Naming girls

[NameHelpNeeded123]

Right, I am trying to name impending baby girl and have absolutely lost it. I’ve lost all sense and overthinking absolutely everything.

Got me thinking, naming girls feminised boys names - misogynistic? Patriarchal? Also trend for full on boys names on girls eg James. Taking us backwards right? Clothes, name etc do not make a woman. However I’m really put off by names such as Felicity and other super frilly names as 1) they wouldn’t suit me so unlikely to suit my child and 2) bit too princessy - which completely goes against my point that the name does not make the woman. Just suggested Billie to DH and thought, is it too boyish. Front runner is Gabriella but that’s just a feminised Gabriel (also a bit princessy)??

Sorry for rushed post, am just posting train of thought and this is the state of my mind right now 😄

[SaltedCaramelHC]

but still very much a female version of a male name at its origin, though.
Unusual in the fact that it has remained a nicely unisex name in most of the nicknames, though - I know lots of male and female Alexes.

[timeisnotaline]

Hannah
June
Minerva

[SirSamuelVimes]

@SaltedCaramelHC

but still very much a female version of a male name at its origin, though.
Unusual in the fact that it has remained a nicely unisex name in most of the nicknames, though - I know lots of male and female Alexes.

Is it the Alexander was feminised to Alexandra, or were the two created at the same time? Just wondering as it doesn't quite follow the 'stick an A on the end' in the same way as a lot of other names (Daniel / Daniella, Nigel / Nigella etc.).

[SaltedCaramelHC]

I think it's probably still the same thing, it's just easier to say it when you drop the 'e', which happens in various words when endings are added.

Other names have slightly different changes - e.g., a different ending (ella, ina) or a form of the name from a different language with a feminine ending becoming the commonly used feminine form in English e.g., Wilhelmina as a feminine form of William (ok, not really common maybe, but it exists!). Or Petronella or Petra for Peter; Thomasina for Thomas.

[CanofCant]

Veronica