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Help"Unisex" names that are not unisex
When people think of unisex names, they think of such names as Taylor, Peyton, Robin, Jordan, or Alex. However, there are some "unisex" names that tend to be used by one gender nowadays like Chris/Kris (male, most females prefer Chrissy/Krissy or Christy/Kristy), Pat (male, most females prefer either Patti/Patty or Trish/Tricia), Logan (male), Sam (male), Ashley (female), Kelly (female), or Whitney (female). Your thoughts?
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I think people associate a name more with one gender depending on lots of things - the sex of people they know with the name, their closeness with those people, and their admiration for those people, as well as on other associations like having known the name as a surname before seeing it as a firstname, or the name sounding similar to more strongly gendered names that they either like or don't like. And there are probably even more things. The conventions change slowly as all the influences kinda get summed up over a large number of people, and the frequencies of use for each gender change.
Chris (by itself) has been a boy name for much longer than there was a fad for Christina etc. for girls. There were probably as many Christophers born during the fad, as there were girl Christinas etc., so even if Chris was the most popular nickname for girls with Chris-names, it still wasn't ever as common for girls as for boys. I don't think you can say for sure that women with these names prefer Chrissy or Christy over Chris as a nickname. Kris was predominantly female.
Anyway, I'm not sure what you're asking, but those are some of my thoughts.
Chris (by itself) has been a boy name for much longer than there was a fad for Christina etc. for girls. There were probably as many Christophers born during the fad, as there were girl Christinas etc., so even if Chris was the most popular nickname for girls with Chris-names, it still wasn't ever as common for girls as for boys. I don't think you can say for sure that women with these names prefer Chrissy or Christy over Chris as a nickname. Kris was predominantly female.
Anyway, I'm not sure what you're asking, but those are some of my thoughts.
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every name is unisex.
Matthew may be a name chosen for a boy, but Matthew may end up feeling like a girl. Jennifer may be chosen for a girl, but Jennifer may end up feeling like a boy. And yeah, it's likely they would then change their name to reflect their true gender, but the time spent being called Matthew or Jennifer wasn't time as another gender.
Or Matthew doesn't feel like either a boy or girl, and so doesn't find a name that better fits, and so stays as Matthew. maybe they would go by Morgan, which is commonly associated as gender neutral. whatever name they're most comfortable with, is what fits their gender.
Matthew may be a name chosen for a boy, but Matthew may end up feeling like a girl. Jennifer may be chosen for a girl, but Jennifer may end up feeling like a boy. And yeah, it's likely they would then change their name to reflect their true gender, but the time spent being called Matthew or Jennifer wasn't time as another gender.
Or Matthew doesn't feel like either a boy or girl, and so doesn't find a name that better fits, and so stays as Matthew. maybe they would go by Morgan, which is commonly associated as gender neutral. whatever name they're most comfortable with, is what fits their gender.
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I disagree with this.
I think that gender association with names is totally different than gender identity in people.
Yes, a Matthew may feel/be a girl, but that doesn't make the name Matthew a feminine name.
Your name doesn't define your gender, but some names do have assigned genders. If a person chooses to pick a name outside of the gender it is associated with (James for a girl, for instance)... that just means that you used a male name on a girl - it doesn't automatically make the name feminine or unisex.
I don't mean to be controversial - I just want to be clear that names and identities are two different things.
I think that gender association with names is totally different than gender identity in people.
Yes, a Matthew may feel/be a girl, but that doesn't make the name Matthew a feminine name.
Your name doesn't define your gender, but some names do have assigned genders. If a person chooses to pick a name outside of the gender it is associated with (James for a girl, for instance)... that just means that you used a male name on a girl - it doesn't automatically make the name feminine or unisex.
I don't mean to be controversial - I just want to be clear that names and identities are two different things.
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Well, yeah- assigned genders. I don't mean bam, James is unexceptionally feminine or unisex now- that would be disrespectful I think in some cultures that ARE open with gender identity, but have names with a specific gender (though James is an English name).
I mean more like every name has the potential to be unisex. And yeah, sure, James is heavily associated as a male name, but I think it would be rude to tell someone, "oh okay you're x, but you have a boy name" when they describes themself.
I don't mind much when people casually referring to this or that as a masculine/feminine name. It's fixating on it which bugs me.
Like, for example... I take a Hungarian culture class, and often the teacher would pause when coming across a name and go, "boy or girl?", to quiz students. Ex. Zsolt is boy, Aniko is a girl. Sometimes there would be a joke about a boy being named Aniko or whatever. Once I was actually asked the gender of a (male-given) name I secretly wanted for myself (but can't legally have).
My birth name is very typically, traditionally feminine- I constantly here "oh, what a gorgeous girl's name!", either casually by people who know nothing about my gender, or in defiance to it-"but you have such a nice girl's name, why would you....". If names weren't so immediately gendered, I think I would feel a little more comfortable with my own.
I'm glad you understand, and that you point out how identities are separate from observable details. I just don't like the whole "oh, that's a boy name on a girl"/vice versa idea.
I mean more like every name has the potential to be unisex. And yeah, sure, James is heavily associated as a male name, but I think it would be rude to tell someone, "oh okay you're x, but you have a boy name" when they describes themself.
I don't mind much when people casually referring to this or that as a masculine/feminine name. It's fixating on it which bugs me.
Like, for example... I take a Hungarian culture class, and often the teacher would pause when coming across a name and go, "boy or girl?", to quiz students. Ex. Zsolt is boy, Aniko is a girl. Sometimes there would be a joke about a boy being named Aniko or whatever. Once I was actually asked the gender of a (male-given) name I secretly wanted for myself (but can't legally have).
