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HelpHow strict are you with the category ‘unisex’ or ‘gender neutral’?
I’ve been reflecting on my own PNL lately, and I’ve realised that I’m very very generous with my usage of the unisex category. I have names on there that are arguably definitely unisex (eg Charlie, Farah, Harley, Robin, Rowan), but I also have:
- Names that are exclusively feminine in one context and exclusively masculine in another context (eg Baran, Ira, Isa, Valentine)
- Names that are typically girls’ names but I like them in theory as unisex names (eg Fae, October, Peri, Winter)
- Names that are typically boys’ names but I like them in theory as unisex names (eg Aries, Esa, Mars, Rocky, Roan, Zephyr)
- Names that fall into a combination of these categories (eg Celeste, Dara, Kai)
- Names that have quite a vague origin and therefore gender (eg Ceph, Iocasti, KJ, Muse, Vae)
While I wouldn’t necessarily use all of these names in real life in a unisex sense, I like the idea of them being unisex enough to have them in that category of my list. So I’m wondering, are you also quite relaxed with the usage of the ‘unisex’ category, or are you strict about it? Would you consider the same categories I wrote above as being acceptable for your unisex list (not necessary the specific names I mentioned)? Any comments appreciated!
:)
- Names that are exclusively feminine in one context and exclusively masculine in another context (eg Baran, Ira, Isa, Valentine)
- Names that are typically girls’ names but I like them in theory as unisex names (eg Fae, October, Peri, Winter)
- Names that are typically boys’ names but I like them in theory as unisex names (eg Aries, Esa, Mars, Rocky, Roan, Zephyr)
- Names that fall into a combination of these categories (eg Celeste, Dara, Kai)
- Names that have quite a vague origin and therefore gender (eg Ceph, Iocasti, KJ, Muse, Vae)
While I wouldn’t necessarily use all of these names in real life in a unisex sense, I like the idea of them being unisex enough to have them in that category of my list. So I’m wondering, are you also quite relaxed with the usage of the ‘unisex’ category, or are you strict about it? Would you consider the same categories I wrote above as being acceptable for your unisex list (not necessary the specific names I mentioned)? Any comments appreciated!
:)
This message was edited 9/26/2024, 8:43 AM
Replies
I think if certain names sound alike, they might as well belong to the same gender - but I'm inconsistent about this and cannot explain why. For instance, I do not think that Audrey is a very feminine sounding name. It's kind of rough. Aubrey is only slightly softer, but for a reason I cannot fathom, this name used to be strictly for boys and when that changed, a number of boy moms in the comment section for Aubrey were getting pissed. Audrey and Aubrey sound almost exactly the same but no one is saying that Audrey would make a handsome boy name. I like Skylar or Skyler for both genders but wouldn't name a girl Schuyler or Tyler.
I love Winter for both genders. I think all season names and month names should be unisex on principal because you can be born at any time - not necessarily because of the sound. I would never name a son May, but I don't think it should raise too many eyebrows if he's named after that particular month because it holds value for the parents. However, I would use June if I was so bold. I wouldn't name a daughter August, but I kind of like it on a girl in theory. I also think that names of constellations make sense on both genders even if the constellation was named after a male or female, not someone or something ambiguous.
I agree with all of the categories that you listed and the majority of the names that you listed. Some of the names I know very little about, so I cannot speak on them. However, I can confidently say that I love Valentine and Winter as unisex names, and that I like Harley, Harper, Rowan, Rocky, October, Aries, Zephyr, Ceph, Muse, Charlie, Raven and Robin on both genders.
I love Winter for both genders. I think all season names and month names should be unisex on principal because you can be born at any time - not necessarily because of the sound. I would never name a son May, but I don't think it should raise too many eyebrows if he's named after that particular month because it holds value for the parents. However, I would use June if I was so bold. I wouldn't name a daughter August, but I kind of like it on a girl in theory. I also think that names of constellations make sense on both genders even if the constellation was named after a male or female, not someone or something ambiguous.
I agree with all of the categories that you listed and the majority of the names that you listed. Some of the names I know very little about, so I cannot speak on them. However, I can confidently say that I love Valentine and Winter as unisex names, and that I like Harley, Harper, Rowan, Rocky, October, Aries, Zephyr, Ceph, Muse, Charlie, Raven and Robin on both genders.
