Anonymous
10/14/2025 16:29
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
From New England and can't even conceive of pronouncing those names the same.
Pop culture example: The first names for Erin Brockovich and Aaron Rodger’s are universally pronounced the same - I’ve never heard a difference in the press, news, interviews, etc…
Anonymous
10/14/2025 16:22
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
From New England and can't even conceive of pronouncing those names the same.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 16:03
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
I asked my son, Ryan, if he's ever been mistaken for a girl, and he said no. I'm sure the opposite is true for girls named Ryan.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 13:07
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
The different pronunciation doesn't say air- for either. Erin would be a short E (Err-rin) and Aaron an open A (Aah-run)
Err is the urr sound .. never have I ever heard someone say Urr-rinn
That sounds like Erwin not Erin
I say Ear-rin and Our-rin.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 13:00
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
Perhaps it’s linguistic differences but I see a significant difference between “er-in” and “a-a-Ron.”
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:38
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
The different pronunciation doesn't say air- for either. Erin would be a short E (Err-rin) and Aaron an open A (Aah-run)
Aah-run sounds like a British accent not a different pronunciation
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:37
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
The different pronunciation doesn't say air- for either. Erin would be a short E (Err-rin) and Aaron an open A (Aah-run)
Err is the urr sound .. never have I ever heard someone say Urr-rinn
That sounds like Erwin not Erin
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:35
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Some names that fall into the category of “used to be male but are now mostly female”: Leslie, Courtney, Stacy, Kelsey, Meredith (yes, really), Ashley.
Hillary, Andrea, Jackie, Quinn, James
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:34
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
The different pronunciation doesn't say air- for either. Erin would be a short E (Err-rin) and Aaron an open A (Aah-run)
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:32
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I think the rest of the English speaking world pronounces them differently.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:29
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
I know a male Erin though.
Me too! I always thought that was a gender neutral name.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:27
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids school has male "Kelly" and male "Tracy" and they are both good looking athletes so it works. On a nerdier kid (like mine!) it might bother them.
Kelly is definitely on it's way back in for boys. I know more young boy Kellys and I don't know a single female Kelly under 35.
Kelly was still in the top 1000 girl names in 2024, although the popularity is declining rapidly. It hasn't been a top 1000 boy name since 2002.
Kelly should come back as a boy name.
Kelly is still more of a surname abroad than a first name as I’m often reminded my Irish friends and acquaintances. We have both a girl cousin Kelly born about 15 years before our boy cousin Kelly. NBD
Anonymous
10/14/2025 12:21
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m from northern Midwest. I’ve only known them pronounced the same. Ditto when I moved to DC 30 years ago. How are they pronounced differently?
Anonymous
10/14/2025 10:49
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unisex names have been around forever - Terry, Francis/es, Erin/Aaron, Lindsey/ay, Dana, Mika/Micah, off the top of my head.
Fwiw, I think people who have last names (mom's maiden name) as their first names (Miller, Gray, Smith, Holt, - type names) have it worse.
Some of the names you're calling unisex are just homophones. Francis is a male name originating from Franciscus, Frances is a female name from the same origin; they just sound the same. Erin and Aaron aren't even remotely related to each other, they simply sound alike.
Erin and Aaron don't even sound alike unless you have a southern accent.
I’m midwestern and I pronounce them the same way. I thought only New Yorkers pronounced them differently.
I grew up in Bethesda and live in NYC now. I agree - I pronounce them the same and have always heard others do so too. It’s just people from NY/NJ who pronounce them differently.
They are pronounced identically .. Unless you are saying air-run vs. air-ren.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 10:47
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids school has male "Kelly" and male "Tracy" and they are both good looking athletes so it works. On a nerdier kid (like mine!) it might bother them.
Kelly is definitely on it's way back in for boys. I know more young boy Kellys and I don't know a single female Kelly under 35.
Kelly was still in the top 1000 girl names in 2024, although the popularity is declining rapidly. It hasn't been a top 1000 boy name since 2002.
Kelly should come back as a boy name.
You first
It’s on my boy list fwiw