When it comes to baby name fashion, the last really are first. Name endings carry a disproportionate power in a name's style and impact. That's the secret behind Angelina Jolie's impact on baby names -- discussed here in our X & O roundup.
Today's baby name news tells a similar tale. Baby name critics preparing to pounce on the latest "weird" celebrity name: Zuma, born to musicians Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. Yes, it's an extremely unusual name. (Zuma is a famous Malibu beach, which gives the name a unique resonance to SoCal natives like Ms. Stefani. Think of a surfer named Zuma, and the name might start to make more sense to you.) But I suspect that the real key to the raised eyebrows isn't that the name is so uncommon; it's that Zuma is a boy.
English doesn't have gendered word endings -- in theory. In practice, though, we hew to the Romance-language standard that marks -a as feminine and -o as masculine. You see it in baby names, and even in product names. We hear the underlying feminine/masculine stereotypes: an -a ending "softens" a name, while an -o makes it "energetic."
That's not to say we never cross the lines. But usually, when it comes to gender-bending, we're more willing to make our girls boyish than our boys girlish. Think of the title character of the film Juno. The feminine -o was used to emphasic her individualistic strength. The -o of Shiloh, similarly, made that name a celebrity style smash.
In fact, there are signs of life for boys ending in -a, too. Joshua has become the most popular -a boy in American history, swamping the previous champion Ira. Luca is another fast rising name (especially among Portuguese speakers -- it's a top-100 name in Rhode Island, with its huge Portuguese and Brazilian population.) But they're still the exception, which means that -a names can still surprise. The names that really point the way toward Zuma are two that, like Zuma, found their way to the nursery from non-traditional sources:
Dakota is one of the names for a large Sioux ethnic group from the Northern plains. It became a popular American boy's name in the 1990s.
Koda is the name of an orphaned Alaskan bear cub in the 2003 animated film Brother Bear, and made a modest splash as a boy's name in 2004. It was presumably inspired by the Kodiak bears of Alaska.
Names like Dakota, Koda and Zuma are very deliberate steps away from European naming traditions. Their style depends on an image of rugged, wild freedom. The easiest way to shed centuries of Western Civilization is to choose the ending that most defies that tradition: the masculine a.
The Call of the Wild A
08/22/2008, 1:18PM
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Comments
Not that they would ever be wildly popular but I have a few -a ending boy's names on my list.
Indra
Keita
Nuada
Shea
Grey (by sound, if not spelling)
You amaze me, Laura! This post reads as though you wrote it weeks ago, with research to boot. Did Gwen Stefani call you last month and leak her secret name? Thanks for another thought-provoking post.
I have a few masculine -a names on my list (Luca for instance) but I notice that many Hebrew male names ending in the -a sound are "protected" from looking feminine by a final (silent) -h in their anglicized form.
For example:
Joah
Elijah
Jonah
Noah
What about Sacha/Sasha? I know it's getting co-opted by the ladies, but I read about two babies (one male, one female) with this name in my college alumni mag recently. I don't know a lot about Russian names, but it seems like it's not that unusual for men's names or nicknames to end with "a" (Vanya, Nikita, Sasha).
Another name I thought of was Asa, which, interestingly enough, had been brought up about a week ago--I'm pretty sure the prospective mother was asking if it sounded too feminine, so that seems to fit right in with this topic as well.
Laura, Not sure how you are defining "western civilization" and "European tradition." There are many "ending in A sound" boy names in the Hebrew Bible aka Old Testament. You mentioned Joshua, a very popular name and Moonie lists several others above. Isaiah and Ezra are additional examples. Is the silent H ending protecting from being girlie or a hold over from the Hebrew spelling?
End with "S" remains by prediction for the next boy naming trend.
Seamus
Jonas
Marcus
Lucus
Atticus
Phinneaus
I must admit that I find Zuma to be a tad feminine, but I definitely think it's one that I can grow to appreciate for a boy.
However, I do have a few on my own list that are -a enders.
