born.

My daughters don't have particularly common names so maybe on some level this as also annoying me about his name

OP posts:
lovemycbf · 04/07/2025 22:25

I know of 2 Rileys and they are both male

BunnyRuddington · 04/07/2025 22:26

I only know two. One is a teen girl and the other is a Cat.

It is however a lovely name for either sex.

Congratulations on your new DS Flowers

StuffedOnion · 04/07/2025 22:27

TeenToTwenties · 04/07/2025 19:12

However with names things tend to go in one direction Male->Female. Once a name starts being popular with girls, parents of boys drop it. (eg Hilary and Shirley)

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Shirley used to be a boys name?! 🤯

NewGoldFox · 04/07/2025 22:28

I knew it would be Riley before I read the post!

It’s unisex, don’t fret.

FTMum23 · 04/07/2025 22:29

I have a unisex name (predominantly male) and I am female. It's never bothered me personally (I have a unique spelling which I always have to correct people on, that gets me more 😂)

To me though Riley would be a predominantly male name, though I know of a few girls called Riley.

YourWinter · 04/07/2025 22:29

The only Riley I know is a pre-school age boy, possibly it’s more likely to be used for a girl in the USA.

Original poster
girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 22:32

MumofSpud · 04/07/2025 21:05

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

Oh no 🙈

Definitely not my precious wee boy 🤣🤣

OP posts:
ldgso · 04/07/2025 22:34

I’ve only ever known boys called Riley x

Original poster
girlsnameboysname · 04/07/2025 22:34

Gettingbysomehow · 04/07/2025 21:20

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

Ah I noticed this after I had posted. Embarrassing! Can I blame baby brain?

OP posts:
NaiceBalonz · 04/07/2025 22:39

Oof it is quite a feminine name these days. Not as bad as naming him Emily, I suppose, but still.

I'd change it if I were you.

RachelsPeeves · 04/07/2025 22:40

As in Shirley Crabtree @StuffedOnion

Lins77 · 04/07/2025 22:42

Very popular as a girl's name in the USA, more of a boy's name here.

pinkyredrose · 04/07/2025 23:00

What's the problem with a unisex name? It's a lovely name?

Gastons5dozenEggs · 04/07/2025 23:05

I met someone recently that named their boys the same name just spelled differently. Could be worse.

Fairyvocals · 04/07/2025 23:07

10sleeps · 04/07/2025 19:18

What’s his middle name?

Kylie

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 04/07/2025 23:20

Riley is a boys name imo.

If you like it definitely don’t change it.

MaidOfSteel · 04/07/2025 23:20

Speak to your husband. Let him know you’re now understanding his concerns. Then go from there.

lovemycbf · 04/07/2025 23:48

StuffedOnion · 04/07/2025 22:27

Shirley used to be a boys name?! 🤯

Show quote history

Tracey was a popular boys name many years ago 😱

WearyAuldWumman · 04/07/2025 23:52

Gertieblue · 04/07/2025 19:09

I'm a secondary teacher and there are several Rileys at school - all male.

I'm retired from secondary and all our Rileys were boys.