[Adopting1Soon]

I love the idea of a boy's name for my little girl. I think it conveys a spunky, zesty attitude, a joie de vivre, that one doesn't always get with a more formal feminine name. Not that there is anything wrong with formal feminine names, they are just not for me.
I'm pretty sure at this point that I'm going to name the little one "Charlie Izabelle (Ethiopian name withheld for privacy)" and then our last name. "Izabelle" is in honor of my mother, who's name is "Izabella".
I think "Charlie" is a fun tom boyish name, it reminds me of that commercial for perfume in the 70's.
My parents, or at least my mom, is not crazy about the name. My dad sent me some articles on the trend of naming girls with boyish names. Apparently this is a trend now. All I know is I have always liked it, ever since the Bionic Woman was named "Jamie Summers"! She was my hero when I was a pre-teen.
One of the articles my dad quoted has the following comment:
"Why do people name their girls with boy's names?
Because people are ignorant.
Personally, I think masculine names should stay on boys, and feminine names should stay on girls. After all masculine means male, and feminine means female. Ticks me off to see wonderful, masculine names being used on girls.
I totally agree with Liz. Parents give their daughters masculine names because they wanted a boy, or think boys are better than girls. There's nothing wrong with being a female, and instead of confusing them by giving them a masculine name, baby girls should be give feminine names so they can be proud that they are a woman.
Most of these so called "unisex" names aren't truely unisex, since the definition of unisex is having no distinctive gender. When a name is masculine, that's a gender, and therefore that name cannot be unisex, let alone feminine or girly.
Names like Madison, Addison, Emerson, Taylor, Aubrey, etc will never ever be unisex, feminine, or girly no matter how many little girls have to suffer with this horrid names. They are masculine."
Well! First of all, this person seems to view the world in very rigid terms, all black or white. My household will be black AND white. So we need to think out of the box a bit. Plus, he doesn't know how to spell "truly". Ha-rumph.
Also, anytime someone uses words like "always, never, should" etc., and then calls someone who doesn't do those things "ignorant".... ummm... I have a problem with that.
I don't believe naming someone "Charlie" is going to impact her pride in being female. I plan on raising her in the strong feminist philosophy I myself believe in: that her intelligence, content of her character, and her ability to negotiate this world all will mean much more than "mom wanted a boy". I mean, really. She can be proud she is a woman. She can be proud she is an upstanding PERSON. She doens't need to be named a feminine name to be proud of her gender. I don't see that as having anything to do with it!
And finally, if I wanted a boy, I would have asked for one. This response is so way out in the ether zone I can hardly respond.
I attached Izabelle so if she later wants a more feminine name, it's available. I also went through a period where I didn't like my own name, I just wanted to fit in and my name is quite unique. But as an adult, I really appreciate being the only one of me. Don't we all go through a phase of not liking our names, even for just a short while? I think it's part of coming into our identities.
What do you all think?
Do you like Charlie for a vivacious little girl? Come and share your thoughts on my blog where my mom can read them

[embracelife]

I agree with your comments about the author of the article. His/her comments are opinions, not facts. Besides, saying that Madison, Emerson etc. are 'horrid' names and are only masculine is silly. I would consider the names to be beautiful and unisex. It's also probably cultural. Some names used in Europe for males would be unusual in the US (i.e. Ashley for a boy..)

When my son was born there were no Evan's, now you not only find Evan as a popular name, but there are girls named Evan too.

I think your names are fine, and nothing weird about them at all. Tell mom and dad that you could be naming the new baby Moon, or Forest or whatever weird names that celebrities foist upon their children.

And you're right, when/if your daughter were to decide on a more feminine aspect to her name, she can choose her middle name. Many kids end up being called by their middle names...

So hang in there, Charlie will grow up to be an amazing woman!

[angelic_ky]

my aunt just had a girl and called her Maxi Rose (i think it's lovely), and she is most definitely a wanted girl... they already have 3 boys together plus my uncle has an older boy to another relationship, with the last boy my aunt actually broke down crying when the u/s tech said it was another boy

i think Charlie Izabelle is nice

[Magic_Mikki]

I think the name Charlie for a girl is great! There are no boundries these days as to what you can name your children. No such thing as boy names for boys and girl names for girls!

My daughter is named Alex (Alexandria, actually) but we knew we wanted to call her Alex. And my son is named Devon. Apparently that is a girl name?? When we told people that his name was going to be "Devon" almost everyone said, "Isn't that a girl name?" (I think the 'girl' way is spelled Devyn or Devan or something).

Anyway, I think you should name your child what you want! With our son, we just didn't really tell many people what the name was going to be until he was born because we wanted to steer away from the comments! LoL! Good luck!

[Samual]

Why don't you let her keep the name she already has?

[Adopting1Soon]

In response to the above comment:
Her Ethiopian name will be her middle name. It's got a beautiful meaning and I would never take that away from her. Unfortunately, it doesn't translate well into English, and I fear she would be teased if we left it as her first name (it sounds like in English the same as "plumber" or "worker").

[angelic_ky]

Originally Posted by Magic_Mikki

(I think the 'girl' way is spelled Devyn or Devan or something)

actually i read a book where the main character (female) was Devon, but other than your son, a male actor and that book i've never heard the name before so i don't know (the friend i borrow the book from comment that she thought Devon was a boy's name)

i don't know why people get so up tight about whether a name is for a girl or a boy... a name is a name and whose to say whether only girls or boys are to be called that... i suppose it comes back to our european ancestry and how, like in spanish, some things are masculine and some are feminine

[Samual]

Originally Posted by Adopting1Soon

In response to the above comment:
Her Ethiopian name will be her middle name. It's got a beautiful meaning and I would never take that away from her. Unfortunately, it doesn't translate well into English, and I fear she would be teased if we left it as her first name (it sounds like in English the same as "plumber" or "worker").

Charlie means man/manly in English, unless her friends are able to speak both English and your daughters native tongue, there isn't a problem.

[Shqiptar]

Just remember. You do not want to make it too easy for other kids to mock her as she ages. Imagine if she gets a slow start in puberty? The kids will have a field day with a name like Charlie. I mean no offense at all. Just remember that the name will stick with them, most likely, for life. I really think there are much better boyish names to choose from than Charlie. Madison is a good one really. Jesse is also good.

[QueenAngie]

Am thinking that it is lovely you are going to keep her original name.

Me? I prefer names that fit the child. How can you name somebody before meeting them? The name has to fit the face of the little one. Makes it a lot easier for the 1st grade teacher to look for a Mary, on the first day, knowing it will prob be a girl.