US boy names that became girl names
The gist
Baby-naming site NameDaisy found 42 US names moved from mostly boys to mostly girls, versus 12 the other way.
The imbalance suggests boy-to-girl switches stick, which shapes what parents pick next.
How it unfolded
- 1936 –2025NameDaisy analyzes SSA baby-name files in five-year periods, starting in 1936 because earlier records are less complete.
- 1956 –1960Kelly switches from mostly boys to mostly girls, at the name's peak popularity; it was then 55 times as common among girls as before.
- 2001 –2005Joan becomes mostly masculine, with just 1,435 babies given the name, down from 74,477 at its peak.