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HelpClover for a boy
I was browsing r/namenerds and someone said that they’d just names their son Clover, born the day after St Patrick’s day. A majority of the comments were tearing it to shreds, saying it’s terrible and he’d be bullied and so on.
To be honest, I don’t think it’s the worst. I wouldn’t use it myself, but I like it in a guilty pleasure sort of way, and I think I’d be pleasantly surprised to meet a boy with this name. I know lots of people here think that nature names work well as being unisex, so what do you think?
To be honest, I don’t think it’s the worst. I wouldn’t use it myself, but I like it in a guilty pleasure sort of way, and I think I’d be pleasantly surprised to meet a boy with this name. I know lots of people here think that nature names work well as being unisex, so what do you think?
Replies
Honestly, I actually really like Clover on a boy. I've never thought of it as a boy's name before. To me it doesn't look or sound particularly masculine or feminine, I think it may just be socialization that turned Clover into a girl's name.
I love Clover. The first time I heard it, it was the name of the rabbit character from Sofia the First. I loved that show and liked his character. Years later, I find Clover on this site but listed as feminine only. The actual clover plant and flower is very delicate and pretty - perhaps not what you'd want for your son. But the sound of the name is more masculine to me than feminine. Kids get bullied for everything; I respect parents who understand that and they don't try so hard to make sure their kids fit in. Me personally, I would use a "strange" name as a middle name in case the kid hates it, or test it as a NN when they're younger. For a fictional character, it's definitely safe. But...all or most names are safe in fiction, though.
I love the name Clover for a girl, it’s a name I’d use irl, but I don’t like it for a boy. Clove works better for a boy imo, but I don’t really like it. Should have gone with Patrick instead!
I don't particularly love the name Clover, but I think it's fine on a boy. There's nothing particularly feminine sounding about the name, and it is an English word name, and English words like clover don't have gender. It also has never been all that popular for girls in the first place, so it's not like a boy called April.
I personally think the name sounds a little childish, but it's fine overall.
I personally think the name sounds a little childish, but it's fine overall.
This message was edited 3/28/2024, 2:21 PM
I prefer it for a girl but the sound is definitely unisex.
My one problem is that to me Clover on a girl reads as the plant, but Clover on a boy reads as "one who cloves" like it's an occupational surname. I want it to just be the plant but thinking of it on a boy reminds me of Glover, Grover, Clive, Clyde, Clovis, etc.
My one problem is that to me Clover on a girl reads as the plant, but Clover on a boy reads as "one who cloves" like it's an occupational surname. I want it to just be the plant but thinking of it on a boy reminds me of Glover, Grover, Clive, Clyde, Clovis, etc.
It sounds like Grover and Clive. It's got a *ver ending which of currently popular names is like River and Oliver. As unisex, it seems to me like Cleo and Fern; those will remind some people of old ladies, but that's whatever imv because I don't have trouble hearing them as masculine.
Demetri(a) Clover is a unisex combo I've thought about before. I think I prefer it as a MN, for either gender.
Demetri(a) Clover is a unisex combo I've thought about before. I think I prefer it as a MN, for either gender.
This message was edited 3/28/2024, 1:01 PM
Overall I have a somewhat negative reaction to it.
However, I would not give my opinion as advice, considering that I have never met a guy Clover and I agree that it's not the worst.
If I met a guy Clover, he would change my impressions of the name Clover for a guy.
Clover (f) is easy for me to picture on someone androgynous. It's pretty sexless and plain.
Clover (m) ... I think it seems like a Victorian-era kind of usage.
It seems like, nobody today really names a boy Clover *because* it thrives in the meadow, or means good fortune. A word name often seems like a stylized image, a logo.
I also feel like Clover on a very masculine man has the potential to make a negative impression (yokel-ish) - same deal with Clover on a very feminine woman (bovine). There's an unflattering childish/pastoral aspect to it that could be set off by a sex-y bearer.
None of that really interferes when I meet a person bearing a name, though. My impression of the person usually overwhelms my impressions of the name, even an unusual usage. So, whatever. I don't disapprove of it. I'm just not very enthused about it.
However, I would not give my opinion as advice, considering that I have never met a guy Clover and I agree that it's not the worst.
If I met a guy Clover, he would change my impressions of the name Clover for a guy.
Clover (f) is easy for me to picture on someone androgynous. It's pretty sexless and plain.
Clover (m) ... I think it seems like a Victorian-era kind of usage.
It seems like, nobody today really names a boy Clover *because* it thrives in the meadow, or means good fortune. A word name often seems like a stylized image, a logo.
I also feel like Clover on a very masculine man has the potential to make a negative impression (yokel-ish) - same deal with Clover on a very feminine woman (bovine). There's an unflattering childish/pastoral aspect to it that could be set off by a sex-y bearer.
None of that really interferes when I meet a person bearing a name, though. My impression of the person usually overwhelms my impressions of the name, even an unusual usage. So, whatever. I don't disapprove of it. I'm just not very enthused about it.
I’m confused by the outrage. Clover is not that popular, and as a plant name (ending in “-ver,” which is quite a strong sound), it could easily work well on a boy. I would understand (albeit disagree with) outrage over a boy named Daisy or Lily…
Aw, I think it's so cute. I love peaceful boy names. Did they share the middle name?
The bullying thing, I don't know. The whole dynamic around bullying is that it's usually about being different somehow. So names used to be a weak point for bullying, for sure - back when there was very little diversity in names. There's so much diversity now that it's hardly even possible to have a name that feels "different". It's far more likely that the kid would be attacked for some other thing, anyway.
The bullying thing, I don't know. The whole dynamic around bullying is that it's usually about being different somehow. So names used to be a weak point for bullying, for sure - back when there was very little diversity in names. There's so much diversity now that it's hardly even possible to have a name that feels "different". It's far more likely that the kid would be attacked for some other thing, anyway.
I completely agree, you’ve put into words what I think about the whole bullying idea with names really well.
They said the middle name is Atlas :)
They said the middle name is Atlas :)
I don't like it at all for a girl and for a boy that's just terrible
Barf.
On a girl it's pwecious and pwetentious, like a sappy but spunky picture book kid who lives near the Park with her Nurse and her Dancing Unicorn.
On a boy it's just dumb.
They were that stuck on the adorableness of him being born near St. Patrick's Day but they couldn't just name him Patrick or some Irish name.
On a girl it's pwecious and pwetentious, like a sappy but spunky picture book kid who lives near the Park with her Nurse and her Dancing Unicorn.
On a boy it's just dumb.
They were that stuck on the adorableness of him being born near St. Patrick's Day but they couldn't just name him Patrick or some Irish name.
I hate that sub with a passion. Most people are so mean, uncensored and small minded. I love how friendly and respectful BtN is even when a name is not your style or your ethnicity.
Seeing how Clover is ranked #755 for girls I don’t think the parents need to worry. It sounds strong and masculine and I like the link with St Patrick’s day. Worst case scenario, Clove would be a badass nickname!
Seeing how Clover is ranked #755 for girls I don’t think the parents need to worry. It sounds strong and masculine and I like the link with St Patrick’s day. Worst case scenario, Clove would be a badass nickname!
It does seem like that sub becomes a bit of an echo-chamber, unfortunately. They said they’re already calling him Clove!