Dawson ... for a girl?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Dawson ... for a girl?
23
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 7:53pm

With the trend of naming girls "boy surnames," what does everyone think of Dawson for a girl? I mentioned the name to DH tonight as a boy's possibility...but he said it was too much of a girly name for a boy. So ... I then suggested Dawson for a girl's possibility! LOL

I never thought about this name at all ... for a boy or girl. But tonight when I mentioned it as a girl's name, I REALLY liked it. Who knows, it may be one of those passing fads that I won't like in a few days, weeks or months...but maybe it won't be. I know that it may seem like too much of a boy's name because it has the word "son" in it, but so do other boys' names that are being used for girls, like Addison. Yet those names are too popular and I've never heard of a boy named Dawson, let alone a girl!

WDYT????

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2006
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 8:13pm

I too have considered Dawson for a girl. It is a family surname for me and I think it would work well as a girls name. It reminds me of the movie Shag and Phoebe Cates character: Carson. Using surnames on girls has been done in the South for years and with how popular unisex/masculine names are nation wide little Dawson would fit right in!

good luck,
Brooke

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 8:56pm

I'm in South GA where Dawson is a prominent, prevalent

Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:12pm
well with girls named carter, hunter, (both family names) and kennedy...i say GO FOR IT! i love dawson but our last name is anderson. janet
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:13pm

Thanks for all of your positive remarks!!! I really appreciate it. I'm trying to convince DH that this is a really great name for a girl, but he's not onboard just yet. Maybe if I find a really great middle name, he'll go for it.

Does anyone have any ideas for a feminine middle name to go with Dawson? I'm coming up with nothing. :(

Avatar for dr_kae
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:20pm
I don't know...I might consider it too culturally loaded yet for a girl, due to "Dawson's Creek," but that hasn't stopped Chandler from being used on girls...admittedly, though, I'm not into "son" names on girls. Surname or no, the meaning is still all wrong to me.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:34pm

Actually, that's one of the reasons why I love the name for a boy or girl lol. DH and I met in high school and watched Dawson's Creek religiously every week for the entire run. He didn't love the show, but we started out our relationship watching it and that show will always remind me of "us." That show has a lot of meaning to me.

DH and I have now been together for nine years, and I just love it for a boy or girl (not just because of the show, because oddly enough, I didn't like the character Dawson too much on the show, haha). However, I feel it's a little too girly for a boy, which is why I figured it sounded better on a girl.

I understand the surname thing is not for everyone. I don't even know if I am brave enough to actually do it once or if I ever have a little girl. But it's fun to think about. Especially if I find a really great middle name to pair it up with, but I'm at a loss! I'm sure my family will hate it....

I just really wanted to find a name that was original for a girl yet was not too weird or out there....when I mentioned "Dawson" tonight to DH it just hit me that it's THE name I was looking for.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:49pm

Sorry, but I strongly dislike it.

-Nikki
http://destastory.blogspot.com/


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2006
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 9:56pm

Hi there - I like Dawson quite a bit, actually. And I agree with everything that Ginger ("notcinnamon") said in her post. She has fabulous taste and will probably give you some fantastic middle name suggestions, but here are a few that I think might work:

Dawson Genevieve
Dawson Eloise
Dawson Camille
Dawson Blythe
Dawson Annabel
Dawson Eleanor
Dawson Juliet

I think my favorite is Dawson Genevieve.

And, now that I think of it, "Sunny" seems like a natural -- and cute -- nickname for a girl named Dawson.

HTH!

--Tru

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 10:19pm

Thank you for these suggestions! I know not everyone will like this name, but all that matters is that I like it and (hopefully I can get DH on board). Earlier in the night, he said no right away. About an hour ago, he said it was "okay." I think it's a name that will definitely have to grow on most ppl since it's not a common name for a girl.

Out of your suggestions for middle names, I really do like Dawson Annabel best...simply bc Annabelle is our top contender for girls names. Luciela nn Lucy is tied for first lol. I think that's why DH is having a hard time seeing Dawson on a girl bc we have chosen such frilly girly names for girls in the past and Dawson is so not frilly! LOL

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2006
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 10:35pm

You are absolutely correct: what is most important is that you and DH love the name!
My oldest daughter is Avery Elizabeth... there are not many fans of "Avery for a girl" on here either, but I still adore her name and it is received well by most.

If you didn't want to commit to Dawson Annabel/Annabelle, you could always just flip it and name her Annabel Dawson. I think that the combination of a frillier name with a surname is fantastic. (I do like the Annabel spelling a bit better because it looks crisper or something. Both work though!)

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