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HelpWhy is Y considered “feminine?”
It’s a prettt common practice for parents to add a Y (or several Ys) to otherwise masculine names to “feminize” them (like in Robyn, Blayke, or Masyn). Why is this, from a linguistic standpoint?
Other feminizations seem more straightforward, like adding -a, -ina, or -ette, like in Paula (Paul), Christina (Christopher), or Yvette (Yves). These endings are widely recognized as feminine across several Western languages, so it makes sense that they’d be used to “girl up” male names.
But Y isn’t seen that way linguistically, so its “feminine” connotation is more of a mystery.
*previously posted as summitseeker*
--hike more / worry less--
Other feminizations seem more straightforward, like adding -a, -ina, or -ette, like in Paula (Paul), Christina (Christopher), or Yvette (Yves). These endings are widely recognized as feminine across several Western languages, so it makes sense that they’d be used to “girl up” male names.
But Y isn’t seen that way linguistically, so its “feminine” connotation is more of a mystery.
*previously posted as summitseeker*
--hike more / worry less--
This message was edited 6/23/2018, 12:48 AM
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