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HelpDeclan on a girl?
Hello!
So I've been loving Irish names lately even though I'm not Irish myself but have red hair lol. Anyway, I've always been a fan of the name Declan, and there was a girl at camp last year named Declan. It kind of threw me at first cause I know it's a boy's name traditionally, but do you think that it could work on a girl? I think it's soft enough that it could fit. Opinions?
One name I like a lot is Declan Jennifer. Thoughts? Middle name is for my Mom.
~Laura
So I've been loving Irish names lately even though I'm not Irish myself but have red hair lol. Anyway, I've always been a fan of the name Declan, and there was a girl at camp last year named Declan. It kind of threw me at first cause I know it's a boy's name traditionally, but do you think that it could work on a girl? I think it's soft enough that it could fit. Opinions?
One name I like a lot is Declan Jennifer. Thoughts? Middle name is for my Mom.
~Laura
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Replies
Everyone Relax
First off, it was just an idea...I actually met a girl with this name and the prospect intrigued me so I just thought I'd ask and see what people's opinion was.
Secondly, I'm not having a child anytime soon so you don't have to worry about me giving a masculine name to a girl in the near future. It was just a question for argument's sake.
Thirdly, I can see everyone's point though. I get it. Personally I've always been a bit of tomboy and kinda wished my name was more masculine growing up, but I know that any kid I have might not want that. And I do myself find it weird when I do come across girls with male names. There's a girl I work with named Connor and it throws me everytime I say her name. Ive also met a girls named Colin, Dylan, and Devin and they throw me too. I don't know if I'd want that for my kids. But some names I don't mind. Like Taylor, Morgan, or Madison on girls don't bother me eventhough they are traditionally male names. Though Declan is not as popular in the U.S so it might be able recieved a bit better thatn say a female Connor or Colin, but I know it's still typically a male name. I like it on a boy too and would consider using for a son if I was still feeling it at the time.
It was jusut a question to throw out there, so everyone please relax.
Interesting point of debate though...guys names on girls, and even more, girls names on guys...usually the first is easier to accept. What are your thoughts?
~Laura
First off, it was just an idea...I actually met a girl with this name and the prospect intrigued me so I just thought I'd ask and see what people's opinion was.
Secondly, I'm not having a child anytime soon so you don't have to worry about me giving a masculine name to a girl in the near future. It was just a question for argument's sake.
Thirdly, I can see everyone's point though. I get it. Personally I've always been a bit of tomboy and kinda wished my name was more masculine growing up, but I know that any kid I have might not want that. And I do myself find it weird when I do come across girls with male names. There's a girl I work with named Connor and it throws me everytime I say her name. Ive also met a girls named Colin, Dylan, and Devin and they throw me too. I don't know if I'd want that for my kids. But some names I don't mind. Like Taylor, Morgan, or Madison on girls don't bother me eventhough they are traditionally male names. Though Declan is not as popular in the U.S so it might be able recieved a bit better thatn say a female Connor or Colin, but I know it's still typically a male name. I like it on a boy too and would consider using for a son if I was still feeling it at the time.
It was jusut a question to throw out there, so everyone please relax.
Interesting point of debate though...guys names on girls, and even more, girls names on guys...usually the first is easier to accept. What are your thoughts?
~Laura
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I'm fine with Devin / Devon because I've met about an equal number of boys and girls with this name. On the other hand, I met a female Corin and it annnoyed me extremely :(
I wouldn't use any names that are too strongly masculine or feminine on a kid, because it doesn't give them enough flexibility (this is why, as much as I like names like Brian and Evan, I'm not likely to really use them. Also, try to picture a tomboy named Sophie or Juliette...)
I wouldn't use any names that are too strongly masculine or feminine on a kid, because it doesn't give them enough flexibility (this is why, as much as I like names like Brian and Evan, I'm not likely to really use them. Also, try to picture a tomboy named Sophie or Juliette...)
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kinda depends on the name, but I usually prefer not to cross over too much on full names, though nns I don't mind cross over on so much if it's a decent nn to begin w/... Frankie and Robbi are kinda fun on girls.
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kinda depends on the name, but I usually prefer not to cross over too much on full names, though nns I don't mind cross over on so much if it's a decent nn to begin w/... Frankie and Robbi are kinda fun on girls.
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I actually don't think it's that bad...
