13.0350 epicene names

From: Humanist Discussion Group (willard@lists.village.virginia.edu)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2000 - 17:30:54 CUT

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       [1] From: orso steven n <s-orso@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> (14)
             Subject: Re: 13.0343 epicene names? contact in Grenada?

       [2] From: Joseph Jones <jjones@interchange.ubc.ca> (29)
             Subject: epicene names

       [3] From: "Tim Reuter" <T.Reuter@soton.ac.uk> (16)
             Subject: Re: 13.0343 epicene names? contact in Grenada?

    --[1]------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 17:20:24 +0000
             From: orso steven n <s-orso@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
             Subject: Re: 13.0343 epicene names? contact in Grenada?

    On Sat, 15 Jan 2000, Humanist Discussion Group wrote:

    > Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 11:17:11 +0000
    > From: "James J. O'Donnell" <jod@ccat.sas.upenn.edu>
    > >
    > I need a list of probably 25-30 epicene names, that is "first" names that
    > do not distinguish themselves by gender. Dorian and Cameron come to mind.

                Alexis Evelyn Marion Tony

                Ashley Jackie Meredith Val

                Beverly Jamie Morgan Vivian

                Carol Jan Pat

                Chris Jerry Robbie

                Dale Lee Shirley

                Elf Lynn Sidney

    STEVEN N. ORSO
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    --[2]------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 17:20:49 +0000
             From: Joseph Jones <jjones@interchange.ubc.ca>
             Subject: epicene names

    Epicene names? Try these 33. It's even from Pennsylvania!

    Joseph Jones University of British Columbia Library
    jjones@unixg.ubc.ca http://www.library.ubc.ca/jones

    Barry, Herbert; Harper, Aylene S.
    Feminization of Unisex Names from 1960 to 1990
    Names 41:4 (Dec 1993) 228-238

    The evolution of the use of unisex given names was studied in an
    examination of the frequencies of names given to boys & girls in
    1960 & 1990. Data were taken from the electronic data files of the
    PA State Health Data Center. A total of 33 unisex names, given with
    substantial frequency to children of both sexes, was identified. An
    examination of baby name books reveals that most of these unisex names
    were, prior to 1960, given mostly to boys, whereas in 1990 most of
    these names were given to girls. The findings support previous findings
    that names tend to evolve from masculine to unisex to feminine over time.
    2 Tables, 21 References. Adapted from the source document

    --[3]------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 17:21:10 +0000
             From: "Tim Reuter" <T.Reuter@soton.ac.uk>
             Subject: Re: 13.0343 epicene names? contact in Grenada?

    I suspect that this is determined by the local culture, not just
    the language. For the UK,
    one might offer Beverley, Hilary, Vivien, Evelyn, Kim, Leslie,
    possibly Winifred, Jean,
    George (George/short form of Georgina).

    But if the aim is to prevent presuppositions, I don't think it
    will work, because most of these are 'normally X' names and
    though gender Y is possible it will not be the initial
    assumption.

    ----------------
    Tim Reuter
    Department of History, University of Southampton, Southampton
    SO17 1BJ
    tel. 023 80 594868; fax 023 80 593458
    http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tr/tr.html
    History Department: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~history/
    Wessex Medieval Centre: http://www.soton.ac.uk/~wmc/



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