There IS a difference between surnames that are commonly used as first names for boys like
James (number 1 baby name for a long time) or girls (like
Hanna) and surnames that never sounded particularly masculine or feminine because they were hardly ever used! It's not like the Greek name thing at all.
I actually don't have anything against girls named
James. I don't care. I simply think there's a difference between a girl named
Ashley and a girl named
Jacob and most people would agree with me. If you don't believe me, open a thread and we'll see. To you there might not be a difference, to me there is.