Girl names that used to be boy names

I read a magazine article years ago that basically claimed that some girl names have always been girl names, some boy names have always been boy names, and some cross genders over time. In the case of crossing genders, the trend is almost without exception from boy to girl.

What are some names that have crossed over? I’ve noticed:

Taylor
Tyler
Courtney
Casey
Leslie

Um… Quinn? Harper?

A couple of months ago I met a youngish woman named Michael.

A few years ago I met an older man name Laurie.

Don’t forget Ashley. It’s exclusively a girl’s name now.

Okay, when’s the last time you met someone named Harper?

Last year. She was a she.

Does she have a sister named Eunice?

Friend of mine just named his baby girl Harper. And isn’t one of Demi’s girls a Harper too?

She has a brother whose name I can’t remember, but it’s much more traditional.

I’m pretty sure it’s not Eunice. Or Mildred.

Harper Lee’s been around a while :stuck_out_tongue:

The name Kelly came up the other day because a friend was surprised to see that a Facebook app called her name a male name. There are probably still men named Kelly, but none under forty or fifty.

I find it interesting that nearly all the names you mention in the OP started out as surnames.

Not a very common name, but my grandfather was Francis, after St. Francis. All the younger Fran’s I’ve met have been female.

I went to law school with a boy Ashley and I don’t really think it sounds terribly untoward. I grew up with some but it was definitely going to the girly end

Beverly
Kimberly
Josslin
Marion
Dana

All used to be boys name’s believe it or not. Actually, I work with a boy Kim.

Ah yes, Kelly. Also Kerry/Carey.

Didn’t Vivian used to be a boy name?

The yuppie douchebags are trying to feminize “Emerson” now, and I won’t have it! Do you hear me?!

Morgan and Jordan are used interchangeably.

I knew a man named Kim, and two men named Dana.

Also, I think Francis = boy, while Frances = girl.

How many Franks have you met though?

I know of one Frank that was a Model!

The father of a friend of mine in high school was named Allison.

I have a male friend named Kelly.

Growing up, I knew a guy named Leslie.

Sydney

But her first name is Nelle.

Vivien Leigh was born Vivian, and changed the spelling when she signed a movie contract.