Unisex name

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A unisex name, also known as an epicene name, is a given name that is often given to either a boy or a girl. 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 feminine version, Alexandra, and Chris can be considered a shortening of both Christopher (or Christian) and its feminine version, Christina (or Christine).

Some names that were once predominantly used as masculine given names are now primarily feminine given names, including Ashley, Beverly, Carol, Evelyn, Hillary, Jocelyn, Meredith, Nicole, Shirley, Shannon, and Vivian. Sometimes the modern adoption of a predominantly masculine given name follows the use by an actress (e.g. Drew Barrymore, Daryl Hannah) or fictional character (e.g. Tracy, Blake). Soap operas, in particular, give names to their strong female characters that are either unisex or predominantly masculine names. There will then be an increase in the use of that name for females.

Some unisex names are homophones, pronounced the same for both genders but spelled differently. One common example of this is a final "y" for the masculine form and an "i" or "ie" for the feminine. (e.g. Terry and Teri, Jerry and Jeri, Tony and Toni, Johnny and Johnnie). Others have less regular spelling variations (Francis and Frances, Robin and Robyn, Sidney and Cydney). In many cases, the spelling of what used to be a predominantly masculine name was altered to create a feminine variation. If the feminine variation becomes sufficiently popular, the use of the masculine variation may dwindle, and ultimately the name may be deemed feminine under any spelling.

They can also be the source of adolescent teasing and schoolyard taunts.

Some names vary their gender from country to country or language to language. For example, Anne, which is feminine in English is normally masculine in some Dutch provinces, but normally feminine in the rest of the country; or Jean, which is normally feminine in English and Scottish, and masculine in French.

Surnames (e.g. Bailey, Courtney, Darcy, Elliot) and place names (e.g. Dakota, Devon, Montana) have become fashionable sources for names for boys and girls in English-speaking countries. These are not inherently gender-specific, but most are traditionally considered masculine.

Different parents may adopt the same unusual name for children of opposite gender.

Unisex names can be the source of humor, such as Julia Sweeney's sexually ambiguous character "Pat" on Saturday Night Live. Similarly, the baby Jamie in Malcolm in the Middle was purposely kept sexually ambiguous when first introduced at the end of the show's fourth season leading to speculation that the baby would remain ambiguous. However, the character's sexual identity was revealed at the end of the first episode of season five.

Many Indian names become unisex when written with Latin characters because of the limitations of transliteration. The spellings Chandra and Krishna, for example, are transliterations of both the masculine and feminine versions of those names. In Indian languages, the final as of these names are different letters with different pronunciations, so there is no ambiguity. However, when they are seen (and usually, spoken) by a Western audience, they become gender ambiguous. Other Indian names, such as Ananda, are exclusively or nearly exclusively masculine in India, but because of their a ending, are assumed to be feminine in Anglophone societies.

[edit] U.S. statistical data

Within the United States, by analyzing data released from the 1990 census by the Census Bureau, the given name Kris was statistically the most likely to be used for either gender. Among the other names that were the closest to being gender neutral include the following (in order from slightly more feminine to slightly more masculine): Dominique, Gale, Leslie, Pat, Jody, Jesse, Morgan, Robbie, Kris, Frankie, Kerry, Johnnie, Carey, Tommie, Casey, Merle, Taylor, and Jamie. Note that the data is based on a large national sampling and excludes very rare names, as well as not considering minor alternative spellings. See the references for the data gathering methodology.

Index

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

[edit] List of names that can be unisex

For inclusion on this list, a name must either:

  • have originated as a unisex name (i.e., Abijah).
  • have multiple origins as both a masculine and feminine name (i.e., Alva).
  • have been used significantly at some point in the past or present as a name for both males and females (i.e., Tristan).
  • be used as a nickname for both masculine and feminine names (i.e., Chris).
  • be otherwise significant in a historical context as a unisex name (i.e., Zooey).

