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HelpEver hear of Shirley? (m)
in reply to a message by Lissa Hannah
In Charlotte Brontë's 1849 novel Shirley, the eponymous heroine is named Shirley because her parents had wanted a boy and had planned to name him Shirley. When they had a girl, she was named Shirley anyway. Back then, Shirley was considered to be very masculine, something like Connor is today.
Obviously missing the point, parents began calling their daughters Shirley after the novel was released, including Shirley Temple's mother and father.
Miranda
Obviously missing the point, parents began calling their daughters Shirley after the novel was released, including Shirley Temple's mother and father.
Miranda
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Yes, maybe what I'm asking is confusing...
Yes, I have, but maybe the way I'm posting my question is confusing. What I mean is, do parents choose the feminine spelling (like Gabrielle) over the masculine spelling (like Gabriel) often? I don't mean a feminine name, I mean the feminine spelling. Hopefully, that makes sense.
Yes, I have, but maybe the way I'm posting my question is confusing. What I mean is, do parents choose the feminine spelling (like Gabrielle) over the masculine spelling (like Gabriel) often? I don't mean a feminine name, I mean the feminine spelling. Hopefully, that makes sense.
This message was edited 12/2/2004, 7:15 PM
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Yes, that makes sense :-)
No, I don't think it happens frequently. Sometimes you see Leigh or Sydney on a boy, but I suppose that doesn't really count in this case. Neither do Daniele or, indeed, Gabriele, which are legitimate male spellings.
I wonder what the mother would've thought of Gabriel being pronounced exactly like Gabrielle in French...
Miranda
No, I don't think it happens frequently. Sometimes you see Leigh or Sydney on a boy, but I suppose that doesn't really count in this case. Neither do Daniele or, indeed, Gabriele, which are legitimate male spellings.
I wonder what the mother would've thought of Gabriel being pronounced exactly like Gabrielle in French...
Miranda
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OK, I'm glad that made sense. :)
She probably would not have cared, sadly. She was moaning and griping that she would have to raise a boy. She already is complaining, and I find that extremely sad.
She probably would not have cared, sadly. She was moaning and griping that she would have to raise a boy. She already is complaining, and I find that extremely sad.
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Poor boy. :-(
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