My birth name is very typically, traditionally feminine- I constantly here "oh, what a gorgeous girl's name!", either casually by people who know nothing about my gender, or in defiance to it-"but you have such a nice girl's name, why would you....". If names weren't so immediately gendered, I think I would feel a little more comfortable with my own.
I'm glad you understand, and that you point out how identities are separate from observable details. I just don't like the whole "oh, that's a boy name on a girl"/vice versa idea.
This message was edited 2/17/2015, 3:04 PM
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Well, I usually disregard names that are nicknames from the unisex list (Chris, Pat, Sam, Jay, etc)... simply because they are linked to longer name and I rarely hear people named just Chris, or just Jay, etc..
If it does happen, I am inclined to assume they are boys.
I happen to like unisex names that are socially linked to one gender. Farah was on our list as the top choice for a long time - and that is technically for boys or girls (we were going to use it for a girl).
Kelly and Ashley I appreciate on males, simply because it is unexpected but acceptable. Whitney i regard as totally unisex as it sounds great on either gender.
Some unisex names that I love:
~ Adilet and Arden I would use on girls, though they are usually reserved for boys.
~ Briar I like on boys (and I know one), but I can see how it is pretty on girls.
~ Cyrille is one that I cannot decide whether I prefer it on boys or girls… but I lean towards girl today.
~ Dell and Eden I prefer on girls, but Desta and Evren I prefer on boys.
~ Hollis I would use for either. I used to think it only a boy name, but it is adorable on girls too.
~ Jocelyn is one of my faves for a girl, but I would totally use it on a boy, nn Joss.
~ Robin is one of those name people can't seem to decide whether they like on boys or girls. I prefer girl, but can picture a boy.
~ Sheridan, Shiloh and Sparrow I much prefer on boys - though they are quite popular for girls too.
If it does happen, I am inclined to assume they are boys.
I happen to like unisex names that are socially linked to one gender. Farah was on our list as the top choice for a long time - and that is technically for boys or girls (we were going to use it for a girl).
Kelly and Ashley I appreciate on males, simply because it is unexpected but acceptable. Whitney i regard as totally unisex as it sounds great on either gender.
Some unisex names that I love:
~ Adilet and Arden I would use on girls, though they are usually reserved for boys.
~ Briar I like on boys (and I know one), but I can see how it is pretty on girls.
~ Cyrille is one that I cannot decide whether I prefer it on boys or girls… but I lean towards girl today.
~ Dell and Eden I prefer on girls, but Desta and Evren I prefer on boys.
~ Hollis I would use for either. I used to think it only a boy name, but it is adorable on girls too.
~ Jocelyn is one of my faves for a girl, but I would totally use it on a boy, nn Joss.
~ Robin is one of those name people can't seem to decide whether they like on boys or girls. I prefer girl, but can picture a boy.
~ Sheridan, Shiloh and Sparrow I much prefer on boys - though they are quite popular for girls too.
This message was edited 2/17/2015, 10:21 AM
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Good point. The name Chris can be short for Christopher or Christine but it seems as if though most people named Chris are male simply because the name Christopher became very popular beginning in the 1970s and lasted until the early 2000s (the younger women and girls preferred to be called either Chrissy or Christy simply because the younger generation saw Chris as a boy's name). The name Christopher peaked in the 1980s as 554, 725 baby boys were named Christopher. Even the name Kris, which had been mainly used as a shortened version of Kristina or Kristine is now mainly used as a shortened version of Kristopher (20,068 baby boys were named Kristopher in the 1980s). Same thing for Pat (short for Patrick) and Sam (short for Samuel) while younger females named Patricia preferred Patty/Patti/Trish/Tricia and Samantha preferred Sammi. Your thoughts?
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This is in the UK so I mention it as a comparison as I'm guessing you're in the USA? I know a few females named Pat and Chris as nicknames and loads named Sam. I also know more males named Ashley than females and I have never heard the Scottish name Logan used as a girl name.
Since beginning to use this site I have seen names like Bryn and Brett suggested as girl names on a number of occasions, I have never come across these used on girls before, and it is interesting to see how well known they are as unisex names and how different trends are and how differently the names can be received in different places.
When I think of unisex names that are almost always used on one gender now, I think of names like Mackenzie, Addison, Madison and Allison. I think Harrison hasn't moved towards becoming a unisex/feminine name like other -son names because people associate it so closely with Harry.
Since beginning to use this site I have seen names like Bryn and Brett suggested as girl names on a number of occasions, I have never come across these used on girls before, and it is interesting to see how well known they are as unisex names and how different trends are and how differently the names can be received in different places.
When I think of unisex names that are almost always used on one gender now, I think of names like Mackenzie, Addison, Madison and Allison. I think Harrison hasn't moved towards becoming a unisex/feminine name like other -son names because people associate it so closely with Harry.
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Yep, I'm an American.
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Well, there are a lot of 'unisex' names that I consider 'unisex' but for most of them, I end choosing a 'unisex' name for a girl rather than for a boy and/or the opposite, mainly because of the sound and how it will appeal to one another.
For example, most would consider Bryarly to be a feminine name but I consider it 'unisex' with it leaning towards adopting for a boy because, to me, 'Bryar' sounds similar to 'Bryan,' even though they're unrelated.
Robbie is considered masculine to most but it's a 'unisex' name and I lean it towards adopting for a girl because I think it suits better for a girl named Roberta than, say, Bobbi / Bobbie.
For example, most would consider Bryarly to be a feminine name but I consider it 'unisex' with it leaning towards adopting for a boy because, to me, 'Bryar' sounds similar to 'Bryan,' even though they're unrelated.
Robbie is considered masculine to most but it's a 'unisex' name and I lean it towards adopting for a girl because I think it suits better for a girl named Roberta than, say, Bobbi / Bobbie.
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