Dawson ... for a girl?

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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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Registered: 09-29-2005
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 10:48pm

If it were a family surname, I'd actually like it quite a bit.


But I have to admit, though I love surnames in general, the random -son names (Madison, Emerson, etc.) do strike me as trendy and anything-but-different/creative/unique. Just a sort of bandwagon mentality, KWIM? Not saying that's why YOU like the name ... just admitting it is my immediate thought when I meet yet another little girl "something-son." Like the parents just used a popular name to use a popular name (in the case of Madison, for example) or thought they were doing something unusual by using a name like Jackson (or more often, Jaxyn or some other "feminine" spelling ) for a girl, without even realizing the actual meaning behind the name itself. Especially when the name, like Jackson, is fairly common/popular for boys at the moment.


For example, I actually quite like Finley for a girl (and love it for a boy, for that matter), and it doesn't strike me as an odd choice either way, not being overly common to begin with, and being used in similar numbers (in the 800-900s on the SSA lists) for BOTH genders. Dawson, on the other hand, IS fairly popular for boys (at 233 ... slightly MORE common than Maddox, Leo and Simon, if that gives you an idea), and doesn't appear on the girl's side at all.


So while I like the surname idea, this isn't one I'd use myself.


HTH


ETA: Just read some other replies, and I do like the idea of using Dawson as a mn if the appeal lasts. To use that example (since you mentioned liking the combo in reverse), Annabel Dawson gives her an obviously-feminine fn but still allows you to call her Dawson as much as you like. Kind of win-win. And like the pp, I love the flow of a surname in the mn slot for a girl. It just gives the whole name a well-rounded, even rooted, appeal, for some reason. Maybe because these are often reserved for family surnames, so they seem more interesting and less trendy when used as mns (at least in my mind). Regardless of the reason, I do think this is a great idea. ;)



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Edited 5/31/2007 10:53 pm ET by mommyagain6124

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Registered: 08-26-2006
Thu, 05-31-2007 - 11:45pm

I thought I would post some combos, since you asked :) I love Dawson Annabel BTW! Sorry for repeats.

Dawson Caroline
Dawson Abigail
Dawson Elizabeth
Dawson Brielle
Dawson Cecilia
Dawson Elaine
Dawson Giselle
Dawson Amelia/Emilia
Dawson Francesca

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 10:00am

As for pp's suggestions of flipping the name to Annabel Dawson .... I REALLY like it!!!! I may be able to get DH on board with this one considering we both LOVE Annabel and Dawson has a lot of meaning to me and our relationship. It flows better, too. The only thing I don't like is if I did wind up calling her Dawson whenever I wanted, would she get confused that she has two names? I still like the idea of flipping this name to Annabel Dawson though because on paper, teachers and everyone else will KNOW she's a girl. As just plain Dawson, everyone will assume she's a boy unless her middle name was there.

From pp's suggestions of Dawson and MN combos, what struck a chord with me were Dawson Amelia and Dawson Cecilia! Really pretty and flows SO well!!! Thanks! A few more to add to the list....

DH and I were discussing other girl names last night. We still really like Luciela, which I heard a few months ago. Kelli, one of your previous posts in the last few months listed a Dora the Explorer "name pronunciation" web site, and Luciela was one of those names in her "database" and I flipped for it! DH really likes it too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2006
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 10:23am

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I do think it would be confusing to have 2 names that are so different. Now, if you wanted to exclusively call her by her mn that would be fine. I know lots of people who go by their mn, a nn for their mn, or some name unrelated to their fn, mn, or ln. It is not too confusing because when you meet someone you introduce yourself by the name you go by and on forms there is always a box for nicknames/names you go by.

Brooke

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 10:35am

So true! Thanks for your input.

I just emailed my husband and asked, "what if we flip the name to Annabel Dawson?" I'm waiting impatiently see what he says! I'd love for him to LOVE it like I do and we could add it as number 1 to our list, lol. ;)

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 11:04am

DH's reply to Annabel Dawson: "Perhaps."

I wish I could hear him say it because I have no clue what he means through email with "Perhaps"! LOL

Hey -- at least "perhaps" is better than the HELL NO I got last night, right??

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2005
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 11:31am
I don't like anything that ends in "-son" for a girl, because it literally means "son of."

AJ, enjoying life with C.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2007
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 11:44am
I'm really not too concerned about the meaning, I like the sound and the name means a lot to me. Plus, I'm leaning toward a middle name now anyhow.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 1:37pm

As for pp's suggestions of flipping the name to Annabel Dawson .... I REALLY like it!!!! I may be able to get DH on board with this one considering we both LOVE Annabel and Dawson has a lot of meaning to me and our relationship. It flows better, too. The only thing I don't like is if I did wind up calling her Dawson whenever I wanted, would she get confused that she has two names? I still like the idea of flipping this name to Annabel Dawson though because on paper, teachers and everyone else will KNOW she's a girl. As just plain Dawson, everyone will assume she's a boy unless her middle name was there.


That's exactly what I was trying to say in my previous post. ;) You get the name you want, and that seems to have special meaning to you and dh, but "on paper" for school or professional purposes, she can use the obviously female Annabel or even Annabel Dawon (good for the business cards, I think ). And as an adult, she'll probably appreciate not always getting calls for "Mr. Dawson LN." :)


And I don't think the two names issue is really that much an issue at all. I know plenty of people who go by their mns on a regular basis, and plenty of others who "switch-hit," like my FIL who uses Arthur/Art at work, but goes by his mn, Keith, everywhere else. And especially if you're considering it more as the "special" name you and dh would call her, but expect she'll use Annabel at school and such. To use my dd (full name Devanie Rose) as an example, she gets called Devanie, Dev, Devi, Evie (Evvy AND Eevy), Devereux, Rose and Rosie, and she'll answer to any and all of them. ;) There's no confusion ... they're just ALL hers.


The Dora site must not be loading correctly for me ... I can't hear Luciela! :( I'll try again later. LOL



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Edited 6/1/2007 3:00 pm ET by mommyagain6124

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Registered: 05-10-2007
Fri, 06-01-2007 - 2:38pm

Wow! Devanie is a very lucky kid to have all those amazing and beautiful nicknames!! That is truly a great versatile name.

We're TTC this summer and we figured we'd start "talking names" now because we don't really agree on much of the same names, and if we do, it's the same two names over and over again. I thought this was really different and "spiced" up our list.

Many of my friends are loving this combo, esp with Annabel first. A few of my friends really like it for a first name, but they are a lot braver than me! LOL Not sure I could actually name a girl a boy's name, but I do like Dawson so much and hopefully someday I will have the courage. I just think it's really hip even as a middle name.