This week, Appellation Mountain’s Abby Sandel follows up with Part Two of her suggestions for namesake gender-bending–this time it’s girls’ names from boys.

　　Last week’s post was all about the trendsetting Pinkett-Smith family and their son Jaden Christopher Syre, named after mom Jada.  This week the spotlight turns to daughter Willow Camille Reign, after dad Will. While plenty of parents chose appellations that honor loved ones, crossing gender lines opens up some inventive options for girls’ names.

　　At first glance, this is easy for girls’ names.  There are plenty of traditional equivalents, like Charles/Charlotte or Alexander/Alexandra.  But what if you’re trying to name a daughter after your brother Chad?  Or you adore your uncle Patrick, but you can’t imagine calling your little one Patricia?

　　Parents have grafted together some unusual choices over the years.  There are just add –ette or –elle names, like Danette and Donelle; ends-in-ie choices, like Artie and Bennie; and double names, from Bobbie Sue to Rayanne.  Some may be carefully chosen, but Markie or Hughette can sound like afterthoughts, hastily cobbled together when the parents heard the words, “It’s a girl!” 

　　Sometimes parents just pass on the masculine moniker, but there is a world of options for naming a daughter Pinkett-Smith style.  It’s not just Will and Jade, either.  Emeril Lagasse called his daughter Meril.

　　Just like last week’s post, these are options based on the most popular names of the 1970s and 80s.  Add your additions and suggestions in the comments!

　　Aaron – Allaire

　　Adam – Adelaide, Amalia, Amanda

　　Alan, Allen – Lana, Lena

　　Alex, Alexander – Alice, Alix, Zara

　　Andre, Andrew – Drea, Drusilla

　　Anthony, Antonio – Antonella, Antha

　　Arthur – Harlow

　　Austin – Austen

　　Benjamin – Enya

　　Blake – Lake

　　Brad**, Chad – Ada, Adeline**

　　Bradley – Hadley

　　Brendan – Brenna

　　Brett – Bree

　　Brian, Bryan, – Briar, Briony

　　Bruce – Ruth

　　Caleb – Libby

　　Calvin – Vida, Vina

　　Cameron – Camille, Maren

　　Carl, Carlos – Carlotta

　　Casey, Casy – Cassandra, Casilda

　　Charles – Arliss

　　Christian – Christian, Kester, Kitty

　　Clayton – Layla

　　Clinton – Linden, Lindy

　　Cody – Echo

　　Colin – Colette

　　Corey, Cory – Cora, Coraline, Cordelia, Corisande

　　Daniel – Annie, Danica, Elaina, Elodie, Elsa

　　Darrell – Ella, Rell

　　Darren – Wren

　　David – Dava, Davina

　　Dean – Jeanne

　　Dennis – Nessa

　　Donald – Donna, Donnatella

　　Dylan – Dilys

　　Edward – Eden, Edie

　　Edwin – Gwen, Gwynne

　　Eric, Erik – Frederica, Veronica

　　Ernest – True, Verity

　　Evan – Evadne

　　Fernando – Fern

　　Francisco, Frank – Francesca, Frannie

　　Frederick – Frieda

　　Garrett – Garnet

　　Gary – Mary

　　Harold, Harry – Hallie

　　Henry – Hattie

　　Ian – Nia, Nina

　　Isaac – Isla

　　Jack – Jane, Joan

　　Jacob, Jason – Jacinda

　　James – Amy

　　Jay – Mae, May

　　Jeffrey – Freya

　　Jeremiah – Mariah, Maya

　　Jeremy – Mia

　　Jerome – Romy

　　Jesse – Jessamine

　　Joel – Jolie

　　Joseph – Poesy, Posey, Posy, Seraphina

　　Kenneth – Kendall, Kenna

　　Kevin – Eva, Evelina

　　Larry, Lawrence – Laurel

　　Leonard – Leah, Leocadia

　　Logan – Olga

　　Louis, Lucas, Luis – Lulu, Lucasta, Lucienne

　　Manuel – Molly

　　Marc, Mark – Arcadia

　　Mario – Aria

　　Martin – Marla, Marlo

　　Matthew – Mattea, Maud, Maude, Thea

　　Maurice – Reese

　　Michael – Ellie, Micah

　　Nathan – Hana

　　Nathaniel – Anya

　　Neil – Neely, Nell

　　Nicholas – Holly, Nicola

　　Omar – Mara

　　Oscar – Scarlett

　　Patrick – Trixie

　　Paul – Polly

　　Peter – Petra, Tera

　　Philip, Phillip – Piper, Pippa

　　Ralph – Rae

　　Randall – Dahlia, Dolly

　　Raymond – Rachel, Rae

　　Robert – Beryl

　　Roy – Joy

　　Ruben – Ruby

　　Russell – Selah

　　Scott – Scout

　　Sean, Shawn – Sian

　　Seth – Beth

　　Theodore – Dory

　　Thomas – Tamsin

　　Todd – Maude

　　Travis – Ava, Avis

　　Trevor – Riva

　　Tyler – Lila

　　Vincent – Wynne

　　Walter – Wallis

　　William – Billie, Willa, Willow

　　Zachary – Caroline