Naoise

I swear every time people start to use historically masculine names for girls, we always have to have the argument “why is it only okay to use masculine names on girls but not feminine names on boys?” As if they don’t attack boys’ names for being too ‘feminine’ either (just to say it: Esme is gender neutral, boys are called Mary too, and naming your son Artemis isn’t sexist). Let’s bring love and compassion into the world, not judgement and negativity—that’s my take.

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Anyway, I think it’s a wonderful and strong name with a rich history, no matter who bears it. I think it’s nothing short of lovely and brilliant and I would be honored to meet a Naoise someday :D.

Pretty, it works on a boy or girl.

I think the reason people say this name seems feminine is because of its similarity to the name Saoirse. As well as the prevalence of the aoi diphthong in feminine names. You just don't see it as much in masculine names. It's usually ao or some other diphthong. Even the name Caoimhin (the origin of the much more commonly used Kevin) appears more feminine than it is because of that aoi. At least, that's the impression I got.

Somebody in the comments asked why only masculine names are becoming unisex, pointing out that they'd be ashamed for using a traditionally female name for a boy. I think it's just sexism - gender roles are less defined as they were, but while it's becoming more acceptable for girls and women to have traditionally masculine names, interests and so on, it's still considered by many to be wrong and shameful for a boy/man to be like girls/women. Sadly for that reason I probably wouldn't use a name most people thought of as a girls' name for a boy, as I'd worry about them getting negative reactions.

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Having said that, I don't know why some people believe most parents who give this name to a girl are ignorant of its history. I think some are ignorant of the history of names in general - it isn't as if the genders of names haven't changed repeatedly over time, just as the meanings of words are always changing. Historical meanings and associations needn't dictate how somebody uses a name today. My personal preference would be Naoise for a boy, but it only seems natural for many parents to choose it for girls as well, given its similarity to lots of girls' names used today, and if anything its increased use could mean more people know of the legend in time. It sounds both soft and strong, and the fact that the Naoise of the legend was worthy of somebody's love and tried to protect them until the end adds another layer of meaning to the name that anyone could aspire to. People will always misspell it, but it's quick to spell out to people, and being a shorter name it's an easy one for people to learn. I think it's a lovely name, with a beautiful sound and history. :)

I first encountered the name Naoise when I learned of the famous love story of Naoise and Deirdre. I loved the story and I loved the name Naoise and in time chose it for my son. It's a free world and of course people can if they wish choose names based solely on their sound and personal impression. However, I do feel sad when I hear the name given to girls. We have such a wonderful love story in our Irish heritage, one that stands up on a world stage and that I'm proud to call our own. To put it in that context, I couldn't imagine a girl being called Tristan or Romeo.

I called my final child my only daughter - Naoise. I’m a fluent Irish speaker and both her brothers were given Irish names and none of the girls names resonated as much with me at the time as the name - Naoise! I had known a young Indian child with the name Neesha I thought it sounded nice but wanted to stick with the Irish spelling hence my daughter being given a masculine name. Someone stated above that only people who don’t fully understand the meaning of the name would call their female child this name. That I need to add is not the case. I always knew it was an old Irish man's name but it sounds very feminine to me. However I know of numerous boys along with other girls of whom have been given this name in recent years. It’s one of those names like Sam which can be used for both sexes. I’ve always told my daughter that her name was an old Irish man's name and she quite likes that!
Thanks for the meaning above warrior is a very fitting meaning of the name for my firecracker :)

To be honest, I don’t mind this as a girl’s name. I don’t. Plenty of other names should be feminine, like Jacob, Zachary, Elias, Stephen, etc. However, I would like to request that the Naoise’s lover Deirdre also be used as a masculine name. I love the names Josephine, Eva, Esmé, Olympia, so can I use them as masculine names?
No. That would be looked down upon as gay, effeminate, or sadistic. Even culturally appropriative. If I named a son Deirdre I would be shamed to no end, but to name a daughter Naoise is cute and modern.
I am all for names being unisex, I am, but why are masculine names only adapting? Why are only feminine names coming from masculinity, and not vise versa?
Besides all this, a grand majority of people using Naoise as feminine do not understand the history of its story or country, like anyone naming daughters Ezra or the like.
Excuse me, rant over.

I really get annoyed as I am often bullied for having this name. Everywhere I go is just another website with people screaming it's a girl name girl name, well I'm sick of it.

I don't know why people are saying it's only males that can have it because of some legend. There are lots of girls named Peony despite the fact that the flower got its name from a male god. I view this as a unisex name. I especially see it as a girl's name since the name Neesha is a Hindu name meaning night time and it's mostly used on girls.

For years and years and years John placed in the Top 1000 baby names for girls in the United States. Anyway to me Naoise sounds French and somewhat upper class. I view it as a feminine name.

Wwwwwweeeeeelll then, some of you think very fondly of the name and others of you think I may as well have been called John. I came across this site looking for the meaning of the name. I am well aware of the (very feminine sounding legend) although I understand he was male, but c'mon, long dark hair and fair skin with rosy cheeks?... manly my mother done her research well and I'm not sure if everyone knows this but my name is pronounced neesha. The legend is clearly just that- a legend. I love Irish mythology as I live and grew up in Ireland. I am not ignorant and neither is my mother of the fact that this name started off male, but so did Tracy... and how many men do you know called Tiffany nowadays? Just because it was once a males name does not mean people are obliged to only use it as such. If you are on this site for baby names I must say I get a good reaction when people ask my name. To be honest when I tell people it's a male's name they usually think I'm joking. But then again, maybe my mother should have called me John.

I love this name and will forever treasure this name as nearly three years ago a girl in my class with this name tragically died while getting a bone marrow transplant. I love the name and more so I loved her. If you have this name I treasure you and your name. If you don't like this name I can't understand you. I plan to name a daughter I have Melanie-Rose Naoise in memory of her and because I absolutely love the name.

I personally think it's a great Irish name. Its spelling is foreign to an English speaker but well worth the trouble in return for having such a beautiful name.

I know a girl called Naoise. No one spells it correct.

I always thought this was a girls name, I only just realised that was wrong.

I looked this name up to find out how to pronounce it. It's actually quite nice sounding, but I also think it would sound fine if it was pronounced how it is written: Nay-oi-z.

I hate to see girls with this name. It shows no effort on the parent's part. They clearly just like the sound and don't care what it means!

I know I beautiful girl called Naoise. It don't think it sounds anything like masculine.

Yeah, it sounds feminine to me.

Upon first seeing this name I belived it to be a girls name. I now know it isn't, but I think it should be.

It does sound and look feminine to me.