Just wondering...

I know this is really a name used for BOTH girls and boys these days, but which do you think of first... let's say you are a teacher and are calling roll for your class for the first time so you don't know the kids, and you call the name Ashton -- would you be expecting a boy or a girl to respond? And how strange do you think it would be if a child of the other gender responded instead? e.g., "I would be expecting a boy, but wouldn't be at all surprised if it were a girl because the name seems pretty normal for either," or "I'd be expecting a girl, and I'd think it was really weird if a boy raised his hand because it just TOTALLY seems like a girl name to me!!"

Also, if you KNOW an Ashton, that could obviously influence the way you view the name, so please mention that, and if the Ashton you know is a boy or a girl. I know an Ashton that is a boy AND an Ashton that is a girl. :o)

By Melanie on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:21 pm:

I've only heard it as a boy name and would be surprised if a girl answered.

We don't know any Ashton's, though I have heard this name on opposing baseball teams.

By Reds9298 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:23 pm:

I'm a teacher - boy for sure! Never heard that one for a girl!

By Cybermommyx4 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:27 pm:

Never heard that name for a girl, either...BUT I always thought "Ryan" was a boys name exclusively, but I see more and more Ryans that are girls...so, it could be one of those names that changes over the years.

By Kaye on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:35 pm:

Ashton is a boy name. I know an ashton, there is also ashton kusher. I would be suprised if it was a girl, but I also was a teacher and ya know, lots of names suprise me

By Shellyg on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:41 pm:

I have a DAUGHTER named Ricky.... I get weird questions all the time. When she is in a new classroom the teacher always asks her to repeat her name after they call her. Based on that, I think Ashton can go both ways.

By Mommmie on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:43 pm:

To me Ashton is a boy's name, although I don't know any in real life. I guess I'm thinking of Ashton Kusker.

There have been several names that have come up here that I thought were one gender and folks want to us it for the other gender.

By Pamt on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:47 pm:

I've heard it both ways. And there is a mom on here who has an Ashton who is a daughter. It's kind of like Peyton to me. In the south Peyton is very much a boy's name, but a girl's name in lots of other places.

By Mommyof5 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 10:19 pm:

I have only heard it as a boy name. But many names seem to go either way. My 9 year old dd has a girl in her class named Charlie. Charlie is her whole name it not a nick name for a more girly name. Now that I think about it there is a Billie in my 8 year olds class who also is just Billie..not a nickname.

By Cat on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 10:45 pm:

We had a Billie Jo when I was in school. I think I've heard of Ashton for either. I have cousins with a Dylan and Rylie, both girls. Both my boy's names could be either (Robin and Randy). I guess we shouldn't be surprised with much of anything anymore.

By Melanie on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 11:24 pm:

There is a seven year old who cheers for my ds's football team named Michael. That one surprised me, but Cat is right, it shouldn't.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 11:38 pm:

Ashton brings a boy's face to mind, for me!

By Tink on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 12:51 am:

My ds has a friend in his class named Ashton, a boy. I think I would be surprised if I was introduced to a girl named Ashton but I'd adjust! I'm Cori and it was always assumed I was a boy until I was introduced or my name was written out.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:32 am:

I think traditionally it was a girl's name, but I've heard it for both boys and girls. As a teacher in NYC we get all kinds of names.
I think one of the female characters in North and South is Ashton. I think it's like Ashley in reverse. I think of Ashley as a girl's name, but then I think Gone With the Wind and there it was a boy's name.

Ame

By Vicki on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:36 am:

When I hear the name I think of a boy, but with the names these days, nothing would *suprise* me.

By Rayanne on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:41 am:

I've only met one girl with that name, so I say girl.

By Ilovetom on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:47 am:

I say girl. I teach preschool and the most beautiful little girl, with big brown eyes- name was Ashton.

She is in the seventh grade now and just won our junior high beauty pageant.

By Beth on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:54 am:

I would think of a boy but I would adjust easily. My daughter is Kaycee. I liked the name and spelled it that way so if a teacher or someone saw it, it looks like a girls name. Or I could be wrong but with that spelling it doesn't look boyish to me. I don't think there is anyway that you could change Ashton though to look more feminine. I still like it for a girl or boy.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 09:53 am:

I just think of the actor, Ashton Kutcher (?), so i automatically think it is a boys name. And honestly would never think of it as a girls name...sounds to masculine to me.

By Mommyof5 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 10:57 am:

I forgot to add that my fil's name is Gail and his father's name was Faye.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 01:38 pm:

I immediately thought girl. We knew a little girl named Ashton. And she was the first Ashton I ever knew. Since then I have met other Ashton's both male and female.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 03:10 pm:

Ok, Dh just got home and said its a boys name.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 04:25 pm:

My six year old son's name is Ashton. I chose the name because I collected "Ashton Drake" dolls growing up and I loved that name. There is Ashton Kutcher, the actor, and Ashton Lewis, Jr., the racecar driver (male), so I think of it as a boy's name, though it could be for a girl.

By Conni on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 05:04 pm:

I thought boy. We do know a girl named Ashlynn. Which I think is pretty cute!

By Tayjar on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 05:25 pm:

I'd say either. My daughter is a Taylor, her friend is Jessi and then we have Peyton, Wesley, Nova, and Boo(no joke). All girls.

By Livvy on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 05:28 pm:

I know a little girl in kindergarten named Ashton!! It suits her perfectly and she is a beauty!!!

By Mommybug77 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 06:08 pm:

I would think a boy. I do have sisters who are twins & named Randi & Jamie. Those are both unisex names.
Crystal

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:40 pm:

My name is Bobbie Jo. Name your child what ever you wish. And it will grow on everyone else or it won't... But why worry about what anyone else thinks. This is your child.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 08:44 pm:

Oh and even with the female spellings of my names people still assumed I was going to be a boy. They also assumed that Bobbie wasn't my "real" name. So that said... It is a name, it had meaning to my parents and that is why they choose it. It wasn't my decision to make but I like my name...

By Breann on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 09:09 pm:

I didn't read the other responses, but my DD has a little girl (gorgeous little girl!) in her class that is named Ashtyn. She's a cutie. She is the only Ashtyn that I know personally, so it would be strange to see a little boy named that. But, there is Ashton Kutcher, but I don't count him because he's famous, lol

By Jtsmom on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - 06:31 pm:

I would totally think a girl. But I really don't know any Ashtons.

By Sue3 on Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 11:14 am:

I would think boy.