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HelpGender-bending Mythology/Biblical names?
I’m sure we all know about a few Mythology names like Dylan, Zephyr, or Tristan. Along with Biblical names like Isaiah, Joshua, or Elijah. More often than not because it ends with -a, or it’s suffix in general.
Anyways, I wanted to know how do you guys feel about “gender bending” names with a gender-exclusive etymology? Does it not matter to you?
"People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing all day."
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Anyways, I wanted to know how do you guys feel about “gender bending” names with a gender-exclusive etymology? Does it not matter to you?
"People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing all day."
Rate my personal name list please :) https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/217493
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Replies
If the etymology is actually gender specific, I don't feel great about it.
If the usage has been heavy enough that people just conventionally assume male, I don't feel great about it.
If the usage (in living memory) has been too light for people (me!?) to have a strong association with gender, I think it's fine. Especially if they "sound like" names that are conventionally feminine. I don't care. I would probably not do it but it doesn't bother me.
Ezra, Micah, Asa, Adriel, Elisha.
Not Isaiah, Joshua, Elijah.
I don't think of Dylan, Zephyr, and Tristan as mythology names. Even though technically I guess they kinda are.
If the usage has been heavy enough that people just conventionally assume male, I don't feel great about it.
If the usage (in living memory) has been too light for people (me!?) to have a strong association with gender, I think it's fine. Especially if they "sound like" names that are conventionally feminine. I don't care. I would probably not do it but it doesn't bother me.
Ezra, Micah, Asa, Adriel, Elisha.
Not Isaiah, Joshua, Elijah.
I don't think of Dylan, Zephyr, and Tristan as mythology names. Even though technically I guess they kinda are.
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I think it could come across as... if not...ignorant per se, but really uneducated. It wouldn't matter your personal reason for doing it, on first glance a girl with a mythological male name is going to come across like you liked the sound but didn't know the association. At least to nerdy people like me who like mythology and history. I have a friend who wants to name her daughter Osiris. I cringe every time I hear it. It's just... eugh. She likes it because it's 'edgy' and she's a grown-up former goth, but she doesn't know the first thing about Egyptian mythology and finds history boring. I don't react any more, just smile and nod.
There's the question of whether it's offensive or misusing people's culture and history, yadda yadda. I'm not opening that can of worms, but it's something to be considered. Some people might be offended, some might not, it's still something that might come up if you 'misuse' a name. The Biblical thing could upset people, because we are talking a living religion people believe in and care about. Again, a can of worms.
But my main takeaway from someone using a masc. mythological name on a girl would be that a) they seem like they don't know the background, I'd think they have no interest in mythology and misused the name because they liked the sound, which isn't a crime or b) if they did have an interest in mythology/culture/history, I'd assume they were being 'edgy' and that'd probably make me cringe more. I also think a lot of mythological names are so masculine that they just couldn't work - you couldn't have a little girl called Hector, Jason, etc. When it comes to the -a/ah endings, names like Zephaniah, Jedidiah, I still think they sound quite masculine. I don't think -a endings make a name sound feminine (maybe to speakers of some languages, but that's not universal) and there's nothing like a clunky great Biblical name like Obadiah that makes me think 'cute little girl' or 'strong, capable woman'.
There's the question of whether it's offensive or misusing people's culture and history, yadda yadda. I'm not opening that can of worms, but it's something to be considered. Some people might be offended, some might not, it's still something that might come up if you 'misuse' a name. The Biblical thing could upset people, because we are talking a living religion people believe in and care about. Again, a can of worms.
But my main takeaway from someone using a masc. mythological name on a girl would be that a) they seem like they don't know the background, I'd think they have no interest in mythology and misused the name because they liked the sound, which isn't a crime or b) if they did have an interest in mythology/culture/history, I'd assume they were being 'edgy' and that'd probably make me cringe more. I also think a lot of mythological names are so masculine that they just couldn't work - you couldn't have a little girl called Hector, Jason, etc. When it comes to the -a/ah endings, names like Zephaniah, Jedidiah, I still think they sound quite masculine. I don't think -a endings make a name sound feminine (maybe to speakers of some languages, but that's not universal) and there's nothing like a clunky great Biblical name like Obadiah that makes me think 'cute little girl' or 'strong, capable woman'.
