Boy names becoming girl names - what's next?

JoNightshade · May 9, 2009

This is a spinoff on the thread about "Emma" as a baby girl name. Someone mentioned that their little boy's name became widely used for girls after he was born. And in fact, the trend is always in that direction - boys names slowly becoming acceptable for girls, or adapted somehow.

So here's the question: What names are next? What boy names will become acceptable girl names in the near future?

BenPanced · May 9, 2009

Logan's quickly on its way.

DL Hegel · May 9, 2009

Tom. Paul. Joe

benbradley · May 9, 2009

DL Hegel said:
Tom. Paul. Joe

Jo (pronounced the same as Joe and apparently short for Josephine) is already here.

Wayne K · May 9, 2009

Didn't the girl from ER use Michael?

dgrintalis · May 9, 2009

Hmmmm...my name is Damien and I'm a girl. Is that a bad thing? I quite like it.

Wayne K · May 9, 2009

The devil you say.

dgrintalis · May 9, 2009

Wayne K said:
The devil you say.

Devilish perhaps, but not the devil.

And I blame any and all devilish behavior on the red hair.

Wayne K · May 10, 2009

I do too.

I dated one redhead--she was beautiful, but the whole passionate redhead thing was too much for me.

astonwest · May 10, 2009

Remember (especially for Firefly fans), Jayne is a girl's name...

JoeEkaitis · May 10, 2009

Wayne K said:
Didn't the girl from ER use Michael?

There was also Michael Learned from "The Waltons".

Devil Ledbetter · May 10, 2009

BenPanced said:
Logan's quickly on its way.

I guess so. I know a woman name Logan.

Jo, there is a "boys names for girls" list at Nameberry. This blog is by the one of the authors of Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana. The book was great because it grouped names by type (imports, place names, so far out they're in, so far in they're out, etc.) instead of just listing them alphabetically by gender with some outdated "meaning" attached like 99% of the baby name books out there do.

But I think they realized that baby naming trends move too fast these days for traditional publishing to keep up with, so they started a blog.

It's good that you're paying close attention to what's trending. It's important to know what trend is getting too popular, such as the "last names for everyone" trend of a few years ago, and what's on the verge of being completely played out (Jacob, Madeline - fine names that have been done to death, at least in my area).

And to answer your original question, I think Christopher for a girl's name is the one to watch.

Wayne K · May 10, 2009

I think Nathan would be fine for a girl.

scarletpeaches · May 10, 2009

I read a book once with a female character called Graeme.

regdog · May 10, 2009

Blurb on the news last night. Thanks to reality tv's nobodies 'Keeping up with the Kardashians" Khloe is now a popular name for girls.

How nice, naming your daughter after a nobody whose claim to fame is being arrested for drunk driving-woo hoo

Kitty Pryde · May 10, 2009

I predict Elliot as a girls name, after the girly-girl character from Scrubs. Her story is that her dad wanted a son but got a daughter instead and saddled her with a boy name. It works really well for her though.

Ken · May 10, 2009

JoNightshade said:
So here's the question: What names are next? What boy names will become acceptable girl names in the near future?

Dick

truelyana · May 10, 2009

Ken said:
Dick

Already exists.

Ken · May 10, 2009

truelyana said:
Already exists.

... as a "girl's name?" :-O

EFCollins · May 10, 2009

Male names used on girls already(with their nifty female spellings): Jo, Billy, Bobbi, Renee, Erin, Kelli, Dakota, Logan, Frankie, Willie, Freddie, Hugh, Chris, Benny. (And these are just the people I know)

What's next? Mick. I can see it too, especially as a nickname for Michelle.

BenPanced · May 10, 2009

EFCollins said:
Male names used on girls already(with their nifty female spellings): Jo, Billy, Bobbi, Renee, Erin, Kelli, Dakota, Logan, Frankie, Willie, Freddie, Hugh, Chris, Benny. (And these are just the people I know)

What's next? Mick. I can see it too, especially as a nickname for Michelle.

Yeah, I've heard Mickie/Mickey/Mitch used for Michelle.

JoNightshade · May 10, 2009

Personally, I think I'd be fine with any guy's name being used for a girl... with one exception. Names that end in "son." We knew some people (barely) who named their girl one of those last names which is now being used as a first name (mostly for boys). I can't remember what it is, but it was one of those 'son' names - Peterson, Thompson, Anderson, whatever. I mean... traditionally those names really do mean "Son of ___." But it's a girl. So... yeah, doesn't work for me.

We don't know what our kid is yet, but if it's a girl I'm contemplating using a boy's name. This is because so far I have not been able to find any girl's name that is not totally overused but has literary/historical merit. I am not naming my girl after hapless damsels who need rescuing. I want her to have a strong name, with strong connotations.

robeiae · May 10, 2009

Biff.

rhymegirl · May 10, 2009

Wayne K said:
I dated one redhead--she was beautiful, but the whole passionate redhead thing was too much for me.

How do you feel about women with auburn hair?

Siddow · May 10, 2009

rhymegirl said:
How do you feel about women with auburn hair?

They're worse, because they're both crazy AND smart.

*runs*

Boy names becoming girl names - what's next?

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