meggie Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Gosh, I really hope I didn't kill kittens with that title. It should be right. Right? I'm so paranoid I can't even remember the rule. Anyways, without Googling, would you say Harper is a girls name or a boys name (just in case I killed kittens with the thread title; I don't want to do it again.:lol:) Poll to follow (hold on and give me a mo', I practiced a few weeks ago, but that just means I probably forgot since then) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The Harper we know is a girl. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickelfritz Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I think a Disney channel show has a girl named Harper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I know a baby girl named Harper. Other than that, I've never heard it used as a first name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Grace Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Girl, of course! (Harper Lee leaps to mind.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Girl, of course! (Harper Lee leaps to mind.) :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I've only heard of girls named Harper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Harper Lee ("To Kill a Mockingbird" author) was a girl. I guess that just makes me think "girl" though technically I think it could be either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I didn't vote b/c I don't have a clue. To me it "sounds" masculine. However, I could see a woman using it. Ironically one of my dd's best friend's name is Harper....a girl. She goes by her middle name though which is Grace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The only Harper I know is a girl. Well, now she's in her 20's. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I always thought it was a girl's name but a friend named their son that recently, so I guess anything goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I would guess it to be a girl's name but admittedly never heard it used before. I do love it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleWMN Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 My dd's middle name is Harper. Melody Harper - and yes, she's musically inclined. I've seen it used as a boys' name on other message boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I would expect it to be used as a first name if it was in the family elsewhere as a surname - perhaps as the child's mother's maiden name. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The only Harper I know (outside of the Dragonriders of Pern books :D ) is the afore-mentioned author of To Kill a Mockingbird. I don't really think of it as anyone's name, but I guess I could put it in the Southern Name category along with Ainsley. :001_smile: Or the Last-Name-Used-as-First-Name category, like Hunter or Cooper. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I've only heard it on Wizards of Waverly Place - and that character is a girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I say either, but it is much more likely to be a girls name to me. Like the names Robin or Kelly of generations past. More common for a girl, but not surprising for a boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MakingHome Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Gosh, I really hope I didn't kill kittens with that title. It should be right. Right? I'm so paranoid I can't even remember the rule. Anyways, without Googling, would you say Harper is a girls name or a boys name (just in case I killed kittens with the thread title; I don't want to do it again.:lol:) Poll to follow (hold on and give me a mo', I practiced a few weeks ago, but that just means I probably forgot since then) I voted either, but here's the deal: I struggled. Because once a name goes female, it doesn't go back. So once it's on the slope towards female-usage, it's headed for the feminine side. So for me, those names would be cruel to use for a boy, because he'll be constantly fighting that expectation/question... class role sheet in college, resumes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 If I were using it I'd use it for a girl, but I once knew a crusty old cowboy-type guy named Harper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenpeterson5 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Only heard it used as a girl's name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 The only Harper I've known is a girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrappyhappymama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I know several babies or toddlers named Harper and they are all girls. I agree that once a name crosses over to popular use for girls, it usually loses its appeal a a boy's name. Ashley anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai B. Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I voted either. It sounds like a surname, which I associate with boy names. But the only “Harper†I know is a very cute little girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That name doesn't fly well in Canada... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That name doesn't fly well in Canada... ;) Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Why? Akin to someone there naming their baby Obama. :eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggie Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Ok, so here's the deal: People are always asking if baby girl is a boy (obviously I've given away that her name isn't really Chuck:glare: curses!). Usually at the doctor's office. No matter that right next to her is a pink onesie or I keep saying, "her" and "she". I think the nurse finally figured when I said, "Holy cow, she's really that long?!" (95th percentile) When she came back to give the shots, she started talking about baby girl's name and how it was "so pretty" and "yeah, I did hear about the Beckhams' baby" but she sure seemed intent on calling her a "he" before I said anything. I think she was talking with the other nurses in the interim and THEY told her about the Beckhams:lol: And a few weeks ago I ran into my old boss at the farmer's market. I said "that's Harper" and pointed to the stroller. And he asked, "You have three boys?" "No, old boss, that's a girl. She's wearing a dress" (in his defense the dress was blue and scrunched up under the five point harness). I need to buy more hairbows; all the ones we got after she was born are now too small (see above about my giant baby):glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Sounds like a boy name, but I would guess it is used more for girls. Either way it is not a name I would pick or have really heard much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Akin to someone there naming their baby Obama. :eek: Got it. (My dh was named after a Filipino politician - and no, it wasn't Marcos.