Actually,
Jessie,
Marion,
Pearl,
Florence, and
Frances (
Francis) are considered to be male names. I think even
Marie and
Allison are consider male even though they aren't listed as unisex on this site. I still think it's very possible quite a few to be errors. Back then they didn't have birth certificates and records weren't always clear. Then again I'm sure some are really men with those names. I can't give an explanation other than the parents just wanted to name their son
Elizabeth or
Irene just like parents today name their daughters
Dylan and
Hunter. Maybe some were family names and the parents didn't have a daughter to pass them down to.
This message was edited 7/24/2009, 4:00 PM