I mean, I don't like it on a girl (or a boy for that matter) but it isn't horrid. Actually when I pronounce it the ending sounds feminine to me (the "lan" kind of like "lyn").
The whole boys names on girls, girls names on guys thing has been debated many times on this board and you'll find that many people on here think more traditionally when it comes to names. Names that are traditionally masculine should be used on boys, and names that are traditionally feminine should be used on girls. Personally I like a lot of boys names on girls but not the other way around. No specific reason, I just haven't found any feminine names that I like on a boy.
I mean, I don't like it on a girl (or a boy for that matter) but it isn't horrid. Actually when I pronounce it the ending sounds feminine to me (the "lan" kind of like "lyn").
The whole boys names on girls, girls names on guys thing has been debated many times on this board and you'll find that many people on here think more traditionally when it comes to names. Names that are traditionally masculine should be used on boys, and names that are traditionally feminine should be used on girls. Personally I like a lot of boys names on girls but not the other way around. No specific reason, I just haven't found any feminine names that I like on a boy.
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Why?
Sorry to sound harsh, but I'm getting sick of this trend where purely MASCULINE names are used on girls. It doesn't matter how feminine a masculine name sounds, it's masculine, period. There are naming rules that you just don't break, and this is one of them.
This is why there are feminine forms of masculine names, so they can be used on girls without sounding silly. There are tons of feminine names, pick one of them.
Declan is all masculine to me, it would be best left used for a son.
Sorry to sound harsh, but I'm getting sick of this trend where purely MASCULINE names are used on girls. It doesn't matter how feminine a masculine name sounds, it's masculine, period. There are naming rules that you just don't break, and this is one of them.
This is why there are feminine forms of masculine names, so they can be used on girls without sounding silly. There are tons of feminine names, pick one of them.
Declan is all masculine to me, it would be best left used for a son.
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No way
Too masculine for a girl.
Too masculine for a girl.
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I don't even like it on a boy... not sure if it's worse on a girl or not. So many nice girls' names to choose from though, so there's no need to use a boys' name.
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I definitely prefer it for a boy. It's a great name for a boy, but it sounds too harsh for a girl.
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No
Please don't. It's not just that I have a male cousin named Declan. It's the fact that the pool of traditional male names is shrinking faster than the North Pole. Please, think of parents of little boys and stop pinching from their list. Names like these that haven't gelled as either male or female in the general public's mind (at least here in the U.S.) tend to stay feminine once a trend begins. If it went the other way around I might not mind so much.
Besides, there's nothing remotely feminine about Declan on a girl, to me. How about:
Liadan Jennifer I'm really starting to dig the flow of this one)
Sian / Siobhan Jennifer
Gwenllian Jennifer
Rosslyn Jennifer
Murron Jennifer
Etain Jennifer
Aisling Jennifer
Nolwenn Jennifer
Olwen Jennifer
Eibhlin Jennifer
Roisin Jennifer
Elin Jennifer ("EH-lin" or "AY-lin")
Briallen Jennifer
I cheated and mixed in some Welsh and Scottish names.
Please don't. It's not just that I have a male cousin named Declan. It's the fact that the pool of traditional male names is shrinking faster than the North Pole. Please, think of parents of little boys and stop pinching from their list. Names like these that haven't gelled as either male or female in the general public's mind (at least here in the U.S.) tend to stay feminine once a trend begins. If it went the other way around I might not mind so much.
Besides, there's nothing remotely feminine about Declan on a girl, to me. How about:
Liadan Jennifer I'm really starting to dig the flow of this one)
Sian / Siobhan Jennifer
Gwenllian Jennifer
Rosslyn Jennifer
Murron Jennifer
Etain Jennifer
Aisling Jennifer
Nolwenn Jennifer
Olwen Jennifer
Eibhlin Jennifer
Roisin Jennifer
Elin Jennifer ("EH-lin" or "AY-lin")
Briallen Jennifer
I cheated and mixed in some Welsh and Scottish names.
This message was edited 8/4/2010, 4:47 PM
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No, I definitely don't think so. I think it is unattractive even for a boy's name so it is even worse on a girl. Not feminine in any imaginable way. I agree with elysa, there are so many great Irish feminine names.
This message was edited 8/4/2010, 4:41 PM
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*thumbs down*
I don't like boy names on girls, sorry.
Maybe Tecla? There's some similar sounds in there.
I don't like boy names on girls, sorry.
Maybe Tecla? There's some similar sounds in there.
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