[edit] A

  • Abby (used as a nickname for Abigail (feminine) or Abraham or Abbott (masculine), the latter as in Abbie Hoffman); also Abbie, Abbey, Abi
  • Adair; also Adaire
  • Addie; also Addy
  • Addison (surname used as a given name for males and females)
  • Adrian or Adrien (artist Adrian Piper); variant feminine spellings also Adrienne, Adrianne
  • Afton (name given for the River Afton, used for both sexes)
  • Ailin ([given name] Asian female name \A\-\leen\; Gaelic Male name \I\-\lin\ or \A\-\lin\); see also Allen
  • Ainsley; also Annesley
  • Akira (can be masculine or feminine, as it has multiple origins)
  • Al (nickname for Alexander, Alexandra, Alan, Albert, Alfred, Alphonse)
  • Alex (nickname for Alexander (masculine) or Alexandra (feminine)); also Alix
  • Alexis
  • Ali (masculine in Arabic, or short for Alistair or Alexander (masculine) or Alison or Alexandra (feminine)); also Allie, Ally
  • Alice (both originally feminine and chiefly feminine in usage, but has been used in the past for males; it was the 701st most popular name for boys born in the United States from 1900-1909[1]; see also Alice Cooper, né Vincent Furnier)
  • Alison or Allison (has two origins, one as a surname, traditionally masculine; the other as a form of the feminine name Alice; it is almost exclusively used on females in the United States; however, in Europe, Alyson is still sometimes found as a name for males); also Alyson, Allyson
  • Alpha
  • Alva (both masculine and feminine, as it has two separate origins)
  • An (Vietnamese unisex name)
  • Anah (biblical unisex name)
  • Anan (Akan unisex name)
  • Ananda (masculine in India)
  • Anath; also Anat
  • Andrea (masculine in some languages and feminine in others); also Andria
  • Andy (often short for Andrew (masculine) or Andrea (see above)); also Andi, Andie
  • Angel (generally considered masculine in Spanish-speaking regions and feminine in English-speaking regions (pronounced differently))
  • Anne (can be masculine in some regions of the Netherlands, especially Friesland, also formerly masculine in France); also Ann
  • Ani (masculine Japanese name, or nickname for various masculine or feminine names containing an); also Annie
  • Arden (surname used as a given name on both sexes)
  • Ari; also Arie
  • Ariel/Arielle
  • Arlie; also Arly
  • Artemis (the Ancient Greek goddess, also Artemis Fowl); also Artemus
  • Ash (nature name or nickname for various names beginning with Ash-)
  • Ashley; also Ashly, Ashlee, Ashleigh (usually feminine)
  • Ashton; also Ashtyn
  • Asia; also Aja, Eja (see Eja Lange)
  • Aubrey
  • Audie (nickname for Audrey (feminine) or other masculine and feminine names beginning with Aud-; also used as a given name, as per Audie Murphy); also Aude
  • August
  • Augustine (anglicized masculine form of the Roman name Augustinus, and the feminine form of the French name Augustin)
  • Autumn
  • Averill (surname used as a given name for both sexes)
  • Avery

[edit] B

[edit] C

  • Caden, Cayden, Kayden
  • Camden (or Camdyn, Kamdyn for girls)
  • Cameron (meaning "Squint nose" or "Crooked nose" from Scottish Gaelic, generally masculine, spelled Camryn or Kamryn for females. See Cameron Diaz)
  • Camille (unisex in French)
  • Carey or Cary
  • Carol (now usually feminine, masculine forms Caroll or Karol (Polish))
  • Carmen (or Carman)
  • Casey (or Kaci, Kasey, Kacie)
  • Cassidy
  • Chandler
  • Chandra (In India, it is masculine if the final "a" is pronounced one way and feminine if the final "a" is pronounced another way)
  • Charlie (short for Charles (masculine))
  • Chris (diminutive for Christopher, Christian, Christina or Christine)
  • Christian also Kristian, Cristian
  • Christin or Kristin, Kristen
  • Claude (unisex in French) or Claud
  • Cody, Codey, Codi, or Codie (C is also interchangeable with a K)
  • Connie
  • Cory or Corey or Cori (feminine), for example Cory Doctorow (m), Cory Kahaney (f)
  • Courtney (or Courteney)

[edit] D

  • Dagmar
  • Dakota (Dakotah)
  • Dale (Dayle)
  • Dana
  • Daniel (masculine) or Danielle
  • * Abbreviated versions Danny, Danni and Dani can be masculine or feminine
  • Dara (Irish, original spelling Darragh always masculine, also spelled Darrah)
  • Darby
  • Darcy
  • Daryl, Darrell, Darryl (e.g., Daryl Hannah (f) or Daryl Hall (m))
  • Delaney
  • Devon, Devin, Devyn
  • Dimuthu (given name: Sri Lankan; Sinhalese), Meaning- Shining
  • Dominique (unisex) or Dominic (masculine) in French
  • Drew (unisex, original spelling Andrew always masculine)

[edit] E

[edit] F

  • Fran (short for Francis (masculine, e.g. Fran Tarkenton) or Frances/ Francesca (feminine))
  • Francis/Frances
  • Frankie
  • Fred (short for feminine Winnifred), masculine given (Freddie)

