There is a poem by
Robert Burns beginning:
"Flow gently, sweet Afton,
amang thy green braes,
Flow gently, I'll sing thee
a song in thy praise;
My Mary's asleep
by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton,
disturb not her dream."
So to me, Afton sounds poetic and romantic. Also "afton" means "evening" in Swedish. So besides the river, I associate to sunset.
So I like this name. And though I find it unisex, it seems that uncommon names are safer for girls, at least in USA. I'd choose Afton any day before
Madison,
McKenzie,
Taylor,
Alexis,
Sydney,
Morgan,
Riley and other popular "girl's names".
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (
Edith Södergran 1891-1923)