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.

I know a boy called Riley it’s fine leave it!

I have a son called Riley.

We’re not chavs 👋. If it helps provide ‘proof’ I have 2 degrees 😂 and used to be a secondary school teacher.

my eldest has a traditional English male name. I just have a penchant for American names…. Ask my animals 😂

it is a lovely, and unique name … but…. If it doesn’t suit, change it ! Hth x

Showing your age there.

I really hate the trend for girls to appropriate boy names so boys stop using them.

I only know one Riley. He's a preschool aged boy. It's a perfectly good name for a boy. And if it's unisex, why does it matter? You knew it was unisex when you chose it.

Sorry to say, the only Rileys I know are girls.

I wouldn't even call it unisex at this point.

I'm in the US though.

It's actually an Irish surname that was 'appropriated'.

Agree.

It's not too late to reconsider.

Same. I only know boys called Riley. I have one in my class right now and he’s such a happy little chap, I call him Smiley Riley 🥰

My 14 year old step son is called Riley. It has never ever caused him a problem, to me it is a boy name

Riley isn't traditionally a boy or girl's name, it's a surname. But Americans have done that thing they do of making a surname into a first name - as they have with Taylor, etc.
Regardless of origins, many names that are now considered first names in the U.S. have origins as surnames. Names like Riley, Parker, Cooper, Madison, Morgan, Cameron, and Harper originated as surnames.
(from Wikipedia, Naming in the US)

Honestly, if you love it - keep it.

One of mine has a unisex name. Not unusual but a very uncommon name especially in the UK and even more rare in Europe. We only know one other and they are same sex as dc. In America, Canada and Australia although it's a unisex name it's much more common as the opposite sex to dc. We love the name and don't care whay others think. And dc is 100% their name. It suits them perfectly.

Interesting dc's name is definitely originally a surname

Boy’s name to me

The feral Riley that lives by me is very much a boy, OP.

I think it is a really nice name. For what it's worth my son's name is Noah and it is a popular girl's name now. I had absolutely no idea it was a unisex name. Any name can really be unisex if you think about it. Enjoy your precious baby and try not to stress about it if you can 💗

I would definitely say that was a boys name. I'd even say, the girls called Riley have a boys name.

Op, how old Is your son. If it bothers you, just change it now or make middle name as first name and Riley as middle.

I know two, both are women in their early 30s. It’s a unisex name.

All the Rileys I know are boys.

It's definitely a boys name - and if given to a girl, suggests they may have a slight tomboyish nature to them. It's perfect for either, but definitely doesn't sound like a girls name.

Francis is a really odd one for that, probably because it sounds very historical - and more like a priests name. Shelly, which could be sort for Michelle or Sheldon or a number of other names... sure, in some lights. Not Riley.

You have to remember that classic names are coming back all the time, but are also being adapted - which can be really nice, and original.

However some are being ruined altogether with this trans rubbish, so questioning it isn't the problem. But don't let yourself be convinced by one person that it's a girls name just because they might have a warped political agenda or something.

I've only ever known one person called Riley and it was a man.

Congratulations on your new, lovely little boy OP! It's easy to doubt yourself on all sorts of things when you are a new parent and just want what's best for your baby. But the doubt gets better with time x

Also I thought you were going to say "Joyce" or something similar, which is much girlier imo!

Riley is a very common boy and girls name, I know a lot of both sex. No one I know has had any issues. I’m from an Irish family, it’s a very common boys name in Ireland.

Two of my DDs also go to school with at least 3 Riley’s that I know of, all boys.

I'd definitely assume boy. I know one Riley, he's a boy.

Even if there are female Rileys I really don't think it's a problem. I know a tween boy Arya - now very popular with girls - and his name hasn't caused him any problems

I love the name Riley for a boy! I’ve known boys my age named Casey, Kendall, Carey, etc. And it’s never phased me at all. I actually think gentle names for boy are great! One of my favorite boy names is Robin, and even though it’s unisex, I still love Robin!