Naming Our Daughters: Kyle and Cameran Defying Conventions

When choosing names for our children, my husband and I leaned towards tradition with our first son but opted for gender-neutral names for our daughters and our second son.

Our girls, Kyle and Cameran, along with Brooks—our second son whose name also ends with an 's'—carry names that often lead to raised eyebrows.

Reflecting on this decision, I'm indifferent about how diverging from conventional names might have altered our lives.

Choosing Kyle: A Nod to Our Heritage

My Sicilian grandmother was puzzled as we scanned names for our third child. Her comment, 'We aren't even Irish,' still resonates with me.

Naming a child is no easy task—they carry this decision throughout their life while being subject to everyone's unsolicited opinions.

Truth be told, I was merely indulging her curiosity. The choice of ‘Kyle’ had already been made in honor of my husband and grandmother's partly Irish lineage.

Despite my grandmother’s frustration that the name typically signifies masculinity, I was firm that 'Kyle'—meaning 'narrow' or 'straight'—was fitting and unisex, ultimately becoming her full name with the addition of 'Marie.'

Living with Unisex Names: The Experience with Kyle and Cameran

My grandmother forewarned of confusion, and she wasn’t wrong. The hospital staff queried, 'Is it Kyle or Kylie?' This was just a glimpse of the discord that her name would bring.

While I adore calling my daughters Cameran and Kyle, miscommunications are frequent.

For instance, medical staff often mistakenly refer to Kyle as a 'he,' not having checked the records thoroughly.

At school functions, puzzled looks meet the announcement of their names, often under the impression they are both boys.

I recognize the need for others to correct or mainstream non-traditional choices, although it's their attempts to 'fix' something they perceive incorrectly that can be most trying.

Brooks: A Name with an Extra 'S'

The arrival of our son Brooks continued the cycle of naming confusion. My grandmother thought his name sounded feminine as well.

However, the name was significant to my husband. Inspired by NHL player Brooks Laich, who notably helped a stranded motorist despite his sports stature, my husband admired this gesture above all.

As Brooks matured, similar misunderstandings of his name occurred, often with people dropping the 's' to interpret it as feminine.

Despite these confusions, this pattern feels familiar. It closely mirrors previous experiences with his sisters' names.

Contemplating Conventional Choices

I sometimes ponder on whether traditionally feminine names like Taylor or Olivia—or for Brooks, names like Steven or Matthew—would have altered interactions at schools or medical visits.

In retrospect, the answer holds little significance to me. I have always proudly corrected assumptions without needing to justify our choices.

Ultimately, while names like Kyle often skew masculine and Brooks is typically male elsewhere, they both hold unisex potential. Now, with our children ranging from their teenage years to their twenties, their names reflect them perfectly, and that is all that matters to us.