Why is it that people think names starting with the boy's name 'Ken' are unisex and feminine?

Why is it that people think names starting with the boy's name 'Ken' are unisex and feminine? Are little girls now closer to Barbie's guy pal Ken, then they are to Barbie herself?





I honestly doesn't see where there is anything feminine, girly, or unisex about the names Kenneth, Kendall, Kennedy, Kendrick, Kenneally, etc.





What do you think? And are you tired of seeing this too?

Why is it that people think names starting with the boy's name 'Ken' are unisex and feminine?
I see your point.





But what about Kendra? It's not a name I would use, but I went to school with a girl or two named Kendra. I don't think a guy would ever be named Kendra.





Unisex names are "in" right now, it's a trend. It will blow over sooner or later. Just chill, there's nothing you can do about it.





Just like afros, bell bottom pants, and "Farrah Hair", all trends come to a halt eventually. So will unisex names.





Edit: Lol, how does Kendra mean "Son of Henry?" If you check my sources, it clearly says Kendra means "Water baby, Magical". And, it doesn't even list it as a unisex name. It's only listed under the female category :) I think you're wrong, hun.
Reply:I'm sick of it too! I hate boys names for girls. It's so old and ugly. I have never seen Kenneth, Kendrick, or Kenneally on a girl. That's horrible. I have seen Kendall and Kennedy, which is absolutely disgusting. They are so mascline - i can't picture them on a girl at all.





i think part of it is that Kennedy and Kendall are always listed as unisex on most baby names websites so it confuses parents. someone needs to fix those websites!





Unisex names are just gross in general: i think it's annoying when someone has the same name as you in general, but imaginine having the same name as someone in the opposite gender. Being known as "Jordan the girl" and "Jordan the boy" in school would be embarrassing.





It also annoys me when parents are like: "oh, we love the name Jayden for a girl, but we decided to change the spelling to Jaedyn because it's more feminine." First off, Jayden is a horrible boys name. Second it's even worse on a girl, and changing the spelling of the name does not make it look or sound anymore feminine!
Reply:Truthfully... I'm sick of "K" name in general... or at least the trendy/popular names (especially when parents misspell a name so that it will start with K!)





Kendal/Kendall and Kennedy just don't strike me as good first names... I don't mind either in the middle name position... we have a Kendall auto group here that sells all sorts of cars - so I see Kendall Toyota/Honda/etc. commercials all the time... and I personally see Kennedy as a last name more then a first... However - either of these works for either sex (IMO)... as I've known more girls then boys with these names...





Kenneth, Kendrick, Kenneally - I've only seen/heard of these being a boy's name... and I think that I prefer it this way





Ryan, Tyler, Dylan, Logan, etc - I am rapidily losing interest in these names for either sex... they aren't feminine... and when you can't send your son to school without the chance that a girl will have the same name... just doesn't work for me...





HTH :-)
Reply:You make no sense.





You hate the name Kendra, yet you like the name Ramona, which is the feminine form of Ramon?





Kendra probably means "Son of whoever" because male names came first. Then, female names were derived from the male names. It's like the Adam and Eve effect, if you will. Take a language class, it's all clarified there.





Even the names that you swear are totally feminine are actually derived from male names. Why? Because male names came first. Like I said, take a language course.





You aren't an etymologist, stop acting like one before you have an aneurysm.





I usually agree with your opinions, but this is one time that I just don't.





-Beverly
Reply:I think you are over thinking this. I agree that Kenneth, Kennedy, Kenneally, etc are all male names, but Kendra is a girl name. Just because it it a feminine version of a male name doesn't mean that its a male name. Your name, Krista, is a feminine version of Christopher and Christian, but that doesn't make it a male name. I don't like the name Kendra anyways, but still.
Reply:No, not really, given that it's none of my buisness what people name their children, unless they specifically ask for my opinion.


I've got to laugh at you asking 'what do you think?' when it's obvious by your other questions/answers that you don't want to hear anyone that doesn't agree with you. I'm entitled to my opinion, just like you are yours, but I'm not going to force it upon people.





And since when does Kendra mean 'son of Henry'? Every single name site I've ever visited has stated that the name is stricly female.





~http://www.behindthename.com/name/kendra





~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendra





~http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/...





~http://www.babynames.com/name/KENDRA





~http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/...





Sorry, but I'm pretty sure you're wrong about this one.


♠ Qὑἔἔח
Reply:The idea of Kenneth being unisex absolutely staggers me ... this trend must stop!





But Kendra is the FEMININE form of Kendrick, so I really think that one is a female name, sorry.





It's like Harriet or Joanne - female forms of male names.





Edit: the idea of a little Kendra being called Ken or Kenny would put me off too.
Reply:I think you can thank the female VJ Kennedy for that horrid trend. I agree, there is nothing feminine about those names. There are so many great girls names, why parents think it is a good idea to name a sweet little girl any of those names is beyond me.
Reply:No I'm not tired of it because it is not my choice what parents name their children and personally I find it better than naming children La'ShaQuanda, Sparkle, Traviontey, etc.
Reply:That is true... Ken names tend to be pulled into the unisex circle. I think it started with a name like McKenzie, then more and more similar names popped to copy the trend but make something different - McKenley McKenna, McKent...





I was surprised, I remember, for Kendall to be called unisex. Kendall just seemed so NOT for a girl. Might-as-well-use-Karl-or-Rodger type of masculine.





These "Ken" names, like McKenzie, are more 90s names. That's why names like Kendall have to be used, as a last bit to renew/refreshen the trend. I think the trend will die out sometime in the next decade (which is actually not that far away).





I will disagree with you on Kendra though... You and me would NEVER use it on a son, I know, as it is a girls name. Linguistically, it should be fine to use Kendra in the sense of "daughter of Ken(neth)." For instance, in Russian, Mikhailov comes from the son of Mikhail - as a last name (the patronymic -used as a middle name - for it is Mikhailovich (males) and Mikhailovna (females)) Mr. Mikhailov's wife would be Mikhailova. Feminizing the masculine Mikhailov, which is a "son of" name, but still only appropriate on a woman. Another more simple example, is Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles. Charles is thought to mean "man" (it's sort of unclear, though this is supposedly the most likely) But Charlotte is still 100% a girl's name, even though it may technically mean man (or I suppose it means woman now? :/ )





Interesting debate on the name Kendra though. This would be an interesting question to ask, about Kendra and maybe Charlotte as well. What gender are the two, linguistically?