Anonymous
10/16/2025 11:16
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
There’s a male baseball player named Shelby
Anonymous
10/15/2025 17:36
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:The Erin/Aaron distinction debate is making me laugh because there are so many names like this and the truth is the nuance in pronunciation is too subtle for a diverse society with lots of different accents and language backgrounds.
It's the same with the name Laura/Lauren/Laurie, the first syllable of which can be pronounced LOHR, LAHR, or even LAW (with the "r" attached to second syllable).
FYI Lauren used to be a masculine name until Lauren Bacall adopted it as her stage name in the 50s and it was popularized as a feminine name. And Laurie used to be a nickname for Lawrence, a masculine name.
Ralph Lauren’s Lauren is Luh-rynn but a good chunk of people say Lore-Rynn.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 17:34
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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…
Universally? Not true.
Find audio clips where they aren’t.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 15:23
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
The Erin/Aaron distinction debate is making me laugh because there are so many names like this and the truth is the nuance in pronunciation is too subtle for a diverse society with lots of different accents and language backgrounds.
It's the same with the name Laura/Lauren/Laurie, the first syllable of which can be pronounced LOHR, LAHR, or even LAW (with the "r" attached to second syllable).
FYI Lauren used to be a masculine name until Lauren Bacall adopted it as her stage name in the 50s and it was popularized as a feminine name. And Laurie used to be a nickname for Lawrence, a masculine name.
It's the same with the name Laura/Lauren/Laurie, the first syllable of which can be pronounced LOHR, LAHR, or even LAW (with the "r" attached to second syllable).
FYI Lauren used to be a masculine name until Lauren Bacall adopted it as her stage name in the 50s and it was popularized as a feminine name. And Laurie used to be a nickname for Lawrence, a masculine name.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 15:00
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.
LOL yeah. Unless you are from Ireland or Long Island, they are the same.
No they are not the same
Anonymous
10/15/2025 14:49
Subject: Re:Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
In college I was friends with a woman named Terry who was married to a Robin. Robin was interested in photography and enrolled in some classes under his wife's name because they would never know.
Unrelated: they had a big argument once. They agreed Terry would handle indoor chores and Robin outdoor chores. They lived in the country with a propane tank for furnace. Furnace was inside. Propane was outside. Nobody filled it before the first cod snap one year.
Unrelated: they had a big argument once. They agreed Terry would handle indoor chores and Robin outdoor chores. They lived in the country with a propane tank for furnace. Furnace was inside. Propane was outside. Nobody filled it before the first cod snap one year.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 14:48
Subject: Re:Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:People crap on putting pronouns on emails, but I know people who have been doing it for years on their written correspondence for this exact reason. For men, the stakes of being misgendered are higher than for women given our societal biases about women.
"Sincerely, Mr. Morgan Freeman"
No pronouns necessary.
Who uses Mr. or Ms. to refer to themself??
Anonymous
10/15/2025 14:48
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.
LOL yeah. Unless you are from Ireland or Long Island, they are the same.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 14:13
Subject: Re:Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:People crap on putting pronouns on emails, but I know people who have been doing it for years on their written correspondence for this exact reason. For men, the stakes of being misgendered are higher than for women given our societal biases about women.
"Sincerely, Mr. Morgan Freeman"
No pronouns necessary.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 13:57
Subject: Re:Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
People crap on putting pronouns on emails, but I know people who have been doing it for years on their written correspondence for this exact reason. For men, the stakes of being misgendered are higher than for women given our societal biases about women.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 12:52
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It seems to be slightly more universally favored to be female with a traditionally male name.
What about men with female names? What is your name? What was your experience like?
I know a thirty-something Dana named after his father who hated it because he grew up with female Dana’s while his father had more male Dana’s as peers.
Dana is both a male and female nshr
In England Evelyn and Shirley are male names
I had a great aunt who was named "Willie James" after her mother's two brothers who were killed in WWII.
.
And don’t call me Shirley.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 12:43
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
I’m a 40ish female Kelly in a male-dominated field. Probably 85% of emails from people who don’t know me address me as Mr. Lastname.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 11:53
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
Aaron and Erin are pronounced the same, but who knows, I grew up in Pittsburgh and we have been accused of talking kinda funny.
It's discussion. My Dad is Merle, which can be male or female. Neighbor growing up was Hilary, who was a guy, but the others I know are all female. Neither of them have had a problem - my Dad's close friends and relatives all call him Moe.
Friend that my DD plays soccer with is Ryan, female. I know both Kelly's that were male and female, same with Dana's. Interestingly, the Ashton's that I know are all girls, but an also be used as a male names.
It's discussion. My Dad is Merle, which can be male or female. Neighbor growing up was Hilary, who was a guy, but the others I know are all female. Neither of them have had a problem - my Dad's close friends and relatives all call him Moe.
Friend that my DD plays soccer with is Ryan, female. I know both Kelly's that were male and female, same with Dana's. Interestingly, the Ashton's that I know are all girls, but an also be used as a male names.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 11:50
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.
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…
Universally? Not true.
Anonymous
10/15/2025 10:18
Subject: Men who grew up with female names - how hard was it?
I grew up with an Erin (in Miami) and she was always trying to correct people who called her AIR-in. Short e EH-rin.