I know what you mean, but still found it funny that you said this
I only know female Erins and male Aarons. I had a mentor named Francis Marion xxxxx. People thought that was his wife’s name as they thought both were female names. He went by Frank. His wife was Larma (only Larma I’ve known).
Francis is a guy name. Frances is a girl name. My grandfather was named Francis (though no one called him that).
I think they figured since it was the combo—Francis + Marion (mostly a woman’s name).
I can’t see this name without thinking of the Key and Peele substitute teacher sketch.
One of the funniest bits of all time! From anyone anywhere! Now I must watch it again.
Also very funny-Key and Peele football sketches with hilarious names.
East/West College Bowl
East/West College Bowl 2
I mentioned upthread that my ggrandfather was named General Francis Marion (Last name) for the Revolutionary War General. Apparently there were tons of men named after him. There is a National Forest in SC named after him also.
Francis with an I is most definitely the male spelling.
John Wayne’s real name was Marion Robert Morrison. Marion was a male name; Marian was the female version.
Ashley was a male name. Remember “Gone With the WInd?” Ashley Wilkes was played by the actor Leslie Howard in the movie. Most people named Ashley and Leslie now are female, at least IME.
Jennifer 8 Lee is a fairly well known journalist and cookbook author. She gave herself the number as a middle name. Maybe that’s where 9’s parents got the idea.
I have an 81-year-old first cousin (female) named Marion.
I agree with those upthread who said that younger people, especially those who grew up in diverse settings, are much more inclined to accept any name.
Another interesting wrinkle: my daughter and her fiance have agreed to use her (my) last name for any progeny. It’s a long and rather cumbersome name, apparently mangled a bit on Ellis Island, but it’s ours! Most of the remaining people with the name have had daughters, not sons (one exception: a single mother by choice with b/g twins, daughter of my father’s first cousin) and daughter and fiance don’t want the name to die out.
@oldmom4896 - I worked with a man (decades ago) whose children had his wife’s last name. He told me she had a very unusual ethnic name , no brothers, her dad was an only…the name was dying out. He OTOH had a few brothers who were married and had male children. It was a very unusual choice at that time, but I think it is great.
I had to pause and laugh at THE Ohio State University!
“Stranger Things” Six had a good friend, Nine. Maybe that’s where it came from. Would be the right age.
Frances Tiafoe is a male professional tennis player. So not always.
This should not surprise anyone:
I’m wondering what names Barbie will inspire, apart from Barbie and Ken?
Maybe a bunch of girls called Weird?
Malibu?