Ezra
Asa
Micah
Jeremiah
Jonah
Zuma seems so feminine to me, and I think of the other A-ending boy names as being popular because they give the name a gentle, sensitive sound.
Following with Nesta makes it seem even more feminine.
I think the -uma makes Zuma appear more feminine.
I know a little (8 mo?) boy named Rio Nesta. Somehow, I have always found his name to be a bit jarring. Maybe the -o -a are the key to my ipmression.
Not having the beach association (since I live in Canada), my association with Zuma is an extremely addictive Flash computer game.
I'm glad the name has a lot of meaning for Gwen and Gavin, however to me it just doesn't flow with Kingston, and I'm one of those people who's big on flow. It's interesting that Laura is pointing to the somewhat rebellious nature of the -a ending in Zuma, when Kingston fits in very nicely with the enormous -n ending trend.
I think the Biblical a (or ah) ending names sound masculine to us because they ARE Biblical names.
For instance Micah -- masculine name (although now it is often used as a girl name). Why? because it is Biblical.
But then consider Luca -- until ER came along, I am willing to bet that most WASP americans would have considered it a "girl" name... in fact my friend who has a son named Luca was discouraged from using it because it sounded feminine.
If Gwen had found Zuma in the Bible, and told everyone it was a Biblical name, no one would have blinked an eye because everyone subconsiously knows the Biblical a ending masculine name rule.
(and yeah, this Southern Californian who has been to Zuma beach thinks it sounds feminine too...)
Sasha, Ezra and Joshua are certainly common enough...and a lot of Indian boys' names end in A (I've known little boys called Kushagra and Hemanya). So Zuma doesn't raise any eyebrows as a boy's name for me--but then, I can see Malibu whenever I drive past the beach.... ;)
And Nesta IS a girl's name in Wales, but (as pointed out last thread) it was also the birth name of Bob Marley (Nesta Robert Marley)--so it's got a history as a male name, too.
Isaiah is a popular boys' name too these days. In theory it sounds very feminine though.
See, I thought Juno was named for the Roman goddess of motherhood (since the movie's about a pregnancy) rather than for its sound. I could see, though, how the movie's popularity might contribute to the popularity of -o/-oh endings for girls.
I think popular names ending in "uh" (a/ah/etc.) cross gender lines too frequently to truly suggest it's traditionally feminine. I'd say more gender ambiguous, but often feminine. I can't identify why Andrea or Elka are definitely feminine to me, while Ezra and Kona are not. Nor why Dana is gender neutral-sounding, but Donna, is not. (If the linguists out there have some hints, I'd love some insight.)
In contrast, the ending sound that has become exclusively feminine to most ears is "ee." Kylee, Mylie, Sandy, Lesley, Addy, or Ashley may have all been boys seventy years ago; but by modern standards, none of these names sound gender neutral let alone masculine. Cody is the only exception I can think of (though this name strikes me as permanently boyish, not mannish at all). Are there other male names ending in "ee" that still sound masculine to our modern ears?
I think Gwen Stefani was having a delivery room surprise (but not positive). I wonder if the name Zuma was set to be used on either a boy or girl.
Aren't there a lot of traditionally Russian and Eastern European Boys names that have a feminine feel to the West?
Like:
Dimitri
Alexi
Sacha
For some reason I am drawing a blank on more names, but I have always felt there is a great source of Russian names that are not used because they feel a bit feminine to our ears.
Bradley and Zachary end in the "ee" sound and are definitively male.
With "a" ending names for females being so prominent now, does anyone think any of those old testament boys names ending in a will eventually cross over to being used as girls names? Or do they have a more established history as being male than some of the recent crossovers (Ashley, Avery)?
Interesting and well-timed post, Laura, as usual! I know of a five-year-old boy named Kodiak, BTW. Unfortunately, it makes me think of Kodak, rather than bears or Alaska!