This message was edited 9/29/2024, 8:29 AM
I tend to love unisex names for boys. Maybe it’s because of my own jealousy of other girls names growing up, but I lean pretty feminine for girl names. I always thought that Rachael sounds harsh, masculine even. Your names aren’t my style at all, with the exception of Aries, which seems strictly masculine to me; and Valentine, which I would see as truly neutral. I suppose it’s about half and half, which of your list I view as neutral or not. Maybe that makes me more strict and more lax than normal, truly “neutral” myself.
I've been trying to distinguish between when I actually mean "uni-sex" / "gender-neutral," and when I just like names that can take on either gender.
I guess it depends on what I perceive as conventional.
I feel like there are gender-neutral names like Kai and Winter and Sage and Marley, that have no conventional gender association that I'm aware of. I would call them uni-sex or gender-neutral. If I meet a Sage of either sex, I still perceive the name as unisex / genderless.
There are not very many names like that, that I like. Gender-less to me seems sexless - seeming to have very low potential to be sexy. My perception can change if I meet a bearer who is sexy, of course, but in the abstract, aesthetically with respect to names, I'm not much of a fan of gender-neutrality.
There are exceptions, though!
Then there are names that I see as conventional for either sex, like Robin and Avery - those aren't "neutral" to me, but "both/either." They have 2 possible genders, in my mind. Like the apparent gender of the name, is induced by the bearer's sex. If I meet a female Robin, her name is a feminine one. But if I meet a male Robin, his name is a masculine one.
There a few that I think are technically gender-neutral, like Vivian and Zephyr and Mackenzie, that I perceive as conventionally at least *kinda* gendered - so that they can more or less clash or harmonize with the bearer's sex. Sometimes I aesthetically like a clash, or I like the unconventional usage more than the clash offends me. But generally I'd hesitate to use them in the unconventional way, because IMO cross-gender names are often actually drawing attention to the bearer's _sex_ in a way that a conventional usage does not. Some people find it sexy ... I usually don't.
I guess it depends on what I perceive as conventional.
I feel like there are gender-neutral names like Kai and Winter and Sage and Marley, that have no conventional gender association that I'm aware of. I would call them uni-sex or gender-neutral. If I meet a Sage of either sex, I still perceive the name as unisex / genderless.
There are not very many names like that, that I like. Gender-less to me seems sexless - seeming to have very low potential to be sexy. My perception can change if I meet a bearer who is sexy, of course, but in the abstract, aesthetically with respect to names, I'm not much of a fan of gender-neutrality.
There are exceptions, though!
Then there are names that I see as conventional for either sex, like Robin and Avery - those aren't "neutral" to me, but "both/either." They have 2 possible genders, in my mind. Like the apparent gender of the name, is induced by the bearer's sex. If I meet a female Robin, her name is a feminine one. But if I meet a male Robin, his name is a masculine one.
There a few that I think are technically gender-neutral, like Vivian and Zephyr and Mackenzie, that I perceive as conventionally at least *kinda* gendered - so that they can more or less clash or harmonize with the bearer's sex. Sometimes I aesthetically like a clash, or I like the unconventional usage more than the clash offends me. But generally I'd hesitate to use them in the unconventional way, because IMO cross-gender names are often actually drawing attention to the bearer's _sex_ in a way that a conventional usage does not. Some people find it sexy ... I usually don't.
This message was edited 9/27/2024, 10:30 AM
I'm pretty flexible with it. It's also pretty arbitrary for me. I don't know if there are any hard and fast rules, it's all very fickle and based entirely on my own feelings. It can change any time, it's chaos.
I have a "gender neutral" list, and I also have lots of names that are technically not unisex, but for whatever reason I think they would work for any gender. Stuff like Albie, Ezra, Calloway, Enyo, Fiadh, Jonquil, Neith, Sloane, etc.
There are definitely some names that I prefer having a more strict gender assignment association for, but even that is highly personal - I don't think it's "wrong" and would demand that everyone else agree with me; it's just a personal preference.
I have a "gender neutral" list, and I also have lots of names that are technically not unisex, but for whatever reason I think they would work for any gender. Stuff like Albie, Ezra, Calloway, Enyo, Fiadh, Jonquil, Neith, Sloane, etc.
There are definitely some names that I prefer having a more strict gender assignment association for, but even that is highly personal - I don't think it's "wrong" and would demand that everyone else agree with me; it's just a personal preference.
This message was edited 9/26/2024, 9:13 AM
I tend to dislike unisex names. I really hate the trend of boys names on girls, it's just cruel. Like Logan for instance should not be a girls name. I suppose I am very strict about this, there is no leniency.