[edit] G

  • Gabi / Gaby (short for Hungarian Gábor (masculine), Gabriel (masculine), or Gabriella (feminine))
  • Gale (or Gail, Gayle, Gael)
  • Gene (short for Eugene (masculine) or Eugenia (feminine))
  • Gerd (masculine in German, feminine in Norwegian)
  • Gerry (short for Gerald (masculine) or Geraldine (feminine))
  • Glen or Glenn (e.g. Glenn Close, Glen Campbell)
  • Guadalupe (unisex in Spanish)

[edit] H

[edit] I

[edit] J

  • Jackie (nickname for Jack or Jacqueline)
  • Jade
  • Jaden
  • Jamie (short for James (masculine) or Jamesina (feminine). Jamie is generally used to mean "Young James" but may also used be independently as a feminine form of James. The variant spellings Jayme and Jaime are usually feminine. Jaime is a popular masculine name in Latin America)
  • Jan
  • Jane (feminine in English, masculine in Macedonian)
  • Jasmin (feminine in Germanic languages, masculine in Slavic languages)
  • Jay
  • Jean (masculine in French, feminine in English and Scots)
  • Jem (short for Jeremy (masculine) or Jemima (feminine))
  • Jerry (variant spelling Jeri is usually feminine)
  • Jess (short for Jesse (masculine) or Jessica (feminine))
  • Jesse (Biblical Hebrew (father of King David) (masculine), Jessie (feminine), or short for Jessica (feminine))
  • Jo/Joe/Joey (short for Joseph (masculine), Josephine (feminine) or Joanne (feminine))
  • Joan (masculine in Catalan, feminine in English)
  • Jocelyn (masculine in French, feminine in English)
  • Jody/Jodie/Jodi (short for Joseph (masculine) or Judith (feminine)and Joanne, Johannah, Josephine) (e.g. Jody Powell, Jodie Foster)
  • Jordan
  • Joyce (formerly masculine, e.g. Joyce Kilmer)
  • Jude (derived from Judas or Judah (masucline), or short for Judith (feminine); most common on males (e.g. Jude Law))
  • Jules
  • Jun Japanese name—can be masculine or feminine

[edit] K

  • Kaoru Japanese name— can be masculine or feminine; variant Kaori is feminine only
  • Kari (masculine in Finnish, feminine in many European languages)
  • Kasey or Kacey
  • Kay
  • Kazumi (Japanese name; many different writings, masculine and feminine)
  • Kellen, Kellyn
  • Kelly
  • Kelsey
  • Kim (Used for both males and females in Sweden)
  • Kendal or Kendall
  • Kenya
  • Kerry/Kerrie (variations such as Kerri or Keri are usually feminine)
  • Kim (can also short for Kimberly (ey) or Kimball)
  • Kimberly
  • Kit (short for Christopher in males)
  • Kory, (also Cory for males), Kori
  • Kris

[edit] L

  • Lane
  • Lauren (usually feminine, often spelled Loren for males)
  • Laurence (masculine in English, feminine in French)
  • Laurie (e.g. Laurie Taylor, Laurie Anderson)
  • Lavern (with Laverne a more common feminine spelling)
  • Lee (usually masculine with Leigh a more common spelling for feminine)
  • Les (short for Leslie or Lester for males, and Lesley for feminine)
  • Leslie (traditionally a masculine name eg Leslie Hindman, but now more often used for females)
  • Lindsay or Lindsey
  • Lior
  • Lou
  • Lonnie (nickname for various masculine and feminine names, used as a given name for both sexes)[2]
  • Lovie (e.g. Lovie Smith)
  • Lynn

[edit] M

  • Mackenzie (meaning "son of Kenneth", from the Scots Gaelic MacCoinneach)
  • Madison
  • Mallory
  • Marion (e.g. Marion Morrison—birth name of John Wayne)
  • Marlow (Occasionally spelled Marlo for females or Marlowe for males.)
  • Masami Japanese name—can be masculine or feminine
  • Max (usually short for Maximilian with males, and Maxine with females)
  • Mavis
  • Mel (short for Melvin (masculine) or Melanie/Melissa (feminine))
  • Meredith
  • Merle
  • Mickey or Micky (Micki for females)
  • Mischa (diminutive of the Russian Mikhail for males)
  • Mo
  • Montana

[edit] N

  • Nicky or Nikkie
  • Nicola (masculine in Italian and French, feminine in English and German)
  • Nikita (masculine in Russian and Finnish, feminine in French) (Nakita is an alternate spelling for the name but is typically common amongst females)
  • Noël (masculine spelling) & Noële/ Noëlle (feminine spelling)
  • Nour or Noor (unisex in arabic)