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Got it. (My dh was named after a Filipino politician - and no, it wasn't Marcos.) :lol: That would have been my guess! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Totally OT here but I googled Harper Canada, and I read about Stephen Harper on Wiki. One of you fine Canadian mommies need to start a thread explaining how Canadian government works because I am totally lost.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 (edited) Totally OT here but I googled Harper Canada, and I read about Stephen Harper on Wiki. One of you fine Canadian mommies need to start a thread explaining how Canadian government works because I am totally lost.;) OH, allow me... I shall do that right now... here it is... sorry OP... hijack over.... Edited August 9, 2011 by specialmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmamainva Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Paul Simon has a son named Harper. And of course Harper Lee is a girl. So I voted for either boy or girl. Sort of like Cameron! I have a niece and a nephew, both named Cameron! (one on my side of the family, and one on my husband's side of the family) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That name doesn't fly well in Canada... ;) :iagree: *shudder* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That name doesn't fly well in Canada... ;) Oops, I forgot that was his last name when I replied about the kids show character. I don't pay much (any) attention to politics. I don't think people would really avoid it for that though? I mean…people still name their kids Brian, John, Mackenzie, and all sorts of other names that were also names of past prime ministers… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Oops, I forgot that was his last name when I replied about the kids show character. I don't pay much (any) attention to politics. I don't think people would really avoid it for that though? I mean…people still name their kids Brian, John, Mackenzie, and all sorts of other names that were also names of past prime ministers… I don' think their would be a really strong reaction actually. Harper is an established name after all. Name a kid Mulroney or Trudeau though and I guarantee fireworks. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I didn't vote because I don't really know. The only Harper I've ever heard of is Harper Lee. However name use changes, so while it might have been a girl's name in her day, I don't know what it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2mags Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I have a daughter named Harper. Our pediatrician's office still thinks she's a boy. She is nearly 3. :) Oh well. . . . Harper was my maiden name. I only have sisters, and daughters, so we figured it was a way to keep my heritage going. We did consider it for a boy, but decided we preferred it for a girl. Thankfully she complied. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I voted other because in our house, Harper was the dog! He was a boy though . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 All the Harpers I know are girls :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori C- Texas Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 My husband's name is Harper. It was his grandmother's maiden name, dh's dad's middle name, and then dh's first. I wanted our first ds's first name to be Harper but dh put his foot down! So, it is ds's middle name. Dh always got teased as a child because everyone thought his name was a girl name. I love the name Harper. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Girl, of course! (Harper Lee leaps to mind.) This is the only Harper I've ever heard of so I voted girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Girl only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyoftwinboys Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 It's my son's middle name, his first name is Joseph... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggie Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Totally OT here but I googled Harper Canada, and I read about Stephen Harper on Wiki. One of you fine Canadian mommies need to start a thread explaining how Canadian government works because I am totally lost.;) I read this last night and I can't tell you how much I giggled. Because baby girl is named after a Stephen Harper. Only not a Canadian politician (never heard of him, know nothing about him) but a BYU religion professor. He was such a good teacher, my favorite professor ever. But I couldn't stop giggling and that's when I realized I was slap happy and needed to go to bed. Sounds like a boy name, but I would guess it is used more for girls. Either way it is not a name I would pick or have really heard much. Excellent. I'm sure the Beckham's using it is going to make it shoot through the roof in popularity. And I've never wanted to name a baby one of the most popular names (oh I was so mad when Rachel in Friends named her baby Emma and that jumped to #1. I had planned on using that since I was 13) so the less people who name their kid Harper, the better.;) OH, allow me... I shall do that right now... here it is... sorry OP... hijack over.... :toetap05: I voted other because in our house, Harper was the dog! He was a boy though . . . And my husband was convinced the "other" wasn't going to get used. I was like, "DH you HAVE to have "other" when you make a poll, because inevitably someone will use it" so thank you for proving me right.:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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