# Male athletes with female first names
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [December 15, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402 "2009-12-15T21:21:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/21 "2009-12-19T19:20:31Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#):
>
> In Hrudey’s defense, it’s hard to look really good when you’re getting between 35-40 shots a night against you, courtesy of a paper-thin blueline.
>
> Getting back to the OP, there’s Tracy Murray and Tracy McGrady, as well as former NHL player Carey Wilson.
That’s interesting. I have no idea how but I remember a lot of the games from the 90s. I remember a lot of specifics about there Stanley Cup Finals run and I should have only been 7 years old when it happened. I thought they had a pretty decent defense.
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### Author:  [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/22 "2009-12-19T19:50:10Z")
There was a Chris Everett that played QB for the Rams.
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### Author:  [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/23 "2009-12-19T20:16:24Z")
> [@furt](#):
>
> There was a Chris Everett that played QB for the Rams.
That was Jim Everett, who was called “Chris” by Jim Rome because he played like a sissy. He almost beat up Rome in an interview when Rome kept referring to him as Chris. Not that Chris qualifies as a girls’ name anyway,
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### Author:  [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/24 "2009-12-19T20:37:28Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> That was Jim Everett, who was called “Chris” by Jim Rome because he played like a sissy. He almost beat up Rome in an interview when Rome kept referring to him as Chris. Not that Chris qualifies as a girls’ name anyway,
:rolleyes:
Whoosh, dude.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/25 "2009-12-19T20:40:55Z")
I don’t agree with the OP’s theory, or even with some of the “feminine” names listed. (Shaquille sounds feminine to an English speaker, maybe, but I bet Arabic speakers feel differently.)
But as my contribution to the list, there’s former Bulls center Stacy King.
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### Author:  [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/26 "2009-12-20T01:58:40Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> That was Jim Everett, who was called “Chris” by Jim Rome because he played like a sissy. He almost beat up Rome in an interview when Rome kept referring to him as Chris. Not that Chris qualifies as a girls’ name anyway,
I dunno about “almost.” Dude upended a table and threw Jim Rome halfway across the studio.
Thanks to this thread, I just watched that video again for the first time in ages. Even now, I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes.
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### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/27 "2009-12-21T05:19:57Z")
[Kelly Downs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Downs)
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/28 "2009-12-21T13:50:02Z")
**[Shirley Crabtree](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Crabtree)**, if pro wrestlers count.
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/29 "2009-12-21T13:52:31Z")
June Jones was a QB for the Falcons before he became a college coach. Not sure if he was named after the Beaver’s mom, though.
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### Author:  [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/30 "2009-12-21T18:19:31Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#):
>
> June Jones was a QB for the Falcons before he became a college coach. Not sure if he was named after the Beaver’s mom, though.
Since his full name is [June Sheldon Jones III](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Jones) and he was born in 1953 (four years before _Leave It to Beaver_ made its debut), it’s highly unlikely he was named after a Barbara Billingsley role. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/31 "2009-12-21T20:51:21Z")
I think if a child has a feminine sounding name he’d simply shorten it or change it a bit till it isn’t that anymore.
As others have pointed out a lot of these “girl” names are simply shortend versions of longer names. Like when I was young Shelley was a typical shortened form of Sheldon.
Now that virtually anything with an “EEE” sound is a girl’s name. You may find a boy named Billy, but by the time he’s grown he’s Bill, (Billy Carter being an exception). Billy in an adult is usually Billie -\> Female
Young men named Nicky become NICK and leave Nikki for grown women.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/32 "2009-12-21T21:25:46Z")
> [@Markxxx](#):
>
> As others have pointed out a lot of these “girl” names are simply shortend versions of longer names. Like when I was young Shelley was a typical shortened form of Sheldon.
This made me think of outfielder Shelley Duncan. Turns out his full name isn’t Sheldon- it’s David Shelley Duncan. I assume he goes by Shelley because his father is also named Dave.
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/33 "2009-12-25T04:35:35Z")
[Fran Tarkenton](http://www.nfl.com/players/frantarkenton/profile?id=TAR369148)
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### Author:  [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/34 "2009-12-25T05:43:16Z")
Marion Barber (Jr and III).
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/35 "2009-12-25T06:23:24Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#):
>
> Marion Barber (Jr and III).
Don’t tell John Wayne about that one!
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### Author:  [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/36 "2009-12-25T14:59:52Z")
[Marion Campbell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Campbell)
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-athletes-with-female-first-names/521402/37 "2009-12-25T15:55:40Z")
Kelly Tripucka, whose first name is Peter, but went by Kelly.
Not really a girl’s name though, as others have pointed out. I thought it was weird when I was a kid, though.
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