[edit] P

  • Page/Paige (surname used as a given name for both sexes)
  • Paris
  • Parker
  • Pat (short for Patrick (masculine) or Patricia (feminine). The androgynous name was popularized for being unisex in the United States on the television show Saturday Night Live as a character with an undetermined gender.)
  • Payton, Peyton (the former tends to be preferred with boys and the latter girls; however, either could be used for either gender, also Paityn for girls)
  • Petya/Petja (masculine in Russian and Finnish, feminine in Bulgarian)
  • Perry/Peri
  • Praxedes (feminine in origin, as in Saint Praxedes, but not in the case of Práxedes Mateo Sagasta)
  • Pubudu (Sri Lankan given name)

[edit] R

  • Randy (Randi is feminine in Norwegian)
  • Ray, Rae, or Raye (short for Raymond (masculine) or short feminine form of Raymond) also Rea or Rey
  • Reagan or Regan
  • Rene (René is masculine; Renée feminine, Renea is an alternate spelling for the feminine variant, also Ranee, Renay, Renae)
  • Rhys/Reese/Rees (Rhys is masculine; Reese is a generally feminine respelling (e.g. Reese Witherspoon))
  • Ricky or Ricki (short for Richard or Eric (masculine), Erika, Richelle, or Frederika (feminine))
  • Riley, Reilly
  • Robin (variant spelling Robyn is usually feminine, but sometimes masculine, e.g. Robyn Hitchcock)
  • Roni or Ronni Hebrew name—can be masculine or feminine
  • Ronnie or Ronny (short for Ronald (masculine) or Veronica (feminine))
  • Rory ("red king" in Scots/Irish Gaelic (Ruadhrí in Irish, Ruadhridh in Scottish gaelic) (masculine) or short for Lorelai or Aurora (feminine)) or Rori
  • Rowan (masculine form Irish Ruadhán; the feminine Rowan is a botanical name, with a separate etymology from the masculine name derived from Ruadhán)


[edit] S

  • Sally (short for Salvatore (masculine) or Sarah (feminine))
  • Sam (short for Samuel (masculine), Simon (masculine) or Samantha (feminine))
  • Sami (feminine in US, masculine in Finland)
  • Sandy (Short for Sandford or Sandra)
  • Sascha or Sacha or Sasha (short for Alexander (masculine) or Alexandra/Alexandria (feminine))
  • Sava (unisex in Finland)
  • Scott (short Scottie or Scotty)
  • Shai (unisex in Hebrew)
  • Shannon or Shanon,Shannen
  • Sharon (unisex in Hebrew)
  • Shawn
  • Shell or Shel (e.g. Shel Silverstein)
  • Shelby (primarily feminine)
  • Shelly
  • Shinobu Japanese name—can be masculine or feminine
  • Shirley (now usually feminine; masculine e.g. Shirley Povich)
  • Sidney (sometimes spelled Cydney for feminine)
  • Simcha
  • Simone (masculine in Italian, feminine in English and French)
  • Skyler, Skylar, or Schuyler
  • Sky or Skye
  • Stacy, Stacey, Staci, or Stacie
  • Stevie (short for Stephen (masculine) or Stephanie (feminine))
  • Sydney (Sydnie)
  • Sonny or Sunny

[edit] T

  • Tal (unisex in Hebrew)
  • Tarin, Taran, Taryn
  • Taylor
  • Teagan
  • Terry (short for Terence/Terrence or Terrell (masculine) or Teresa/Theresa (feminine)) Terri, Teri, Tari
  • Tomomi Japanese name - can be masculine (pro wrestler Tomomi "Jumbo" Tsuruta) or feminine (singer Tomomi Kahala)
  • Tony (variant spelling Toni is usually feminine, but in Finland Toni is masculine.)
  • Tory or Tori or Torrey (short for Victor or Torrance (masculine) or Victoria (feminine)) (e.g. Tori Spelling (f) or Torii Hunter (m))
  • Tracy or Tracey (form of Thracius (masculine) or short for Teresa/Theresa (feminine)) also Traci, Tracie
  • Tsukasa (Japanese name; typically written 司)
  • Tristan
  • Tiger, eg. Tiger Woods and Tiger Lily Hutchence.

[edit] V

  • Val (Valentine [masculine (Unisex in Finland)] or Valerie, Valentina, Valli [feminine])
  • Valery or Valerie
  • Vitamian
  • Vivian (Vivien, Vivienne)
  • Vic (Victor [masculine] or Victoria [feminine])

[edit] W

  • Willow (male-seen in the movie Willow, female-a character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

[edit] Y

[edit] Z

[edit] References

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