Woah, that’s a big title! But I couldn’t condense it much more than that. As I’m sure you’ve already assumed from taking a peek at that title, today we’re talking about my opinions on names that sound the same, but belong to different genders (traditionally) and have different spellings. If your head’s still spinning, the most popular example of this phenomenon is Aaron and Erin, which may help anybody who’s tripping over my admittedly confusing wording. Anyway, I’m going to give my opinions on these kinds of names, starting with some positives of choosing a name for your child that can also be used for the opposite gender in a different spelling, following with some not ideal challenges that may accompany this type of name, and ending with my overall opinions on names that can be given to the opposite gender with a different spelling. Join me first for the best aspects of the Aaron-Erin names, readers!
Pros
One of the best parts of choosing a name that has different spellings for boys and girls is that these names are perfect for Team Greeners, or parents that decide to wait until their child’s birth to know their biological gender. If you love the sounds of Ira, a lovely vintage boy name, then the Welsh girl name Eira, which sounds exactly the same, is ideal. With these names, Team Green parents can share the name early if they like without choosing a name with heaps of gender ambiguity or confusion in writing, and although they can’t necessarily order all the personalized blankets, bassinets, and bibs they want to yet, it does make for a sweet way to get to reveal a name early without going with a technically unisex choice. So if you’re Team Green and wishing that your favorite sounds could work on either gender, yet not have the complications of a gender-neutral name, then this admittedly rare yet completely possible naming phenomenon could be perfect.
In connection to this, it’s immediately known which gender your child is just through spelling, so limited gender confusion. However, the unisex sound brings in all of the appeal of gender-neutral names. If we take that masculine spelling of Aaron, the name looks perfect for a little boy or grown man, a very masculine choice that is ideal for a son. From this spelling, summer camp counselors, teachers, nurses, librarians and the like will all immediately recognize that spelling as a male name. Many may not even connect Erin with Aaron when they see the name written out. However, when Aaron announces his name in an introduction, he gets the cool stylistic benefits of a unisex name, yet if he appears very stereotypically masculine, there will be little to no confusion surrounding whether he’s Aaron or Erin. Unless of course, you’ve decided to go a bit off the rails and swap the gendered spellings. For the most part, though, these types of names are very convenient because both spellings are equally mainstream. Aaron peaked in 1994 at #28, and Erin peaked in 1983 at #20. In general, these names were most popular in the same region and same time period, so neither name is starkly more popular than the other, at least in their glory days. Since both spelling options are expected and acceptable, parents don’t need to fret about their little boy’s name spelling getting screwed up.
Cons
Unfortunately, most people are not name fiends. Now, I know this is a shock for you (not), but most people’s only name knowledge are the names of the people that surround them. If someone has a best friend called Cosmo, that name is instantly a normal name. If someone has a friend called Marilla, then that name is an average, normal name. So if the nurse knows a male Aaron, when your Erin comes to her office, she’ll probably say “isn’t that a boy name?” And if a teacher’s only experience with a name that sounds like eye-ruh is her niece Isla, then of course she’ll think it’s sort of strange that her new student is a boy called Ira. So either way, no matter how mainstream the name or how evident the spelling, a child with a name that follows this Aaron-Erin criteria will undoubtedly still get “isn’t that a ____ name” regardless of which gender of the name they were given or the popularity of that name for that gender.
As I said previously, people judge a name off of the sounds and styles of names in their personal social circle, so you’re guaranteed to meet some folks who don’t know the spelling that your child bears isn’t a rarity or a gender-swap name. This spelling game really makes these variations on traditional unisex names simply gender-neutral names with an added layer of complexity and confusion. Rowan is just Rowan. You have no clue the gender of the child, though the spelling is clear. However, with something like Vivian and Vivienne (though this isn’t as great of an example) you are unsure of the spelling and the gender of the child, making these types of names complicated and difficult to understand for many people who interact with your child, particularly those who have rarer names that follow this pattern. So if you’re looking to choose a name that has a sound-alike from the opposite gender, beware that you may end up with a ton of confusion and misspellings depending upon the rarity of your choice.
The Final Verdict:
I honestly think that these names are a bit more trouble than they’re worth. Absolutely, I love and adore Ira and Eira as much as the next name nerd. But do I like them specifically because of this interesting trait? Not so much. However, I do see how parents like the unisex sound yet clearly gendered spelling of these names, allowing the child some of the best parts of both obviously masculine or feminine names and unisex or gender fluid names. Thanks so much for reading, Name Warehouse, and I hope you enjoyed this article!
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon
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