We've all seen those people on Yahoo!Answers or where ever else claiming a certain name as "unisex now" and therefore okay for usage on a girl. Yes JUST a girl. Let's face it, the ONLY reason that anyone ever uses the "it's unisex" justification is when they want to use a traditionally masculine name on a girl. You never see someone vehemently defending their choice to use a traditional girls name on a boy. I've seen thousands of questions defending their choice to use Elliott or James or Kyle on a girl, but NEVER would you see anyone defending themselves in such a passionate manner to use Ella or Janis or Kayla on a boy.
Try as the 'boys names on girls club' might, the simple fact that their argument doesn't flow both ways is their ultimate down fall in trying to validate their point. Honestly can you see someone arguing that the name Sally is "unisex" and therefore appropriate on a boy? So why is it such a huge stretch to imagine that some people feel the same ridiculousness about Sally on a boy, that they do with James on a girl? Masculinizing girls names to me is some misguided attempt to make girls of this generation seem 'stronger'. We live in a world where a woman must be more than 'just' a woman. We are pressured in our daily life to be not just a sensitive caregiver, mother, friend, and nurturer. We are also expected to be smart, successful and carry on the equal rights banner that our grandmothers and mothers fought for us. We are suppose to be super women. An impossible task. So now people have equated "masculine girl name" as = strong successful woman. People are devaluing the validity of a nice strong feminine name. In today's society people mistakenly think that a strong masculine name equals success or popularity or fame, etc. A woman named "Jaymes" (James) in the work place might seem more successful, serious, or important to the parents of said child, but in the long run...most people would take a Josephine more serious than a woman named Jaymes.
I'm not saying that I don't think people should use "unisex names" at all. I personally don't care for them, but I'm not hostile about it either. What I am saying is that if you are going to use, or like, or consider, or love "unisex" names...don't tell me they are unisex if you don't consider them a possibility for girls AND boys. It's not 'unisex' if the name is not usable for both genders- period...no matter you're preference of which you plain to use it on. Don't argue for a certain masculine name on a girl if you don't consider it a boys name too and yet you still call it unisex. It's hypocritical. Jus'sayin'. : )
Jaesus.
**A special thanks to Jane (Infamous Bunny) for inspiring this little blog post of mine!**
Try as the 'boys names on girls club' might, the simple fact that their argument doesn't flow both ways is their ultimate down fall in trying to validate their point. Honestly can you see someone arguing that the name Sally is "unisex" and therefore appropriate on a boy? So why is it such a huge stretch to imagine that some people feel the same ridiculousness about Sally on a boy, that they do with James on a girl? Masculinizing girls names to me is some misguided attempt to make girls of this generation seem 'stronger'. We live in a world where a woman must be more than 'just' a woman. We are pressured in our daily life to be not just a sensitive caregiver, mother, friend, and nurturer. We are also expected to be smart, successful and carry on the equal rights banner that our grandmothers and mothers fought for us. We are suppose to be super women. An impossible task. So now people have equated "masculine girl name" as = strong successful woman. People are devaluing the validity of a nice strong feminine name. In today's society people mistakenly think that a strong masculine name equals success or popularity or fame, etc. A woman named "Jaymes" (James) in the work place might seem more successful, serious, or important to the parents of said child, but in the long run...most people would take a Josephine more serious than a woman named Jaymes.
I'm not saying that I don't think people should use "unisex names" at all. I personally don't care for them, but I'm not hostile about it either. What I am saying is that if you are going to use, or like, or consider, or love "unisex" names...don't tell me they are unisex if you don't consider them a possibility for girls AND boys. It's not 'unisex' if the name is not usable for both genders- period...no matter you're preference of which you plain to use it on. Don't argue for a certain masculine name on a girl if you don't consider it a boys name too and yet you still call it unisex. It's hypocritical. Jus'sayin'. : )