Today's Pet Peeve 22 Oct 09 (daughter, names, women, children)

[AliceT]

People who name their daughters with masculine names. Is it a play on the Boy Named Sue era in reverse?

[Nomadicus]

I plead not guilty. Laura, Linda.

[AliceT]

Actually, an old English or Welsh tradition was to give a family name to the children to continue the lines or remove all doubt as to whom was related to whom. I have known women with feminine first names and masculine middle names. These were family names, followed by the last name. I have known girls with middle names of Phillip, Clark and Lord, to name just a few. If they chose to go by those names for whatever reason, it was the doing of the child rather than the parents - and two of them did.

[Sandhillian]

I don't like it when people do that either. It always makes me think the parents wanted a son and didn't get one and couldn't celebrate the fact they had a daughter. I met someone named Kennetha once. It always makes me feel sorry for the girl/woman and wonder if they were constantly made to feel they were less desired than a son would have been.

[toosie]

This one doesn't bother me. In fact, I think I'd like it sometimes. I know plenty of girls who have masculine nicknames, for example - Georgie, Frankie, Lou, etc. My given name is one that's known for "going either way" like Courtney or Aubrey (but not either of those).

[ShelbyGirl1]

My daughter is a Christine....but she goes by Chris. She says it is safer, for instance, on the internet, or using it on her mailing address. No one knows if she is male or female.

[NCyank]

I met a little girl named Kevyn once. It sounded odd to me. My kiddos have traditional names for their sexes.

Courtney or Aubrey could go either way? I thought those were obviously feminine names.

[Lucky Lady123]

My cousin's name is Laura Lou which is a combination of my grandparents two names.

[elizamary]

What bothers me is naming your child apple. Go through life named apple. Doesn't sit right with me.
Gweneth paltrow named her first daughter Apple.

As far as masculine names for girls.......Don't bother me.
My cousin is barbara and they call her bobby.

Shelby girl had a good point. It is safe.

[seastar311]

Yes! Another peeve of mine. And these durn names that could be either- Taylor, Jordan. Pair one of those with a person of indeterminable gender...yikes.