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[Opinions] Evan (girl)
I know that many won't like the idea of using Evan on a girl. I just really like it. I grew up with a female Evan and it never occurred to me that it could be a boys name until I was in elementary school. I met my first male Evan much later, when I was a teen. It is kind of similar to Evelyn and other Ev-names such as Eve, Eva and Evangeline. I really like it on a girl.So wdyt? Horrible? Okay? Nice? I also like the nickname Evvy EH-vee.Did actress Evan Rachel Wood make it more usable for girls?I would definitely pair it with a strictly feminine middle name.

This message was edited 5/21/2012, 9:24 AM

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Hell to the no. I am so over this "boys names on girls" trend. I find it extremely tacky. I cringe every time I see a girl named Evan or Ryan, when there are plenty of gorgeous GIRLS names out there.
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For a girl, it sounds like her parents' last chance to name a child after old Uncle Evan in the faint hope of inheriting his chiming clock. I cannot for the life of me take it seriously at all, actress namesake or not. It's silly and drab and dusty - as a boy name I'm not that fond of it, but it's very much better for boys.
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It's one of my favorite names for boys. :( I'm sad when I see it used on girls. I don't want it to become a name that people think can't be used on boys anymore.
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Never heard of Evan Rachel Wood. I think of it as completely masculine. I don't compare it to Eve, Eva, or Evangeline because those have long e sounds and Evan starts like Eh- which I guess Evelyn does but I never really thought about that. When I think of Evan I think of it sounding like Kevin or Devin (totally masculine to me too).
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I like it ok but only as a MN and then mostly just because Evan is my bf's name :) Rosalie Evan is a stock combo of mine
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Here, let me comment in the main thread instead of just that subthread.
I don't really like it. I can sort of see how it has that Ryan/Tyler/Dylan sort of feel-- stuff that is mostly masculine but people use it on their daughters anyway. I'd really rather see any other Ev- name.
(The first Ryan I ever met was a girl, actually, but I still don't want to use it. Somehow I was always aware it was not a girl's name).I don't know anything about Evan Rachel Wood except she was supposed to star in the tv version of my favorite book series when I was 13, except it never happened.
Have you ever looked at Evren? Lends itself to Evvy (or however), unisex, awesome meaning. win win win.
(in other news, I'm totally adding Aubrey (m) to my list).

This message was edited 5/21/2012, 3:27 PM

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Aubrey is one of my favorite names for boys. :)
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It's not horrible, but it's not quite okay with me either. I would not want to be named Evan. I know guys named Evan.Evan Rachel Wood probably did make it seem more usable for girls, but ... her image relates really well somehow, to my overall sense of aversion to using such a name for a woman. Not that I disrespect her, but. The style (masculine personal names for females) is very Hollywoody-seeming. Maybe because people with such names are only noticeable when they're entertainers, and female entertainers are invariably presented as specially cute and young - but whatever, it comes off as sort of sexed-up to me.Still and all, the name Evan does take on a much lighter feeling than, say, Ryan or Adrian can, when I imagine it on a girl ... it almost seems like a different name from Evan-on-a-boy. So I have to say it does work, and it doesn't even really contaminate the name Evan for boys. IMO. Unless people start using it as much for girls, anyway. I think it could become unisex sort of like Dana (which, btw, I noticed is the name of Evan RW's brother!).
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Haha, yeah when I googled her I found out that her brothers are named Ira and Dana!
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I like Evan on a boy (I remember having a crush on a boy named Evan in elementary school :P)I like Evana on a girl. I'd like Evan as a tomboyish-type nickname for Evana or Evanna, but not as a full name. "Evan" sounds unisex, but it looks masculine, and spelling it Evyn or Evin or whatever would look too awkward IMO.I like the sound of Evvy (not the look though. Evi or Evy would look better, although they might looks like they're supposed to be pronounced EE-vee.)Evanne? That looks like a combination of Eve and Anne... like eev-ANN or something. I have seen a girl Ryanne though (pronounced like Ryan), so maybe. *shrug*
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I don't like the look of Evvy either. You're right Evy looks better. I just don't want to put Evanna on her birth certificate because I'd never ever use it anyway. I would give her a feminine middle name, though.Evanne is kind of pretty but I'd want to say ee-VANN (kind of like Eve+Anne). Maybe for a character. I know a Ryanne too. She also pronounces it like Ryan but before I met her (she was in my class and I got the class list before meeting everyone) I thought it was ry-ANN.
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I'm voting against Evan on a girl, sorry.How are parents of little boys supposed to pick a name for their newborn if every traditional male name gets turned into a female one in ten years time? OK, that's an overstatement. But sometimes it feels like that, like a slippery slope. I'm not here to say every single name that has been traditionally male *has* to stay that way. But there has to be some limits, right? If it were a two-way street I might not mind so much. But it only ever seems to be male names that get poached.Why not turn your sights to Bevan instead? That's traditionally male, but I could see it "turning" female smoothly, without as many repercussions for parents of little boys. I thought it was feminine, to be honest. I was all proud of myself with the combination Eleanor Bevan. Then I saw it was male. (gasp! hypocrite alert!) OK, how about this? I'll give you Evan for a dd if you promise to name a ds Aubrey, Kendall, Avery, Emery, Nikita, Alexis, Kelly, Ashley or Ainsley? Deal? :-D
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It's weird but I've never met any female Avery's but I've met two or three male Avery's. I've always preferred Avery for a boy and I think many woman agree with me even if not the majority.I've only met one Emery before and it was a boy.I personally disagree with the idea that only one gender can own a name. I think that might have once been true but these names a name no longer becomes unusable for boys because it has become popular for girls. I think unisex names are currently popular because of the fact that they are used by both genders. I think boys names on girls are popular because people want to have a girl with a boys name because they feel that it sounds cool. I don't think that Evan will become a girls name just because of a few female Evan's or even a ton of female Evan's.
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This message was edited 5/24/2012, 3:45 PM