One of my best friends is named Kay, and although I always knew it was a family name, I was surprised to find out she was named after her father, his full name being Kay Mannio Lastname, the exact same as hers.
I couldn't help but wonder how/why an italian man who was born circa 1920 got the name Kay.
Any ideas?
Very timely post for me. I'm the mother-to-be who was asking about Asa, and wondering if it sounded feminine to people who aren't familiar with it. Because we like biblical names, many names on our list end in the -a sound (Micah being our leading choice), but I think I still feel nervous about it sometimes if people don't know a name, so I'm still not ready to commit. On the other hand, I guess I like picturing having a sensitive kind son, so I like the feeling that the -a sound can imply.
I think there are many boys names that end in the 'ee' sound (of course girls have used some of these too, but they're primarily boys names).
Toby, Billy, Bobby, Barry, for example.
Off the top of my head -- ee ending boy names:
Wesley
Andy
Harry
Henry
Bobby/Robby
Charlie
Larry
Most "EE" names for either female or male sound like names for babies and children to me, they don't grow up very well. (And that includes my own.)
I heard a soloist this week, who looked to be in his 60s, with the name Malley. My husband loves it, but I'm not sure if it sounds too feminine. Opinions?
The first thought I had wasn't that Zuma sounded feminine -- it was that Zuma is the name of a fairly popular Internet game or one that would be downloaded to a cellphone. I'm pretty sure my husband's phone came with a trial copy, actually.
It's also close to "Zune," which is a Microsoft mp3 player or something.
It's a name that screams computer to me. She may as well have named it iPod. (Yes, I know it has personal meaning for them, but you can't ignore connotation, IMHO.)
Ashley still sounds like a male name in the UK - thanks to several famous footballers.
Yolanda, the -ee ending is absolutely not a feminine ending here in the UK. Charlie and Alfie were both in the England and Wales top ten last year, plus Archie, Riley, Jamie, Harley, Bailey, Corey, Billy and Louie in the top 100.
But the only names I can find in the top 100 ending in the a or -ah sound are Joshua, Noah and Luca.
I've come across Mally as a nn for Malachi or Malcolm. I like it but much prefer Marley.
I think Zuma sounds particularly feminine to me because I think of Zima -- when is a chick beer (according to the guys I used to drink with).
I like the beach connection though. It's nice place for casual climbing and surfing days! I wonder if they planned to use it for a girl as well?
Actually have just counted up and last year there were 16 -ee names in the top 100 boys' names in England and Wales, which I'm sure makes it the most popular ending.
they are:
Harry
Charlie
Alfie
Archie
Finley
Toby
Riley
Louis
Freddie
Bradley
Harley
Bailey
Zachary
Billy
Corey
Louie
Quite a lot of those sound American-influenced to me - but maybe I am wrong? Would these be unusual or feminine in the US?
Interesting...I know a family with a Judah, Asa, and Ezra.
For me, Micah was always a girl's name. The first Micah I met was a 4 year old girl, and I was 6 at the time. The next Micah I met was a girl as well, 18, and I was 15. The only other Micah I know is a 2 year old boy, and it shocked me to hear it being used for a boy. I've adjusted to it now, and find it quite handsome.
@Keren -
From your list, Finley & Bailey are the ones that could be feminine in the US. The rest are all solidly masculine.
I think (and I never thought I'd say this) Zeus would have been better. Gwen could've pulled it off.
Well, we were *almost* right about Marley being a sibling to Kingston. Of course they would choose Nesta, plus a place name too boot in Zuma.
I agree that Zuma Nesta sounds feminine, and that's actually my favorite part about it (I touched upon this point on YCCII). Not that it sounds like a girl's name per se, but that it's soft. To me, a lot of super cool boys' names sound soft: Lucian, Cyril, Asa, Remy, Laurent, Luca, Milo... I really do think this will give heart to young parents who are also thinking along these lines for their sensitive young men.
http://youcantcallitit.com/
New baby alert: Baby boy Leslie Carlton, Jr. nn Les, born to neighbor. Thoughts?
