Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

This is happening more and more - this was my favorite - a woman I worked with briefly in a weekend program saw him - dressed in blue...

she said, "Ooooh - you had a BOY!"

I said "Yes, I did!"

"Whats his name?"

"Cailen"

She then says, "Wait - you had a girl?"





I'm like - "No - I said he's a boy. His name is Cailen!"

" Cay Lynn?"

I spelled his name for her.

But people are doing this - I dress him VERY boyish - but when people ask his name, I try to emphasize the CAY part - the "len" is sort of soft - not "Lynn..."

But I'm getting a lot of people asking me if he's a girl after I tell them the name (so - they will assume he's a boy, ask, "whats his name?" I'll say Cailen - and say - oh, sorry - I thought he was a boy...)

I love his name - lots of people love his name - but is this going to be a problem for him??? Is he going to be teased and be called a girl because of his name? (Kids can be mean when they are little!!!)

My stepdaughter's name is Devin, and when people see her name before they see her, they assume she's a boy. I know we have this ambiguous name thing going on in our family, and she is fine with it (she's a very pretty, confident little girl)

I can only hope we teach Cailen to be confident and learn how to not get upset at stupid things kids/adults say....

Message edited 5/4/2007 10:12:44 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I've ALWAYS thought Cailen was a boys name!

My DS's name is Liam.... and I always hear "Liaaaaaaaa...m" - NO, Liam!

Drives me nuts too!!!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Right! Same with my son!! I mean, Liam is the end of William - cmon!!!!

It's not like we're putting our boys in pink dresses here!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

hmmm I'll be honest and say in he situation you described that I might have thought you were saying "Cay- Lyn" and assumed that you had a girl.

But not necessarily that it is a girls name!
Many names now are being used for both boys and girls, (including Aidan I've heard!)

I love his name! I would also love it for a girl though.

My niece is Griffin, everyone says "yeah, I only know boys that have that name" I'm like, well now you know a girl!


ETA: NO! I don't think he will be teased at all!

Message edited 5/4/2007 10:24:47 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

If I heard it, I would think "Katilyn" so I may think of it as a girl name.

If I saw it spelled, I would think boy name but reserve saying anything gender related until I saw the baby.

If it becomes an issue, you can always start using his middle name too.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I love Cailen, I have never heard it as a girls name.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Cailen is a boys name to me. If a girl were named cailen, I'd think she had a boys name( like Rory)

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I love the name! I had a female student named Cailen years ago. It's a very Irish name. I think the name is unisex.

But you did say that you had a boy so "DUH" to the woman that asked again!

Message edited 5/4/2007 11:33:42 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Honestly, people can be morons when it comes to this stuff. You told her you had a boy and she still asked? Thats stupid.

The guy who was here doing our sprinklers the other day saw Ryan walking around. Now, mind you, he is dress in BLUE and boyish clothes, and asks DH- "Ohhh you're having another girl?!". DH was upset and took Ry the next day for a hair cut (DH blames the mistaken identity on his hair being too long -but it wasn't long- just had grown out from his last buzz cut so it was short compared to most standards).

People are idiots!!!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I understand you being upset when he is dressed in boy clothing, but these days A LOT of names are unisex. My son is Logan....My sister is 9 and a girl in her class is named Logan...who knew.

ETA: my cousin is caileigh...not that far off.

Message edited 5/4/2007 11:04:25 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I would never think a girls name to be Cailen. Are people clueless or what?

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

You know, when he was first born and you posted his name--in print--it never occurred to me that it would be a girl's name.

But this post made me remember that I've had 2 students in the past with the name Kailin, as well as a friend's cousin, who are girls. So, I guess, to be honest, when I *hear* it, it reminds me of a girl, but when I *see* it--not necessarily.

I think there are a lot of beautiful unisex names today, and Cailen is one of them! Either way, this lady is a moron!!!!!!!!!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I love the name, but honestly I think it can go either way.

However, if he was dressed in all blue why would one assume it's a girl

I've had people do that with Steven. He is all boy. I always dress him in blue or very boyish clothes and people still say "oh, she's beautiful"

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

actulally we know a Cailin abut she is a girl . so automatically i think girl

when people hear cailen they probably think KayLynn

Message edited 5/4/2007 11:47:22 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Honestly, IMO yes I do think it sounds like a girl's name because I think it sounds like Kaitlin....

I also have never heard of this name before, but when I saw it written out, I wasn't sure --it sounds like it is one of the unisex names people are using lately. Like Jaiden/Jayden. I have seen that used for a boy and a girl.

However, if he was dressed in BLUE and you said son, I am not sure why someone would say that.

ETA: it is a nice name nonetheless

Message edited 5/4/2007 11:52:15 AM.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

when hearing it I would think girl when seeing it spelled I would think boy. ah lots of names go either way

Jordan
Jordyn

Dillon
Dylen

Ryan I have seen for both too.

Kids are going to tease no matter what if its the name, their ears, their nose etc. kids will find something. dont worry its a cute name!!!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Posted by girlygrl33

when hearing it I would think girl when seeing it spelled I would think boy. ah lots of names go either way

Jordan
Jordyn

Dillon
Dylen

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

The only time I ever heard the named Cailen was a girl on "America's Next Top Model" but she spelled it differently.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

When I see the name "Cailen", I think it's a boy's name... unless it's spelled with a lyn or lynn instead. I have this problem too. My DD's name is Jacelyn (Jace-Lyn) but every single time we go to the Dr's office, they look at her chart and call her Jacqueline. And TWICE I went to the window to sign in and told the same woman "Jacelyn is here..." and she looks at my DD all dressed in pink with earrings and a headband and looks at me all confused and says "Jason???".

Is her name really that difficult?

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I can understand her thinking it's a girls name. I would have probably thought the same thing. But she was still stupid to ask again after you tell her it's a Boy. God what is wrong with people.

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

I def. think Cailen is a boy's name...

BTW I also LOVE the name Devin!

Re: Come on - does Cailen REALLY sound like a girl's name?

Posted by dandr10199

Posted by girlygrl33

when hearing it I would think girl when seeing it spelled I would think boy. ah lots of names go either way

Jordan
Jordyn

Dillon
Dylen

\

I agree.