# Feminizing male names **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277 "2006-08-11T13:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/1 "2006-08-11T13:42:09Z")
Is there any female equivalent to the name Peter? Other than some clumsy suffix like Peteretta, or the like? And of various schemes for feminizing names (-etta, -ina, -ita, etc.), is there a consistant grammar for which method you use? ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/2 "2006-08-11T13:45:23Z")
You mean, like [Petra](http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Petra)? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/3 "2006-08-11T13:57:42Z")
Or maybe [Peta](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0933959/)? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/4 "2006-08-11T14:33:16Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] is there a consistant grammar for which method you use? [/QUOTE] No, there isn’t. I know someone very well who is named after her father – “Vincentia Josephine”. These things are decided on a case-by-case basis, often using the rules of different foreign languages. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/5 "2006-08-11T14:35:42Z")
Check any modern baby names book. They give dozens of variants for each name. Every possible ending/spelling/derivation is used. There’s no rhyme or reason. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/6 "2006-08-11T14:36:52Z")
There’s also Petronella, if you’re fond of the original Latin. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/7 "2006-08-11T15:45:58Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] There’s also Petronella, if you’re fond of the original Latin. [/QUOTE] and if it doesn’t bother you that folks will be thinking of insect repellent every time introductions are made! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/8 "2006-08-11T16:23:10Z")
Not that I’m aware of but if you have a girl and you want to name her Peter then do it. So many names become gender neutral after awhile. I’ve known women named Douglas, Michael, Morgan, etc. My name is gender neutral in Ireland but not so much in the States. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/9 "2006-08-11T16:29:14Z")
From: [Directory of Feminine Names - Choosing the Right Baby Name and Name Meaning](http://www.resourcesforlife.com/library/names/feminine.htm#P) Petra Feminine form of Peter. From the Greek petros or the Latin petra meaning stone. The name is therefore given the meaning solid and reliable Other spellings: Petrea ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/10 "2006-08-11T16:55:54Z")
Is there a feminine form of _Pierre_ in French? I can’t think of one offhand. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/11 "2006-08-11T17:00:15Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] Or maybe [Peta](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0933959/)? [/QUOTE] Peta has a Native American origin. It’s not taken from a masculine form of Peter, it just sounds like it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/12 "2006-08-11T18:25:15Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] and if it doesn’t bother you that folks will be thinking of insect repellent every time introductions are made! [/QUOTE] Petronella may not be for everybody. Please consult your linguist before attempting to name your child, and always name your child responsibly. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/13 "2006-08-11T18:47:54Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Is there a feminine form of _Pierre_ in French? I can’t think of one offhand. [/QUOTE] Pierrette. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/14 "2006-08-11T23:04:59Z")
The Italian version - Pietra ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/15 "2006-08-11T23:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Is there a feminine form of Pierre in French? I can’t think of one offhand. I believe one is _Perrine_. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/16 "2006-08-12T00:15:29Z")
Perrier? ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/17 "2006-08-13T06:20:30Z")
uhhhh…Petrushka? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/18 "2006-08-13T07:00:04Z")
Ironically, _pierre_ ‘rock’ is a feminine noun. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/19 "2006-08-13T12:52:43Z")
Petula? ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277/20 "2006-08-13T13:22:30Z")
Minor hijack: I know two females named Peter. What gives? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminizing-male-names/368277.md?page=2)