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[Opinions] Unisex Nicknames?
I've been thinking that nicknames are basically genderless, for example you can use the nn Sam for a girl (Samantha) or a boy (Samuel), like Dani, Alex, Max, etc, but are *all* nicknames useable for both genders?
Examples:Ally or Lexi - Alexander
Addy - Adam
Cally - Callum
Em or Emmy - Emmerson / Emeric
Evie - Yves / Evan
Elly - Elliot / Elijah
Bree - Aubrey / Auberon
Rue - Andrew / Rueben
Ren - Laurence (I know this one was once used)
Roe - Rowan
Maisy - Mason
Izzy - Isadore / Isaac
Connie - Connor / Conrad
Tori - Victor Would you use any of these nicknames for a boy? Do you think they're acceptable or would you stop on the street if you heard them used for a boy?.
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I wouldn't phase me to see or hear Rue, Ren, or Roe on a boy. The rest of the list is pretty feminine-sounding to me though.
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I find all of these nn's to be unisex but I do feel that they suit females better but that's only because I have either met none or few males with these nn's.
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I really like Ali as a nickname for a boy. I think Em, Rue, Ren, Ro, and Tory (with those spellings) are all usable for boys. I also really like Abby as a nickname for a boy.
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The only ones I would use without tongue in cheek, would be Izzy and Connie, and maybe Tory but not for Victor. The rest are genderbending IMO. I could see using them as raillery - teasing that sets off his actual masculinity by how good-naturedly he tolerates it.
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I wouldn't use Ally, Lexi, Evie, Elly, Bree, Maisy, Izzy or Connie for a boy. To me, they are all girls' names. How about Charlie? That's got to be one of the most unisex names out there. It's great on either gender, and so is Alex.
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Ren is, jsut see Footloose.
Roe- eggs or Roe v. Wade, not useable for either imo
Izzy- I knew an Isador nn Izzy in college.
Tory- Tory Balleci is one of the Mythbusters, useable.
The others aren't imo
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Well...Roe
Rue
Elly
Lexi...Those aren't too bad. Rue is sorta unisex on its own, Roe as well. Elly isn't too feminine that I would be all, "What?! On a boy?!"And I know an Alexander, who I call Lexi. And he's OK with me calling him it.
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I like to call my friend Conor "Connie", but I'm the only one who calls him that.Thinking to people I know, I can't think of any boys with "feminine" nicknames. A lot of the examples you gave I don't think need nicknames (I've never heard of an Adam going by a nickname).These are what I think could work:
Alexander "Lex" (not Lexi, though)
Emerson / Emeric "Em"
Reuben "Rue"
Isadore "Izzy"

This message was edited 9/24/2012, 3:34 PM

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I'd certainly be startled by hearing a boy called Maisy. Or Evie.
I used to work with someone whose husband was called Connie though - short for Cornelius.
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I like...Ali as a nn for Alistair
Atty / Addy for Atticus and Addison
Eli (Elly) as a nn for Elliot (a la Elie Wiesel)
Rue for Rueben - but I'd prefer Ben :)
Ren for Laurence - I ADORE Ren on a boy and would use it on it's own but I do really like Laurence nn Ren also
Roe for Rowan
Izzy for Isadore
Tori for Victor - I love Tory on a boy :)
Then there's Mandy for Mandel, a la Mandy Patinkin :P
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Rue - Andrew / Rueben
If I had a Reuben, he would probably go by Rue. Drew is more common for Andrew, at least from what I've heard.
Ren - Laurence (I know this one was once used)
I really like Ren for a boy.
Roe - Rowan
This one would be okay.
Izzy - Isadore / Isaac
My nephew is named Isaac, but we call him IJ, because he's Isaac John. I think Izzy is fun to say, so I'd use this for an Isidore more likely.
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