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This 100%
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Bevin / Beibhinn is a girl's name - maybe Eleanor Bevin instead? ;)
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Saved!Eleanor Bevin it is. Thank you! :-D
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No deal :P I name my child what I want and I really don't care about anyone else when it comes to naming. I mean of course I care about my child and my husband when it comes to choosing a name but certainly not about some random parents struggling to name their little boys.Also I think you can't steal a name. No one is forbidding anyone to use Evan on a boy. Or Ashley, Aubrey, Emery etc In my opinion there's a good reason for why Aubrey isn't used on boys these days. I mean it was hardly used for the past 100 years (on boys) so I don't think it counts as stealing. If Aubrey is such a great name for a boy, how come no one uses it?Hmmm Bevan sounds a little unattractive to my ears. I also once knew a guy named Bevin so maybe that's why. I didn't really like him :P Eleanor Bevan is kind of cool, though. Unexpected middle name, I like that!I think it's perfectly fine if parents still name their sons Whitney today. In fact I know a male Whitney and it fits him.As for feminine names on guys...Richard Gere's middle name is Tiffany! How about that :P Also Gale in the Hunger Games. I guess Gale could even enter the top 1000 for guys. Oh and Christian and Julian were common girls names in the middle ages or so I heard. I know that more boys names are being used on girls than girls names on guys. But I think it's often for a reason. These names are usually avoided for boys for decades before becoming popular on girls. When you look at Aubrey or Emery or most of the other names (Evan is an exception) they are usually not used at all on boys for a long time and then chosen for the other gender. I think people might have noticed that they are not very masculine sounding and only when people were getting more creative they dared to use them on girls even though they were originally boys names.
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If Aubrey is such a great name for a boy, how come no one uses it?
142 parents of boys born in 2011 say ":(" while pointing frantically to their little Aubreys.(plus 143 born in 2010, another 143 in 2009, and 135 in 2008... It's getting used, just not all at once. Look, over 500 boys under 4 years old)(only 99 girls called Evan in 2011 though-- Aubrey for a boy is more common than Evan for a girl :P)

This message was edited 5/21/2012, 2:19 PM

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hahaha I apologize to the 142 Aubreys and their parents :P Uhm 500 Aubreys. Still didn't even make the top 1000 while Aubrey is #20 for girls. I guess the majority thinks it's extremely feminine sounding.
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Still didn't even make the top 1000 while Aubrey is #20 for girls. I guess the majority thinks it's extremely feminine sounding.;) The same applies for Evan. Did not make the top 1000 while Evan is #40 for boys. The majority thinks it's extremely masculine sounding.
(And to be fair, Aubrey is only 50 babies away from making the top 1000. Evan needs 150 extra babies to make it).