Laura mentioned back when that she hoped Gwen would have her baby before the next edition manuscript had to be finished... Does this mean that the next edition of the Baby Name Wizard is soon going to print? Can't wait!
Leslie Carlton, Jr is nms. I just can't wrap my brain around Leslie. Even for a girl.
Watching the olympics again and I was reminded of a name ending with "a" that has a thoroughly masculine association: Attila.
Also, I've never noticed the name Nesta before, but I just saw that it is the name of a Jamaican runner (Nesta Carter) who won gold in the Men's 4 x 100m relay.
Gosh-Zuma reads boy to me!
Maybe because it sounds like zoom?
Of course, a little girl could zoom (is this a universal term for dashing around madly, or does it have other meanings I don't know?)
It sounds little boy to me, though-like Niko, Jett or Ace-though I suspect mom was going for something different.
It also reminds me of Kona, which is a potential boy name of my acquaintance who went with Mailey for her new baby girl (dad is Hawaiian).
Nesta does sound feminine-it reminds me of Nissa, a name I've only heard irl twice but always liked.
I'll be interested in seeing if I'm the odd one out on Zuma. Anyone else think it's clearly boy?
@Keren:
Of the ones you've listed, most trend older and aren't currently in style for boys in the U.S. (Harry, Alfie, Archie, Louis (or Louie), Freddie, Bradley). A few, however, are up-and-coming or popular girls names, at least amongst the under-3 crowd in Southern California (Charlie, Finley, Riley, Bailey, Harley). Corey was a popular name for boys and girls in the late 1970's, but most Corey's I have known have been girls.
I have to agree with J&H's mom. My first thought was that this was a boy's name before wondering if I was wrong. I agree that it sounds like zoom and having lived in SoCal most things surfer seem male. I actually think it fits nicely with Kingston, both have beach connotations and are unique without being "weird".
I don't think the silent -h at the end of many biblical masculine names (Jonah, Isaiah, etc.) necessarily protects it from sounding feminine. Consider some feminine biblical names:
Rebeccah
Deborah
Sarah
Usually Hebrew words ending in -ah are feminine, but not always.
Honestly I thought Zuma was a girl's name until stated otherwise. I suppose it could go either way.
I talked a bit about the topic of the endings of male Hebrew names in a previous post and I would like to reiterate just how varied the origins of translated or transliterated names really are. There are many possible Hebrew counterparts for names which end in a/ah in English.
First it is important to know that there are three silent letters in Hebrew, aleph, ayin, and hey, which make no noise other than that of the vowel paired with it. Also, there are also two vowels which make the "ah" sound: kamatz and patach.
Second, there is an important difference between (i) names that are nouns and (ii) names that are created from the merging of several words into one coherent meaning (the latter generally involving the name of God, often presented as "Ya" at the end of the name).
1) Names ending in Hey:
i) Names that are nouns:
The general rule in Hebrew is that if a noun ends with the the vowel kamatz and the letter hey, then that noun in feminine.
ii) Names indicating God's name:
[Note that if, instead of the "Ya" name of God, the name "El" is used, (basically "El" meaning the noun "god" rather than being the proper name of the singular Jewish God, "Ya", which comes from Yaweh), you end up with Mi ("who") + Cha ("like") + El ("god") = Michael.]
2) Names ending in Ayin:
3) Names ending in aleph:
***
There are also quite a few names which end in "ah" in English but that don't in Hebrew. The two types I can think of right now are:
- Noah = Noach
- Elijah = Eliyahoo --> "Ya is God" / "My God is YHWH"
- Jeremiah = Yermeyahoo --> "God has raised/uplifted"
- Isaiah = Yesha'yahoo --> "Salvation is God"
- Josiah = Yoshiyahu --> "God supports"
- etc
***
There are other examples for all of these categories, but this is what I could dig out of my brain at the moment.
Thanks Yolanda and Carly, really interested to hear that.
