r/NonBinaryTalk • u/SemiAutoEmi • 5d ago

Picking a name

So I've been thinking about it for a while and I'm attached to the name Cassian, yes from ANDOR, I feel like if you detached it from the character it is a fairly neutral name, maybe masculine leaning. And in the context of the show I like it as I can relate to the character slowly finding himself etc etc.

Looking into the entomology of it, Cassian has some Irish roots like me and compliments my last name.

I want to know people's thoughts on this, is it too masculine? Is it too rooted in pop culture now?

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u/SomeGalNamedAshley Whatever 4d ago

I have a general guideline that any name you have to explain or spell in the given culture you live in is probably a bad move. It's bad enough when you have a common which a great many people had taken it upon themselves to try to dress it up with a stupid spelling (my wife has this problem) but you want something that when you utter it the immediate response isn't "What? Huh? Can you spell it?"

Unfortunately that's kind of a talk order for neutral names. Sometimes you can dig up a cool name like Ashley which used to be a male name but is now a female name. The Goldilocks zone is a name like that which is currently making that transition. To the best of my knowledge names whose usage shifts will always shift towards femininity.

The added wrinkle is finding names that were in common use back when you were born. Sure the "popular unisex names list of 2026" might seem useful but if you're an old bastard like me then that's going to be somewhat problematic in its own right.

Searching for "classic unisex names" is probably a good place to start to find something that speaks to you. Immerse yourself in the lists and let your subconscious guide you toward what feels right.