Giving my son a 'girl' name

[Bowa]

I am due soon to give birth soon to my first child who will be a boy. I struggled to think of any boy names that felt right. I had a long list for girl names, but I couldn't think any for if I had a son.

I found out I was having a boy at my 16 weeks scan and I still couldn't find a name that felt right at the time. Kinda like a missing puzzle piece if that makes sense.

A few weeks later, I was thinking about a movie I loved since childhood and one of the main characters (the character is male) and something clicked and I knew that was the name I wanted for my son. It felt perfect and exactly what I was looking for. I became excited and looked into how I could make things with his name for the nursery, nicknames and that.

I haven't told anyone what name I picked out for him as I wanted to get everything ready beforehand. I have also had some 'complications', so it felt like bad luck if I told people his name before he was born. When I'm by myself, I talk to my son and I will use his name then.

I was looking at something and saw the name I picked for my son. It had a few different spellings, but what stuck out was that apparently it's used more as a girl name. It didn't say anything about it being a unisex name. I assumed because the character who had the name was male (and refers to himself as a male) that it was wasn't a girl's name or maybe it could be a unisex name. Even the way it is pronounced sounds more masculine than feminine.

I feel conflicted. I can't think of any other name that feels right for him (he has middle names that are boy names), but I don't want him to be picked on if people knew it was used more for a girl. I have an unusual first name, so I have experiences with people not spelling it correctly or pronouncing it right.

His name isn't common for this area either, so I don't think anyone would assume it is used more as a girl name and the way it is pronounced is easy.

I know people have named their daughter with names that are more boy/unisex sounding like: Blake, Parker, Dylan, Toni etc.

His name isn't like: Daisy, Penelope, Sophia, Jane etc.

Would it be OK to stick with the name even if it's used more for a girl?

@Stripeyanddotty Sue is definitely a terrible name for a boy ;-P

Is it Mary?
Ridiculous thread, since you won’t even give the name.

I bet it's Gertrude or Bertha

Sometimes you don't need the names to make a comment (eg should I call my identical twins matchy names -no) but this one we need to know the name.

And those mentioning Sue, is exactly why we need to know.

Please don't

Of all the boys names you could pick you want to saddle him with a girls name meaning he will be ridiculed and bullied at school. Don't do it. It's cruel.

Is it Quinn? I think of that as a boys name but can be used for a girl
As long as it’s not “ obviously female” like Daisy, then he will just become the name you choose and people will get used to it
Its an anonymous forum so do post the name for opinions

OP you said it yourself in the title...'a girls name'...just no, don't do it 🙄

@Bowa : https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26634477 this article might be worth reading

Aubrey?

As everyone else said, depends a lot on the name. For me, Jesse is fine, Robin is fine. Ashley and Kim, not so much. But that probably reflects that I have male friends named Jesse and Robin so it seems natural to me that they are boys’ names.

I think you should go with what you love BUT it would be helpful if there is decent nicknames that your DC could use if he were to get any fired and feel self-conscious when he’s older. Eg I know a man who goes by “Ash”, which seems fine, notwithstanding that I don’t like Ashley for a boy as it seems super feminine )to me).

Are you in the UK?

Life ain't easy for a boy named Sue.

I actually know a male Su (pronounced Sue). He seems to be doing fine!

I also know men named Jody, Loren, Ashlee and Grace!

Is it Sue? A boy named Sue?

Is it sacha? Or Casey/ Kayce?

Something like Sandy, Jessie are girls but also unisex names.
You say the character was a boy, are any other boys named that name?
It's hard to tell without knowing the name tbh.
Some names are just not boys names, Sarah for example. But pretty sure in todays world you could change the spelling a bit and noone would blink an eye. Sayra, could be a good boys name I reckon, for example.

If you're questioning it, don't go for it. He could end up with a lifetime of people expecting a woman to turn up, and potentially being a bit out that they were wring. Not the best start in interview, new jobs etc.

Ease up on picking the name and wait till the baby comes, you don't have to decide yet.

Depends on the name. I know someone who's son was Ashley and he was teased a lot at school for having a girls name, and ended up going by his middle name.

I think some names like Jordan/Jamie/Tyler are not clearly 'boy' or 'girl' and won't be an issue for either sex, whereas others such as Ashley/Stacey/Kelly are generally seen as 'girl'.

Darcy?

You really need to tell us the name for a proper opinion. I know a bloke called Loren...he hates it and uses his middle name. I wouldn't do it if I were you.

I've known loads of male Ashleys, going back to the 70s.

Kerry / Terry?

Indiana?
(indiana Jones is masculine, but I think it’s the ‘Anna’ ending that has made the name much more popular for girls