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Cruel and unusual naming

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"A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash comes to mind. Neither as a little boy or as a man would he be thankful that his mother named him Florence. Florian, Florencio, Florenzo Florentin, etc are all more masculine alternatives although he still might get teased with the nick name Florrie.

It would be terrible on a boy, but there is a masculine form, Florent. Why not try that instead?

If you feel good and right about it and can bless your son with the ensuing endearments you feel with it - then by all means go for it.

double post

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Oops!

This message was edited 7/18/2015, 12:36 AM

I don't think so, though I'm usually all for very feminine sounding names on boys. It's a no from me. However, I do love Florian. That's very dashing.

One word:

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No.

This message was edited 7/17/2015, 8:05 PM

I adore Florence on a girl, but after I forget about that and just concentrate on it for a boy, I can see the appeal. I mean, it's urbane and regal, but it's also a bit stuffy to me, possibly a bit intimidating as well. Like a thick, burgundy, leather-bound book on a high shelf that everyone admires but would never dare read.

I don't like it for a boy at all. I've always known it to be a feminine name.

Yes, I can imagine this one on both girls and boys. Weird. As I mentioned before in the Francis thread, it really doesn't happen very often that I find a name fitting for both genders.

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I maybe even find Florence a little more masculine than feminine. I suppose this is because of the "Flor" beginning which right away reminds me of Florian. Or maybe it's the "o" which is very masculine to me. And of course, "-ence" names tend to go well with both genders.
With Laurence it's just slightly different, because I think of Laurenz when I hear it and this one is definitely masculine.

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I would love to see Florence as a middle name. A great one! Very classy and noble. And I love "Flor-" names. They have this floral touch to them...

I honestly hate this name on a boy. It just feels so extremely feminine. But, I have a bit of an association "story" that you might find interesting:

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When I was a kid I watched some of those teen/preteen dramas that were popular in the 80s/90s. I don't remember which one this even was, but there was a new kid in school who everyone thought was "scary" because he had long hair and kept to himself. The main character's friends dared him to find out the new kid's middle name (I have no idea why they would do this or if it's anything kids ever do; I'm relatively sure no one I ever went to school with has the slightest idea what my middle name is, because it really never came up). So for a few days, the main character put in time trying to make friends with the new kid, buying him pop to go with his lunch, etc. Finally, when he asked the kid what his middle name was, the kid replied (you guessed it), "Florence." So the main character had got what he was supposed to from the new kid, but when his friends asked, "So did you find out his middle name?" the main character said, "No; he wouldn't tell me." I always really appreciated that: that the main character wouldn't give his friends something with which to mock the new kid. And that's mainly what I think of when I think of Florence on a guy: that "scary" long-haired new kid with the middle name everyone knew damn well was worthy of mockery.

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And obviously, mean kids will mock no matter what; it really doesn't matter what you name your kids, because if they want to mock they'll find a way. They called my sister "Esther the Molester," for example. But Florence is just a very feminine name; I don't feel it's appropriate on a boy. And that's my opinion.

This message was edited 7/17/2015, 11:16 AM

No, I personally think it sounds ridiculous for a boy. It's lovely on a girl though.

I prefer Florent or Florian

I think it's too feminine for a boy, honestly, but it's delightful for a girl. I'd love to meet a little Florent, though.