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Original poster

Have I subjected my child to a lifetime of teasing?

77 replies

Willthisworknow · 03/03/2014 10:27

Hi I named my son Erin, a name which appeared in the boys name section of the baby book. I swear I did not know it was more popular as a girl name and I have done business with some Male Erin's across the seas. Anyway, son randomly said in a shop this this weekend that Erin's a girls name. I asked him who said that and he just said 'school' so I can only assume he's being teased. I told him it was both a girls and boys name, much like Ashley and robin. He didn't anything else but what do I do if it turns out to be a real issue? Would you change it to Aaron or use a middle name? I still like the name and it defines him but I don't want him to be miserable. He's 5. Any suggestions?

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Guardianto2 · 03/03/2014 13:23

Let him decide if he would prefer to use his middle name or not. That way you can’t really go wrong.
I wouldn't change it officially or anything, just put the middle name first.

pancakesfortea · 03/03/2014 13:24

Regardless of historical use, its now his name, so I think the simple answer to "it's a girl's name" is "No it's not.". If you're able to give him some cool examples of men called Erin all the better. But if this was my school it would be far from the silliest name around. If he gives a quick and clear rebuttal the name-callers will move swiftly on.

hootloop · 03/03/2014 13:29

I think it is a girls name but as you say lots of names are unisex really just more common for one or the other and that can sometimes depend on area and age. Your examples of Robin and Ashley are both very much boys names in my experience but I know more male Kerrys and leslies than I do female.

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Yamyoid · 03/03/2014 13:32

I know a 5 year-old Erin who's a boy. There's Orin which is an Irish boys' name but I agree with pp. Teach him ways to deal with any teasing, it's very drastic to change his name now.

HelloBoys · 03/03/2014 13:32

I'd ask your son what he wants. To use middle name or to change to Aaron. Also ask him if he minds/gets a lot of teasing at school.

My brother and I both have very unusual names (foreign but we're not, well not from those countries anyway) it was just a whim/preference of my mum. We didn't mind, endured the teasing and now quite like having unusual names.

A friend of mine though, she was called Kelly as a child, apparently there were too many when she was in primary so she opted for her middle name Natasha, parents fine with that.

specialmagiclady · 03/03/2014 13:33

Does he have a nice middle name? Friends have a boy called Paris who since Paris Hilton came on the scene, has been called Dave.

Don't act now, just sit on it and see.

Cigarettesandsmirnoff · 03/03/2014 13:36

Big daddy the wrestlers name was Shirley Crabtree. He certainly wasn't girly.

I used to get ribbed for my name in school. I used to pretend it was stacy

Time2Nap · 03/03/2014 13:42

I've known a few men called Erin and spelt that way in England and USA. In their 40's. I think its a nice strong name and can't see how it's different to Alex, Sam, Chris etc

actually I've met men between 40's and 60's with names like Lindsay, Stacey, Kerry, Kelly, Tracy etc which some were originally male names or surnames and then were turned girly (people seem to think different spellings, surname names, names on different genders is a new thing!)

Shallishanti · 03/03/2014 13:43

I have never heard of it as a boys name but it works for a boy I think.
DS1 has a boy/girl name and it has never caused any problems. Getting people to spell it correctly has been a problem though
I think the best answer to 'that's a girls name' is
'well I'm a boy and it's my name so it can't be just a girls name can it??....der!'

HavantGuard · 03/03/2014 14:00

In 2009 in England and Wales Erin was used for 5 boys and 1,705 girls. I find it hard to believe this hasn't occurred to you before.

hootloop · 03/03/2014 14:24

specialmagiclady
I always think Paris Hilton has a boys name as I knew a boy growing up called Paris and another later on.

curiousgeorgie · 03/03/2014 14:32

You can't change a 5 year olds name! (Unless I've missed something here?)

What's his middle name.. If its a normal boys name start calling him that. Kids at school can be cruel!

MsCuddy · 03/03/2014 14:41

Just change it from Erin to Eran by deedpoll, none of the kids will remember in a years time as its very similar.

BumpAndGrind · 03/03/2014 14:53

My DD is Celyn.

I've been told it's a boys name, but I really don't give a rats arse.

If you like it, stick with it.

MoominMammasHandbag · 03/03/2014 15:05

I know a male Ceri and a Kelly. There are loads of names that work for boys and girl: Jordan, Stacey, Morgan, Jamie. I would stick with it, it's a lovely name.

DramaAlpaca · 03/03/2014 15:08

I'm living in Ireland & I know two boys called Erin.

BrianTheMole · 03/03/2014 15:10

Erin is a boys and girls name. Its a lovely name for a boy.

maggiemight · 03/03/2014 15:11

ARe you sure he is being teased. Perhaps teacher or staff just commented that it's usually a girls name.

loveliesbleeding1 · 03/03/2014 15:27

bumpandgrind I love the name celyn, it's welsh for holly, and that's unisex too.
(nearly used it for dd2, but went with similar welsh name).
I like erin for a boy, I have a friend in vegas whose son is Aaron, but it's pronounced erin.

BankWadger · 03/03/2014 15:32

I've heard Erin as a male name, although more commonly for females.

Frankly little kids can be bloody horrible to each other and will find all sorts of things to make each others life a misery regardless of names so don't worry about your namr choice and teach ypur son not to be a git.

TheBakeryQueen · 03/03/2014 16:47

My 5 year old wouldn't even know if Erin was a girl or boy's name and I can't imagine any of his classmates would either.

Have you asked him who mentioned it to him?

It's a nice name, it doesn't sound girly.

LooeyLou · 04/03/2014 09:51

Erin \e-rin\ as a boy's name (also used as girl's name Erin), is pronounced AIR-en. It is of Irish and Gaelic origin. Poetic name for Ireland. Today, Erin is more commonly used for girls.

I think it sounds lovely for a little boy, mine at 5 wouldn't have known if it was more commonly used as a girls name. I think it would be very odd to change his name now as it's part of him. It's also showing him that he needs to change something about him when others don't like it.

harryhausen · 04/03/2014 09:55

My dd has an Erin (or it might be spelled Eryn) in her class - they're 9.

He's had no problems at all. No-one's ever raised an eyebrow and the boy is really popular.

Don't worry.

littlelime · 04/03/2014 09:57

I thought it was originally a boys name. My dp is called Erin and I've never met a female Erin. I wouldn't change it especially asbit has been his name for so long.

Original poster

Willthisworknow · 04/03/2014 10:56

Thanks for all the replies. My husband over the past couple of years keeps saying he'll be teased but I don't want him to have to change it; but I just wondered what my options were IN CASE he became really unhappy with it. That is the first time anyone has mentioned it specifically to him but we'll see how it goes. The book was the complete book of baby names and someone on this thread has quoted what it says in our book ie old Ireland, but I'm happy to hear there are more boy Erin's out there! Thx again all.

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