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Creating new norms seems to be the way these days even when it comes to choosing a name for your child. The trend throughout time has been to choose names that are familiar and common. But times are changing and have been changing since the 80s. Now, it’s more about being unique and crossing lines that have held strong for so long.
Gender-neutral baby names are becoming more and more common among individuals. No more are traditional monikers dominating the baby name lists. Unisex names are an option that parents are tapping into in order to create new paths for their children. For instance, a name like Blake now does not have to be rooted in masculinity and can, instead, now have feminine roots as well. Redefining masculinity and femininity is part of what gender-neutral-names are all about.
More from Mom.com: 20 Gorgeous Gender-Neutral Baby Names
The origin of unisex names
Most unisex names began as male names, according to Leslie Bolton, author of The Complete Book of Baby Names. Gender-neutral names, such as Jordan, Alex or Hayden, eventually became appealing to parents and more common for both girls and boys. Among hundreds of unisex names, Casey, Jamie, Cameron, Avery or Addison have become among the most popular choices. Names such as Florence or Lindsay, historically male, evolved as female-only names over time, according to Bolton.
More from Mom.com: Family's Holiday Photo Introduces Child as Non-Binary and Sparks an Outpouring of Support
Why a gender-neutral baby name might be a good fit for your baby
Parents are finding that it is okay to not go the traditional route with names and that a unisex name offers a bit of a rebel factor. Gender-neutral names break the relationship that stereotypes have with gender-identification. Names such as Morgan, Parker or Blake for a female could promote competitiveness, or Angel, Emery or Jaden for a male could encourage a break away from traditional masculine choices.
“Sigrid is technically a girl’s name but because it’s so uncommon in the U.S. it reads as gender-neutral to most people,” mom Kirsten Hammann shared with the Associated Press when discussing her daughter’s name. Kirsten went on further to say how the choice to use a unisex name was not necessarily intentional. “The gender neutrality was not something my husband and I discussed explicitly and I would say it was more in my mind knowing firsthand the hurdles women face across so many areas of life. Whether we like it or not, names that skew a little masculine, or less feminine, are perceived as stronger, and I wanted that for my girls.”
Equally important, the amount of kids identifying as transgender has doubled in recent years. 300,000 kids are identifying as transgender in the U.S. Transgender, non-binary, or gender-fluid children benefit from having an androgynous name. As they change how they identify, a unisex name would continue to instill a sense of self.
Trendy times: Gender-neutral names
Names that lack a specified gender can open doors to monikers that are uncommon and unique for your little one. An nuanced name can encourage your child to look at the world differently.
“Parents are actively seeking novelty,” Laura Wattenberg, author of Baby Wizard, expressed to The Atlantic. “That means throwing away, to a large extent, traditional names that had dominated for centuries, and that means throwing away names with gender associations. When you invent a new name … you are naturally entering a more gender-neutral territory.”
Do some research and check out the most popular and beautiful androgynous names that might be perfect for your baby. To get you started, Cosmopolitan came out with a list of unisex names last year, and here are their top ten:
- Atlas
- Valentine
- Whitley
- Camden
- Tanner
- Sailor
- Flynn
- Harlowe
- Beck
- Justice
More from Mom.com: Cute Gender-Neutral Baby Names
The final decision
Picking a gender-neutral name comes down to personal preference. For those who are conscious of gender fluidity and desire to not restrict their child preferences, then a unisex name will be an appropriate choice. But, that is not the only reason to choose an androgynous name.
“In fact, a lot of people choose unisex names because they think they’re cool or they’re meaningful to themselves but they raise their kids in a very gender-specific way,” shared Pamela Redmond Satran, the co-founder of Nameberry.com, with the Associated Press.
Even if you have reached a final decision before the baby is born, you may change your mind once you see your child for the first time to make sure the baby's appearance fits with the name.
Do what you think is right for your child. You will know for sure when you hold your baby for the first time.