I think Zuma sounds very male...not sure why!
No wonder people think my son EZRA is a girl! I was equally shocked when I bet a little girl Ezra. I was also upset.
I can see the -a ending becoming out more for boys.
Great post Laura!
I mean "met" a little girl...sheesh
I also want to add that I see ZUMA as a boy's name.
@J&H's mom - Zuma sounds male to me, and after a bit of mulling it over, the reason popped into my head: Montezuma. Then a bit of googling revealed that Montezuma is also a place name in the USA. For me, though, Montezuma is the Aztec emperor.
Wow, Karyn! Excellent and interesting post.
I really like Elijah and after your post I like it even better. Maybe I can get hubby on board on this?
Rjoy,
There's a girl Esra, in my almost 2yo's music class. They really emphasize the s -- eSSSra. I've never heard that before. Is it trying to feminize Ezra, or does it have another source?
(I don't have much knowledge, but do have tons of interest, in naming).
Karyn, that rocked, thank you.
Laura, I love your blog entries, always.
Karyn, cool comment with the Hebrew naming info! Do you have a blog?
On a girl named Esra--there's a (female) singer-songwriter named Essra Mohawk--but on closer examination, she was born with the name Sandra Hurvitz. "Essra" looks to have been just a modification of Sandra--as in S-ra, said aloud and spelled out. (The Mohawk she married into.) Maybe the little Esra's parents are fans?
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9fixq85ldke~T1
Wasn't there an iced-tea drink called Zuma in the 80s? Or am I thinking of Zima? There was also Zemi in the 70s, a slushy fruit drink.
Naturally, being who I am, I hate the name Zuma, on a boy or a girl.
But I love Ezra on a boy. Ez has got to be the cutest nickname ever.
Since -ee did get quite feminized from 1975-present (think Kelli for the 70s, Ashlee for the 80s-90s, and Miley for the 2000s), I wonder if that's contributed to the trend of NOT giving -ee names to little boys. In the UK there seem to be lots of Freddies and Billies and Louies, but in the states among a certain set they would be much more likely to be Frederick, William (or Liam) and Louis. To me, the -i, -y, and -ie endings look and sound very 70s, while the -ee and -ey look slightly fresher. But I much prefer other endings.
Thanks, Karyn, for giving all that information--so I don't have to. :-)
I will note that the Hebrew pronunciations Karyn gives are Israeli. When I was learning Hebrew as a child, there was a little song we learned which went in part," Kometz, aleph, aw." So in my dialect of Hebrew (Ashkenazic), my father's name is pronounced Eliyawhu, not Eliyahoo. Just so, in Ashkenazic Hebrew the letter suf is used instead of tuf (as in Israeli Hebrew): thus Yonasan, instead of Yonatan (Jonathan), Bas Mitzvah instead of Bat Mitzvah, Shabbas instead of Shabbat. The Ultra-Orthodox community centered in NY-NJ still uses the Ashkenazic pronunciation (as do I, having--just--embarked on my study of Hebrew before the founding of the state of Israel).
I must say that it disturbs me to see male biblical names (like Micah, Elisha, and even Michael) bestowed on girls, whether out of ignorance or as part of the general trend of giving male names to girls (which I personally dislike on several grounds).
BTW ayin is not really a silent letter (although we were taught to treat it as such). It is a voiced pharyngeal fricative. Pharyngeals are made way back in the organs of articulation (they are uvular) and no longer exist in Indo-European languages, although they once did. There is evidence of pharyngeals/laryngeals in Hittite (spoken in Anatolia in biblical times). People coming to Hebrew from an Indo-European language background have the devil's own time pronouncing this sound or even hearing it. Hence we were taught to ignore it.
I suppose that's enough Hebrew linguistics, especially since that is not really my field of expertise.
As a footnote, in an appendix to the Lord of the Rings Tolkien has fun with the expectation that -a is feminine and -o is masculine, as he explains that Frodo's name is really Froda....
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