(no subject)

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Hey all,

I just stumbled onto this community and I thought you might be interested in my story. I'm a girl, and the name on my birth certificate is Steve Jacqueline Doran. My mother had also considered Storm, September and Angel, but decided against them because they were rather silly. Her justification was that, while it's quite clearly a boys name, Steve is at least a name. There was no reason for the choice - I'm not named after anyone, my mother just liked the name.

For the first few years of my life I wasn't best pleased at her decision. Suffice to say I was often teased, and for ages I wished I was called Amy like everyone else in my class.

Then I left primary school and went to an all girls seconday school. Immediately I liked how it felt to be unique. I was by that time a very confident and attention seeking little girl, possibly because I'd spent my early years defending my name. I liked that people didn't have to ask for my surname, and I liked watching people do a double take when I introduced myself. By the time I was thirteen everyone in my school had forgotten that my name is a boys name and I'd grown up enough to stop being so attention grabbing, and I realised just how thankful I was to be called Steve. In a world full of Alecksa's and Artica's and whatever else, it's hard to have a genuinely surprising name - but even though my name is easy to spell and recognisable to everyone, it never fails to get a raised eyebrow. I know it's helped me get jobs and work placements, because people have remembered who I am. That, and it did help me to be more confident - if I'd been called Amy then I'm sure kids in my class would've picked on me for something else, but my name made me introduce myself with my head held high. I realised that your name is important and important for life, and in the grand scheme of things the teasing - which I probably would've suffered anyway - was worth it. Primary school really doesn't matter at the end of the day.

I don't know if I'd feel the same if my name were Orangejello or whatever, but as it is I'm happy to be Steve "the girl" Doran.

Just wondering what everyone thought?

Comments

[boysxkissingx.livejournal.com]

When I started reading this, I automatically disliked your name. By the time I was done, I loved it. Thanks!

♥

[low---bunnie.livejournal.com]

x2

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I actually liked from the start the way you full name sounded :)
I personally wouldn't give Steve to a girl, but in your case, I'm glad it suits you and you like it on you!

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

As I say, I know that it won't be to everyone's taste. But I'm pleased that people have thoughts on it. It's especially useful for me, because I'm forever wondering if I would give my girl a boy's name or - more controversial - my boy a girls name... It's nice to hear other peoples opinions!

[intravenous.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to name my daughter Charlie. This makes me feel slightly better about the decision.

[queenpeladon.livejournal.com]

I think Charlie's a great name for a girl. :)

[sloane-hd.livejournal.com]

My aunt has a friend in Australia named Stevie.
At first I found it a bit strange but I don't hate it. Your name is clearly unique when it comes to girl names.

[strawberry-snow.livejournal.com]

I get the same name double-take as well, as I also have a unisex name that's more frequently used for males. I'd elaborate on thoughts more, but I'm planning to put up a post in a moment, so that seems redundant. =P

[heyitsrebecca.livejournal.com]

So here's a question, since Steve is not really a unisex name..

How have your boyfriends, if any, reacted to it? My first thought when I read your name is that it might be mighty awkward for you boyfriend Joe, on his guys night out to call home and say in front of his buddies, "I love you, Steve."
I'd feel a little weird, I think, if my boyfriend were named Danielle. then the wedding invitations would read Rebecca and Danielle, and we'd send them to my relatives who I never talk to, and everyone would assume I was a lesbian.
Not that being assumed a lesbian is all *that terrible.. but I do think that being Joseph and Steve, the hetero couple would pose it's own challenges. LOL

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

Lol. I think I'd kinda avoid the wedding invitation situation if I were to marry my current boyfriend - he's called Myles, and because it's spelled with a Y most people just assume its the female version and that he's the girl :D

Myles came to see Steve as a girls name pretty quickly - most of my friends have started accosiating it with me, and they forget it's such a bloke name. His mother recently told him that his brother was living with someone named Steve, and his first question was 'he has a girlfriend now?' I think it helped that he doen't know any boy Steve's. Plus, we share the same friendship group, so if he says 'I love you Steve' in front of them, they know who he means.

[fabgrrl.livejournal.com]

Well, lots of people put their full name, including middle name, on their wedding invitations. Seeing my full name is how a lot of my friends learned I had been using my middle name as my first name for years.

[oneworldvision.livejournal.com]

I still think it's dumb and kind of mean to use boys' names for girls, and vice versa. I think your mom should have named you Stephanie and just used Steve for short. Stevie Nicks, anyone?

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

I think she was worried people would call me Steph. For some strange reason, she has a real hatred of that name. I've never understood - I quite like it.

[embracinglove.livejournal.com]

i grew up with a girl named stevie and for some reason i never thought it was weird :)

[jennsky.livejournal.com]

My sister's name is Stephanie and I call her Steve sometimes.