What is with the trend for unisex-sounding names for children?

What do you think of this trend? Why are names like Madison, Riley, or Jaden so popular now? Instead of like before when you could tell what the gender of the person was, like, for example, Jennifer (clearly a girl) or John (clearly a boy).

What is with the trend for unisex-sounding names for children?
I hate it. These names aren't unisex, they are boys names that people have commandeered for their daughters. I get that they want strong names for their daughters, but boys names are a stupid choice IMO. Fine don't name your daughter something uber-femme but at least use a name that is meant for a girl!
Reply:Im not a big fan of unisex names...I like that just by knowing the child's name you'll know whether it's a girl or a boy.





As for the trend I think actually more and more people are using the unisex names for a certain gender more than the other- Maddison is now clearly a girl's name, Riley is now a girl's name, Jaden is more of a boys name, Cameron is also more of a boys name... and the same with others..





I dont like giving unisex names to kids, because when they grow older they might be teased about having a girl/boy name, or they might feel bad about it.


My kids have very gender specific names
Reply:The problem is, a lot of people disagree on what the word unisex actually means. I would say that if half of the general population feels it's a boy's name, and the other half feels like it's a girl's name, then it's probably unisex. (Examples are Riley, Jordan, and Peyton. These three names are literally split right down the middle.)





But names like Ashley and Madison? Even though they both originated as male names ("son" obviously means male), they have been on the Top 100 Most Popular Girls Names since the 1970s, clearly making them better choices for little girls. This is what people don't get.





It doesn't matter if it "started out" as a male's name. If society has created a trend such that little girls are now named Ashley and Madison and little boys are NOT, then they ARE girls' names. They are not unisex.





The name Jaden/Jayden is on the Top 100 Most Popular Baby Names for girls AND boys, which would lead me to assume that is unisex. (Even though it is ranked in the Top 20 for boys, and doesn't show up for girls until about the Top 60s or 70s.) Clearly, there are plenty of people naming girls and boys Jaden, Riley, and Taylor.





Anyways, I think that a reason that they are so popular is because often times people name a child after someone. (My friend Brittany named her son Jaden because her mother's middle name was Jade.) A lot of people follow this trend. My maiden name is Miller and I am very attached to it. Through my adolescence and adulthood, no one called me by my first name. It was always "Miller". So I considered naming my first born girl Miller, even though most people would agree that it is slightly more masculine. But it pays homage to my Dad and his side of my family. See what I mean?
Reply:Its not really so much of a trend. courtney and Stacey used to be boys names, Madison used to be a boys name. society is becoming more opened minded about many things, especially those concerning gender roles and norms. Name your kid what you will, but I don't think those that like unisex names are following a "trend". there have always been unisex names, it is just more accepted now because people are becoming less judgemental about that stuff.





Well...most people. Some on this site are really adamant about not getting any gender identities confused. Because I'm sure a little girl named Peyton is really gonna be confused on whether shes male or female...note the sarcasm.
Reply:i dont have any problem with it, infact i think people do that because they sounds cute. when there is a uni-sex name usually that name would be more common on one gender than the other. for example: the name Elliot - more common as a boy name than a girl name but it is also a cute name for a girl. and your right those names are very popular, i know about 4 people named madison
Reply:My children have unisex names. I have never had a problem with my girls being mistsken for boys. Whenever they hear the name, they automatically assume girl.








Its all a matter of personal taste too. Some like traditional, some modern.





I respect peoples choices and don't look down on them for having different tastes. Unless they get bizarre like some of these Hollywood stars get.
Reply:For biased reasons Madison is the only ''unisex'' names I can stand :-) It's the ''I want a unique name for my daughter ... I know, I'll name her Michael!'' thing that has the booming baby name trend in a mess. Unisex names are male names on girls ... Would the name Emily become unisex, if I named my son that? I don't think so !
Reply:I ask myself the same thing!





it's even worse when they have a uni-sex name and you can't tell if they are a boy or girl...that's happened to me haha





or the names that should be a distinct boy name or girl name


and they're being transformed into a uni-sex name
Reply:I dont know but i do know i dont like it


I love masculine sounding names for boys


and pretty , cute , sweet , diffrent names for girls
Reply:or moonbeam , starshine, or cattlecrossing
Reply:I think the most popular is Jordan or Taylor.
Reply:Cattlecrossing?!?! That's fantastic!! LMAO!!
Reply:I find myself asking the same question all the time :)(:
Reply:I don't know, but I don't like it.
Reply:well, i personally just liked the name Dakota and that's what we named our son. it's a dual name, doesn't bother me at all
Reply:Johnny, Bobby

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