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[Opinions] Shannon
What do you think of Shannon, for a boy? I'm starting to like it. I feel like it's been out of style for girls long enough for it to get some use as a boys name. It's also a family surname for me, albeit one several generations back. What are your thoughts?http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/87410
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It's still a mom name all over at least in the US, so here, I think it's too soon. Still seems very feminine and pretty to me. Or at least sexless. Not that I think Shannon isn't a decent name for a man, but I wouldn't name my son it, at this time. I like the names Valentine and Vivian and Kelsey for guys, but I would not use them because I think they would be perceived as feminine. An American male Shannon born today would be like a man who is 30 now, being named Beverly or Joyce. Or a 20-year-old male Terry. Not that awful, but doesn't seem like it would seem handsome to many of his peers.

This message was edited 7/22/2017, 6:14 PM

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Yet if the name has an extra distinction - that would infuse the name with extra value--with more meaning than might otherwise be. Wouldn't this "extra meaning" be an admirable quality than seeming boiler plate "all-too-common" name?

This message was edited 7/23/2017, 7:50 PM

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Men don't want to have women's names. I'm sure that you can find an exception here and there, as nothing is universal when it comes to homo sapiens, but it's true of the overwhelming majority.
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I prefer it for a boy. I know a male Shannon in his late 20s.
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I like the name for use with either gender; and do not believe that use through one gender threatens the integral gender identity for that of the other.
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I love Shannon on a boy! I'm firmly in the camp of "Ashley is a boys name".
I'd pair it with something absolutely msculine though, just in case it ever went girly again. Something like Shannon George.
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I like Shannon for a boy. I think it squeaks by where Ashley and such don't as much because the sound fits more with what is on tremd for boys now.
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Here in Australia Shannon is probably used at least 50/50 for guys and girls, or maybe even slightly more for boys. I think we have two boys and one girl at school that are Shannons. We have a few male celebrities with the name Shannon, so it's definitely not ridiculous here.I like it much more for a boy.
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I like it for both and would use it. Not sure if in the US it's generally established as a female name (like Ashley), but I've always liked it for males too. Only guy I've heard with it is Shannon Sharpe, the football player.
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I see it as very feminine. I don't think it's out of style for girls - I had a teacher with the name Shannon.
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I've known two male Shannons. They dealt with it, but not well.
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In my area I don't think it would fare well for a boy. Even though Shannon on a girl hasn't been common for a few decades, everyone's mom is named Shannon so it would still be seen as pretty feminine.I have encountered one or two male Shannons before, and it comes as a shock. But I'm a female Shannon, so maybe that's why!
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I think a boy would suffer.
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We all suffer, no matter what our names are. ;)
Plus, you never know if the kid you're naming will actually choose / turn out to be the gender they're assigned.
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I'm speaking of likelihoods, that's all. Why take the chance? I see no reason for it. Also, the use of the word "suffer" was meant to be humorous hyperbole. I apologize if that didn't come across as I intended.
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I thought it might be a bit hyperbolic. I was being cheeky too.
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I've known 2 men named Shannon and trust me, neither one has ever "suffered" Or, at least not by much at all. I'm just putting that out there. I honestly think the name, although nice for both genders IMO, works better for a boy if I dare say.
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^^^Love this^^^ - Welcome to the Club!
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Do you? It seems fairly unisex to me. It even entered the boys top 100 a few times in the 70s. It reminds me a lot of Quinn for a boy.
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Yeah. There's a lot of "I love Ashley for a boy" and "I love Courtney for a boy" here, but I'm of the school of thought that it's a bad idea to give a boy a name once it has become popular for girls. We all know my husband was called Jamie and then it became popular for girls and then he hated it yada yada yada, and I think that has influenced me somewhat.It's not certain there's be any problem, and that the boy will hate it, but I personally would not take the chance.I just asked my son-in-law if he'd mind being named Shannon and he made a "Are you kidding me?" face.
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My dad is Lynn, which is still somewhat common for men his age in the Midwest. On the East Coast, however, it is unheard of. It's driven him crazy. My mom was once on phone with someone from the PTA and stated that she needed to ask her husband. The woman's reply "Oh, you're HUSBAND? I thought you were one of those new-age couples!" I'd have to correct people ALL the time that Lynn was my dad, not my mom.
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There is nothing so feminine about the name Lynn. I like it for either gender as well as I like Shannon. (I am also mostly Irish & German.)
I wish small minded folks would realize that the world is much bigger than their petty opinions or perceptions - and more importantly, would think before they speak.
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Um....this board is dedicated to petty opinions and perceptions.Solveig didn't say that anyone gave an opinion of the name Lynn for a male. She just said that it caused confusion and misunderstanding. That's because it's very predominately a female name in the US. You can't blame people for assuming that a Lynn is a female.

This message was edited 7/23/2017, 10:42 AM

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Although I did not mention this board at all in my above comment - and as a matter of fact, I wrote merely that I wish people would think before they "speak" (not write), I did nevertheless perceive the antipathy of a slur last year--and actually on more than one occasion: one from Gigibee - involving something you stated, but you were not involved in the actual slur - and I thank you for this.
I just queried the board administration on this referenced hateful intolerance.

This message was edited 7/23/2017, 9:04 PM

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I am so glad you are asking for a boy! I think its really handsome, and if it feels too feminine later on I've known a few Shannon's called Shane.
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^^^^Love this^^^^ (ETA)By the way, I love your idea of Shannon for a boy with a Shane as a nickname, yet, more, I love your enthusiasm.
If the child, in this case, Shannon / Shane, or any child who may truly dislike his or her name, that the parents or guardians would help the child to change it: hopefully this would be a process that is completed with the adult guiding the child to & through his or her actual preference.

This message was edited 7/24/2017, 3:50 AM

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I agree.
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Love it on a boy.
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I LOVE Shannon for a boy. This post, Yes, yes, yes!!! I think it's nice for girls as well (one of those rare names I actually see fitting as unisex) but if I were to use it, I would use it for a son, most likely as a middle name contender. Well, if the name was usable to me that is.Nice name for girls but I have to say, I wish this name would have a comeback among guys.
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My friend has a young son named Shannon and I quite like it
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I agree that it's dated for a girl. I think it sounds fresh and handsome for a boy.
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Agreed! Pretty much.(:
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