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Autumn for a boy would have always been unusual, but as Summer and Winter are both English surnames they actually were used a male names in the USA well before they were regularly given to girls. The 1850 United States census, first to list all by name, included 421 Summers and 74 Winters, almost all male.

I'm not really a fan of them for boys, though I can see Winter being a bit more masculine than Autumn. I've only met girls with these names. I haven't met anyone named Bloom, though it does seem somewhat feminine from the flower association and the similarity to Blossom, but I could see it on a boy, preferably in the middle name spot.

I've heard of Winter for a boy. I really like it as a unisex name, though I think I prefer it as a feminine one a little more (since that is what I am most used to). Autumn is more interesting. I've never heard of it being used as a masculine name, but I could definitely see it. The name August comes to mind.

I like Autumn and Winter on boys, but prefer Winter. I've never thought of Bloom on a boy before, but I have considered Eve because it sounds like Yves. I've thought about Ashley, Courtney, and Whitney because they used to be purely masculine. I don't see Shirley, Shirley or Romilly as masculine names at all.

I am not a fan personally, but that's okay! Use them if you want to!

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I love them both for girls. And I'm not opposed to gender neutral names.

This message was edited 5/12/2025, 1:02 PM

I like Winter for both genders, but prefer it on a girl. Autumn is strictly feminine to me though. I like November as a unisex name as well.

Autumn, Winter and Bloom are all great for boys. None of these names strike me as inherently feminine. They're basically nature names, it's no different than naming a kid Robin or Bailey.

They are much more interesting and fresh on boys! I like more feminine boy names as well. Bloom is an interesting one. On a male it makes me think of Leo Bloom, Gene Wilder's character on The Producers. I love Gene Wilder so much.

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Winter totally works for me as a boy name. Autumn does too, but it takes a moment to adjust, because I have more associations. It's really lovely, very poetic.

I definitely prefer them on boys! They're more brooding and romantic in that context.

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I'm reminded of a couple I met in Idaho who named their son June because he was born in that month.

Agree that word names are fair game (and also like softer/more unisex names on boys).

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I’ve liked Winter for a boy for a while, nn Win. I wouldn’t use it, but not just for a boy, for either. Middle name needs to be not wordy at all though, other it ends up sounding like a nail polish shade or cheap perfume (especially if it’s a nature word)

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I want to like Autumn, it’s my favourite season, but it just has such a mucousy, sticky mouth feel that I can’t get past. It somehow sounds harsher to me than Winter - maybe because it has the accessible nn Win/Winnie? Idk. I prefer Audrey for a girl and Aubrey for a boy (dislike Aubrey on a girl).

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Bloom for nobody, it makes me think of underwear (bloomers) and air freshener.

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I’ve seen Hazel mentioned for a boy.

I like Winter on a boy much more than I like it on a girl.

Objectively, there’s nothing wrong with them on boys because they’re just words. Instinctively I want to say I dislike them on boys, but perhaps it’s just a lack of exposure talking.

I think Autumn is fine on a girl. Winter shouldn't bother me as much as it does (though it's better than Wyntur, one of which I have met). Neither sound good on boys, in my opinion. And Bloom, I'm sorry, sounds complete ridiculous as a name.

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I am fully aware that my immediate dislike is based on preconceived notions about turning non-gendered words into gendered names. But I'm sorry, I just don't like these names.