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In theory, I find it a little eyerolly. Evelyn's one of those names that the pro-surnames on boys but not girls crowd leaps on and gets indignant about. But look at it, it comes from Aveline. How is it in any way masculine. It's cool if you're also cool with naming a boy Elizabeth or Violet, but if there are distinctions between genders, this is a girl name.

I don't see why not. He could be named after his English great-grandfather and determinedly going by Ev; he could be a character in a story set in the 1920s, or he could be a boy from a non-English-speaking country whose parents got it out of an old book of English names. Or none of the above - EV-lin and EV-uh-lin have never sounded all that feminine to me, anyway.

I love Evelyn for a girl, so I'm afraid I just can't see it on a boy.

It's too feminine for me, even in theory.

Squee!

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I love Evelyn on a boy! (: Blame it on Evelyn Waugh, if you will. (;

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I think it's handsome; I particularly like it for a character. Granted, I do associate it with the old lady named Evelyn that we used to live by...

This message was edited 11/4/2010, 10:19 AM

It used to be a male name, I know, but I'd say definitely it would not work on a boy these days. I'd go so far as to say naming a boy Evelyn would be cruel. Okay, that's real life. For a character, sure, but for the sake of realism, I would have the character experience some difficulty with the name.

It could work

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however I think it would have to be on the right kind of character, in the right kind of story. I don't think you could use Evelyn as casually as you could use a name like Michael. It just comes with too much gender baggage.

Nah

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I know it was originally a boys name, but I think it has defintely gone to the girls now - especially with names like Eve and Eva being quite popular.

It was a boy's name first. I like it for a boy. I don't think it would work on a American (in real life or literature) but on a European it would be nice. I give it a thumbs up.

No.

I think it would be cool for not real life use! Picturing it on a boy there is something rather dashing about it.

Strictly for Brideshead Revisited fans! But wasn't Evelyn Waugh's first wife also an Evelyn ... ? Yeah, pretty doable in fiction I'd say.

No. Def. NOT.