Unisex name

A unisex name, also known as an epicene name, is a given name that is often given to either a male or a female. Some countries, however, require that a given name be gender-specific (see German name). This list does not cover names in cultures where the names are often not gender specific, which is common in many cultures. For example, some African tribes have unisex names, and so do cultures which use names which are derived from properties, such as the Amish or many cultures in India.

Unisex names are often nicknames that are also used as given names, such as Alex and Chris. Alex can be considered a shortening of both Alexander and its female version, Alexandra, and Chris can be considered a shortening of both Christopher (or Christian) and its female version, Christina (or Christine).

Some names that were once predominantly used as male given names are now primarily female given names, including Ashley, Beverly, Carol, Evelyn, Hillary, Jocelyn, Meredith, Nicole, Shirley, and Vivian. Sometimes the modern adoption of a predominantly male given name follows the use by an actress (e.g. Shirley Temple, Drew Barrymore) or fictional character (e.g. Tracy, Blake).

Some names vary their gender from country to country or language to language. For example, Anne, which is female in English is normally male in Dutch; or Jean, which is female in Scottish and male in French.

Surnames (Bailey, Courtney, Darcy, Elliot,…) and place names (Dakota, Devon, Montana,…) have become fashionable sources for names for boys and girls in English-speaking countries. These are not inherently gender-specific. If parents seek novelty, different parents may hit upon the same unusual name for children of opposite gender.

Unisex names can also be the source of considerable humor, such as Julia Sweeney's sexually-ambiguous character "Pat" on Saturday Night Live.

Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T V Y

List of names that can be unisex

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

Y

See also

See also: Unisex name, Akira, Al, Alex, Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, Amish, Andrea, Andrew