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Oof. Osiris on a girl, lol. Definitely find it masculine. I probably would’ve recommended Isis because of it’s gender exclusive meaning (Literally “woman of the throne.”) and it’s powerful origins, but obviously the name isn’t the most recommended for a child these days. Iris could work though. To each their own.
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It doesn't really matter to me, but it would depend on how well known the name is. There are plenty of highly obscure mythological and Biblical names that could be gender bent without any issue because very few people would have any gender associations for them. Like a boy could easily be Kymo or a girl Adriel and nobody would think that's weird (other than the fact the names are so uncommon).
But if you're going to pick names that are well known, that's different. I think it's fine, but I'd expect a story attached. Someone can't name a boy Mary Magdalene or Aphrodite, or a girl Thor or David, and expect it to be treated like any other name. I'd wanna know the story there.
I think it's an interesting concept.
But if you're going to pick names that are well known, that's different. I think it's fine, but I'd expect a story attached. Someone can't name a boy Mary Magdalene or Aphrodite, or a girl Thor or David, and expect it to be treated like any other name. I'd wanna know the story there.
I think it's an interesting concept.
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I like Maria as a a middle name for men (ex. Rainer Maria Rilke and Erich Maria Remarque). I'm fine with the tradition of naming people after saints regardless of gender and stuff like that, when it's meaningful.
I think it's okay, too, when it evolves as a NN from an opposite gender form, like Artemidoros to Artemas (or Artemis).
I've never thought of Tristan as mythology. I don't love it for either gender, and I don't mind it as unisex.
Beyond those reasons, I probably wouldn't like it.
I think it's okay, too, when it evolves as a NN from an opposite gender form, like Artemidoros to Artemas (or Artemis).
I've never thought of Tristan as mythology. I don't love it for either gender, and I don't mind it as unisex.
Beyond those reasons, I probably wouldn't like it.
This message was edited 6/11/2021, 6:55 PM
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Giving a girl name to a boy or a boy name to girl is not my style in general. However, I do like the name Meredith on a girl; it is one of those names that gained popularity for girls and will probably never go back to being common with boys.
Instead of the exact name being used on a different gender, I prefer when a form of the name is used. Derivative and different form names are nice. For instance:
Thor -> Thora, Tora
Demeter -> Demetrius
Artemis -> Artemus, Artemas
Daniel -> Danielle
Instead of the exact name being used on a different gender, I prefer when a form of the name is used. Derivative and different form names are nice. For instance:
Thor -> Thora, Tora
Demeter -> Demetrius
Artemis -> Artemus, Artemas
Daniel -> Danielle
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I dislike gender bending in general, but it usually doesn't bother me when other people do it. I do think it's inappropriate with names from mythology (especially names of gods and goddesses) and some Biblical names.
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I dislike it. There are many nice feminine names both in the Bible and Greco-Roman mythology, and it never goes the other way around (i.e. boys being given traditionally feminine names).
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I suppose you could make an arguement for certain names.
E.G, Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge." "My" is gender neutral & could be a man or woman referring to themselves.
Names like:
Raphael: God heals.
Emmanuel / Immanuel : God with us
These names within reason could be gender bent If you will.
But names like Abraham : FATHER of all nations
Reuben : behold a SON
Moses: I drew HIM out of water
Have very specific gendered identities & I don't think any little girl should be saddled with then.
Anything else will have to rely on personal discretion.
E.G, Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge." "My" is gender neutral & could be a man or woman referring to themselves.
Names like:
Raphael: God heals.
Emmanuel / Immanuel : God with us
These names within reason could be gender bent If you will.
But names like Abraham : FATHER of all nations
Reuben : behold a SON
Moses: I drew HIM out of water
Have very specific gendered identities & I don't think any little girl should be saddled with then.
Anything else will have to rely on personal discretion.
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