This message was edited 5/21/2012, 3:15 PM

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Oh, I'm aware! I just disagree. Same with Noah, I also think that's one of the most feminine sounding names to ever have been used on a boy.I really don't care how far Aubrey is away from the top 1000 for boys, I doubt it will ever make it again :P Sorry, I just think the number of boys named Aubrey will decline when it enters the top 10 for girls which I could see happening in the next 5 years. Looking at how Mason has climbed probably even this/next year.
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I think your logic might be flawed a little. Maybe?Mason made the top 10 this year, and Mason for girls went UP (a little bit).So why would Aubrey being in the top 10 push boy Aubreys down?
oh right because this isn't a two way street.
FWIW, Aubrey won't make the top 10 next year, at least not by my guess (using the same math I used to predict Mason at #2 this year). Top 15 is likely though [I've got her at #13 right now. The girls top 10 barely moves at all, except Isabella drops a lot).
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Don't be so impolite. You are aware that there's a huge difference between masculine names on girls vs feminine sounding names on boys? Most people think it's cool when girls are named things like Dylan, Evan, Ryan or Parker. On the other hand most people think it's wimpy and weak to name a boy Aubrey, Ashley or Lindsay. Most people in real life that is, not on this board. I don't agree and it's definitely sexist but that's the way it is!For the same reason people usually think it's cute when girls are tomboys but think it's upsetting and feel sorry for the family when boys wear pink and play with Barbies. I mean that isn't exactly anything new so I'm surprised you don't see the difference. And again, I think it's wrong and I wouldn't mind meeting a male Aubrey but that's the way most people will see it.Of course Mason is going up for girls. Just like Ryan and Dylan went up for girls when they went up for boys. I think in a few years it will be cool to name a girl Mason or Maysynn or whatever. But when names like Ashley went up for girls they went down for boys. That will happen with Aubrey.Yeah, it's nice that you're trying to predict Aubrey's future popularity but it is simply a prediction, nothing more than that. It is already in the top 10 for girls in at least one state, by the way. Also I wrote 'in the next 5 years', not next year.Oh and the comparison with Mason was simply because I wanted to show how fast a name can climb, it had nothing to do with the boy/girl name argument. I'm aware Aubrey isn't rising as fast as Mason but it's rising quickly especially in some states. And no other Mason spelling makes the top 100 whereas Aubree does. I think Aubrey and Aubree combined will definitely make the top 10.

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This message was edited 5/23/2012, 3:06 AM

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"I don't agree and it's definitely sexist but don't you think Evan is SUCH a cute name for a girl?"
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It is sexist to think that boys names on girls are ok but girls names on boys aren't. Yes, I do think it's a cute name for a girl. But I have nothing against feminine names being used on boys either. That's the point. I simply don't care whether a name is masculine or feminine in origin as long as it works which Evan does.You seem to have a huge problem with people who choose boys names for their daughters and it really shouldn't be your problem. Everyone is entitled to choose the name they like best for your child and this whole 'she stole my boys name' thing is just ridiculous and a waste of time.
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"'she stole my boys name' "
I never said that, please stop attributing that to me.
I totally think people should be allowed to pick whatever name they want (where did I say I didn't? Like, seriously, if someone goes and names their daughter John Nevaeh, like, I might not like it or be willing to use it myself, but I'm not going to be up crying at night because that poor baby omg) but I also think it should be a two way street and if I want to name my boy Jennifer or something, there shouldn't be people gasping in horror and telling me that my son is going to be beaten. Which, as you already said in a previous post, IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
go ahead and reply to this so you can have your last word. you keep saying you've wasted too much time, but you keep replying anyway. go figure.
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Take a look at the popularity statistics for Jamie. As soon as it started being used for girls in any significant numbers, it dropped like a stone for boys.
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As I said"not a two way street".If a name is used more on girls, it's a girls name forever.If it's used more for boys, it's fair game for girls. Apparently.
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Then why do you say my logic is flawed simply because I think Aubrey will fall for boys when it goes up for girls? And why do you use Mason as an example? Of course Mason goes up for girls because it's similar to Ryan, Dylan etc which also went up for girls when they became common for boys. To prove your point you should find a feminine sounding boys names that went up for boys after becoming popular for girls. I can't figure out if the first part of your post is you being sarcastic or if you actually mean it. It really doesn't sound sarcastic at all (the Mason part) but then the second part obviously is so I'm confused.The Mason argument in my post was simply to show how quickly a name can rise and had nothing to do with the boy/girl name thing.

This message was edited 5/23/2012, 2:49 AM

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I used Mason as an example because you used Mason.
(and just because the majority of the country feels the same, doesn't mean the thought process isn't wrong. millions of people can totally be wrong).

