Hi All,

So I'm currently trying to figure out a new name to change to. As per my username I thought I had settled on Noah, which I do really like, but I feel like it would be read exclusively as masculine. Which although I predominantly feel/am male there are times where I don't feel nearly as male as other days, or kind of feel like I'm not male or female at all, if that makes sense? I am very desperate to change my name, I'm pre-everything but as soon as someone looks at any official documents I immediately get a lot of apologies for people thinking they have got the wrong gender.

I came across the name Eli, which I feel suits me quite well, and is also the same initial as my birth name, which would make it easier for friends/family to adjust to.

So, do people read the name Eli as masc/fem/neutral? My family seem to think the Eli is even more male than Noah....which has  kind of confused me!

Thanks!

Eli is a male name, but you could change the spelling to soften the name, or remove gender markings

Suggestions: Eali,  Eleigh, Elie, etc.

I agree that Eli is male.  That name always reminds me of an old southern tale my Grandmother used to tell us at night when I was little.  It was about old Eli who lived way out in the woods and kidnapped little children to eat for supper.  I remember that story scaring me every time she told it.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

Eli is most definitely a male name, as is Noah.

Modern etymology has always confused me. So many feminine names were originally masculinr and vice versa. Its been that way for so long people have all but completely forgotten the original or even regional history behind the names.

That said, Eli or Elijah in long form Im sure was always carried by men and is a biblical name, hebrew in origin?

Again, names are pretty much androgynous now.

Eli is male where I'm from (Bible name), but in different parts of the world and different cultures can be female. I put it on my list of names to consider as well.

I noted that it is sometimes used as a nickname for girls (Elizabeth, etc.) and considered the "other" spelling - Ely, which is used even more as a name/nickname for girls ("Ellie") so if I were to go with it is would be with the conventional spelling Eli.

I consider it masculine sounding as more people will fall on the male recognition of it, even though as Kylo said it could be short for a female name like Eliza...

If it helps my name is neutral and people will either read it as female until they see Im a dude then immediately register it as a more male sounding name's shorthand form. My name is very femme and neutral in that way (Val, Valentine)

If youre no sure at all I suggest some tried and true neutral names like Alex, Taylor, Danny/Dani, Charlie, Riley, Mel, Reagan, Lou/Lu.


That said though if youre fine with Eli dont let anything stop you from being Eli

I think it sounds male but both masculine and feminine. I actually chose my name because it sounded inbetween these two. I feel mostly male but also agender; and so wanted something androgynous sounding. I very briefly considered Eli; but passed to it's religiious connotations. Interesting El means 'the almighty' or something similar in Hebrew but only knew that aftet changing my name to it.

Thanks all for the responses  I think I will try it out with my family and see how it sounds/feels to me and how I feel when being called Eli. I have no attachment really to the biblical connotations to the name, I'm just finding out what I feel comfortable being known as. Now I just need to find somewhere to test it out with strangers!