Message: "The name Mackenzie"

The name Mackenzie

by my2cents

4/2/2007, 4:48 PM

I know that Mackenzie used to be a boys name and now everyone is going crazy about it being a girls name, but when you think about it, it used to be a last name, and people didn't go bonkers when people started using it as a boy's name, so why such a reaction when it is used as a girl's name??? Actually, nowadays, a boy named Mackenzie would be made fun of for having a girl's name. We need to learn to change with the times and accept the modern world.

#Mackenzie

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- YMPvt

4/6/2007, 11:12 AM

My guess would be that people such as I who have had names such as Mackenzie used in their family as a boys name for a long time do not want to see it go to a girls name. I have seen this happen with the name McKinley in my family and it seems like they are stealing the name from my great grandfather. Also the use of it as a boys name comes from a tradition in some areas of Scotland of using the mother's maiden name as the name of the firstborn if it was a son, that's why people didn't go bonkers when it became a boys name. As such my friend, Mabel's, parents would have named her Maclaren if she was a boy. I beleive it is family history that makes it so hard to change with the times. I have seen Ashley and Kelly be turned into girls names and now McKinley is on its way. I've learned to deal but that doesn't mean I have to like it and that I can't complain. SOmetimes tradition is worth something and I believe that names are an area in which that applies because they belong to cherished family members. Maybe people should just stop trying to be so new agey instead of expecting everyone else to put up with their drivel.

Oh and I agree this doesn't belong on the name facts board. It definitely screams opinion. Also you are very wrong about why people didn't go bonkers when Mackenzie became a boys name. I know I said that above but it makes me go insane when people don't even bother to learn about the reasons that something is the way it is. I know that makes me a hypocrite but its still bad when other people do it. plus I've at least tried to stop.

This message was edited 4/6/2007, 11:15 AM

- Ivayla +3

4/2/2007, 5:51 PM

And this rant is on the *fact* board because...?

- MissBelle (guest) +2

4/3/2007, 12:26 AM

While I agree that this post doesn't belong on the fact board, I also agree with the original poster about the change of names in modern times. I personally have no issue with 'unisex' names as a concept; names come from somewhere and hey, various last names originated from first names so why not the other way around? I think certain names originally intended for boys sound fine on girls. As long as we don't go overboard with Little Miss Thomas and her best friend, Little Miss Samuel. EEK!. I honestly think it depends on the name but I do understand objections to Mackenzie as a female name (although I like it myself). Really, many people don't want certain names to be overtaken by the girls. I get that; I adore Ashley and Kelly for boys but I'd shy away from them, thanks to girls being given those names.

I hope that rant made sense...

- Anneza +1

4/3/2007, 5:00 AM

Perhaps the point is that Tamsin/Thomasina and Samantha/Samella are there to fill the gap? But since Mackenzie is a ln and the practice of using a (family, or socially superior)ln as a fn traditionally applied to boys, people find their expectations raised and then exploded. Never comfortable! What fascinates me is that, when fewer given names were in circulation - one or two centuries ago - people seemed pretty happy to use them over and over. Now, with many more names available than ever before, suddenly it's not enough. Consumerism, perhaps?

- Agata (ADT)

4/4/2007, 9:34 PM

I love the last line of your post. Consumerism, perhaps? - I have never thought of that. I'm finishing a Consumption & Gender class right now and I think that you're definitely on to something.

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