This message was edited 5/23/2012, 8:47 AM

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I used Mason as an example for a name that climbed fast, not for the boy/girl comparison which I think is pretty clear. I know that millions of people can be wrong but in this case...no.
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Which means Mason will be a girl's name in 5. . . 4 . . . 3 . . 2 . . .
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The comparison with Mason was to show a fast a name can climb, I didn't mean that I see it in the top 5 for girls anytime soon.
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But I did.My forecast is that trendy parents will see the meteoric rise in Mason and start using it for their dds.
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What happened to the good old days of feminizing popular male names? What's wrong with Masonette or Masonia?
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I prefer Eve or Eva. I like Evan for a boy.I do know a female Evan and she's American, so maybe it's more common on girls in America?Evvy sounds nice but looks weird written down...
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Never made the top 1000 for girls. Still there might be a few around...
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Yvonne and Evanna are worlds more elegantand more feminine.
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But...she didn't ask about those names.
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I'm feeling charitable
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I strongly disagree. They may be more feminine but Yvonne is seen as trashy and dated here and Evanna can be pronounced like Ivana (ee-VAH-na) which I dislike. Evanna eh-VAN-a would be ok, but this name is so strongly associated with the Harry Potter actress that I wouldn't use it. She is the only one I've ever heard of with the name.
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I totally agree with you on Yvonne, but I don't think Evanna would have a huge problem. Nor would the majority of people probably know about Evanna Lynch. And even so, meh. I think Evana or Evanna are pretty. Evan I think is very masculine and would be cringeworthy on a girl. But I also have strong feelings about that because it's a family name for me going back 8+ generations.
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Yvonne is trashy and dated? Dated, perhaps, but trashy? I've never heard or thought of it that way. Huh. (I'm in the U.S., if that makes a difference.)I grew up watching a lot of tennis and Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley (sp?) was a favorite. While I prefer the Evonne spelling, the Yvonne one is more ocmmonly used and so I could see using it over Evonne.
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Me too :P Hmm yeah, at least I get the impression. I know a younger Yvonne (born in the 80s) and people seem to think of it as a bit trashy and dated. She gets the same comments on her name I get when I ask people what they think of Charlene and Maxine (which I really like). I guess it could make a comeback, though. I think if it can get rid of its dated image it might sound kind of cute and friendly. Also I predict -e ending names to make a huge comeback. I think people will get sick of all the names that end in -a and were common in the 80s/90s/today (Anna, Amanda, Ava, Isabella, Olivia, Sophia etc) and choose Anne, Diane, Marie, Olive, Eve instead. So there might be hope for Yvonne (and I hope Charlene and Maxine as well).
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I personally think Evan Rachel Wood is a reason why I would NOT use Evan on a girl. She just rubs me the wrong way.I really like most names that are historically male (like Ashley, Lindsay, etc) to stay on males. And though there hasn't been much of a crossing over with Evan, it still is entirely male to me.I love, love, love Evelyn though and would much rather see that on a little girl. (Though I'm biased; that's my grandma's name.) All this being said, it's not the worst idea in the world. The nickname Evvy is cute.
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I don't care for her either, it's just that she's a girl named Evan and it works on her so I think she makes it more usable for girls.
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It's definitely usable, but in the same "mostly-male-but-used-for-a-girl" way as Hunter and Tyler. That being said, I would much rather see Evangeline with the nn Evan. I personally would only use Evan on a boy (I really like it for a boy!).Evvy is just awful. If anything, I suggest using the spelling Evie or even Evy.
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I wouldn't spell it at all, EH-vee is just the nickname. I just spelled it Evvy in this post to emphasize that I want it pronounced as EH-vee, not EE-vee :)
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Hmmm.... I can see it in a pattern of -n girls' names way - Lauren, Aislin, Allison, Bethan etc - or a trendy-esque unisex way, but I wouldn't use it. Evan has always been strictly masculine to me.Evan Rachel Wood probably has made it seem more unisex, but I don't care much for her ilk and there's a good chance it'll simply seem like a fan name.
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I don't think it would sound like a fan name. Evan Rachel Wood is not that well known (I only heard of her recently) and Evan is too well known to be associated with a person.
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I understand that--growing up with someone really shapes the name for you. My mom is Dani (although just a nn) so when I met my first male Danny I just stared at him and asked why he had a girl name. lol. I can actually see the appeal, honestly. I wouldn't use it--not even for stories--but I can see the appeal. Evvy is pretty bad. EH-vee makes it worse. EE-vee seems more intuitive. Evan Rachel Wood probably made it more accessible but it makes me like the name less. I can't say I'm a fan of hers so I'm a little biased I suppose.
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hahaha I prefer Dani on a girl, too. I grew up with a Daniela who went by Dany. Hmm I think Evan nn EE-vee is kind of weird I think EH-vee is more intuitive as Evan is EH-ven. I'd probably spell it Evy, though. Not that I would spell it much, just the nn.
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