Presley: Boy or Girl's Name??

Updated on March 02, 2013
C.V. asks from Pacific Palisades, CA
42 answers

This is driving me nuts, I love the name Presley for our boy who's due in May, but I'm getting mixed reactions about it being a boy or girls name. I know technically it could be both, but I want some more opinions. The Elvis jokes I don't mind, but I don't want my little guy going to school with the 3 other Presley's and all of them being girls! Give me your thoughts please..

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~.~.

answers from Tulsa on

We just had a family at work name their daughter Presley, so I associate it with a girl when used as a first name.

ETA: I looked up the popularity of the name on the SSA website. Presley was not in the top 1000 names for boys in the last 25 years. Presley as a girl's name popped into the top 1000 in 1998 and was 227th most popular in 2011.

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Presley sounds very feminine to me. Maybe that's b/c the only Presley I know is a girl. But if you like it then go for it. I have a neighbor whose name is Riley (he's a boy) and I always thought that was a girls name. Now it just seems normal to me for it to be a boys name too. Lots of names are unisex these days.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

There are a lot of variables in boy/girl names these days. My son has a Ripley (girl) at his school, and a whole trove of other names which could belong to either gender.

The only Presley I've ever met was a man, btw.

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More Answers

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Sounds like a last name to me.
More feminine than masculine, as a first name.
Boys don't usually like "different" or "unique" names, think about how your son will feel.
Personally, I'd go with something classic and traditional, and strong.

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L.L.

answers from Rochester on

All of these new made up names...I don't know where to begin. Elvis comes to mind first, so I think masculine, but it's fairly obvious that a lot of mothers have no real knowledge of Elvis because they are naming their little girls that? I wouldn't ever think of it as a girls name, but for the fact that it ends in "ley" and doesn't begin with a boyish syllable (i.e. Bradley. Stanley.)

I like it for a boy...not so much for a girl. Ultimately your choice!! But think about this...will your child love it or hate it? That, I think, is really the most important thing to consider. I don't have an answer for that one either, sorry!

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

If you name a girl Presley, it's a girl's name. If you name a boy Presley, it's a boy's name.

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K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think it's a boys name...and it's not very common so I *highly* doubt your son will be in class with 3 other Presleys!

I LOVE it, BTW!!

~I suggest not asking anymore people what their opinions of any names you choose are...b/c people will give you their opinions and more often than not they will be negative! It is only important what *YOU* think of the name (and your husband of course :) and as long as you guys love it then go for it! There will ALWAYS be people who do not like what you have chosen and they will ALWAYS tell you about it!

Good Luck! Naming them was always THE hardest part, for me anyway!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Ultimately, you decide what YOU decide to name your child.
I know O. Presley--a girl.
How about Jagger? ;)

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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

These days, either. I think it's really cute. Just a word of caution from experience: if you're uncertain now, you *may* end up regretting it. Not necessarily, but just be sure that if you pick it, you'll love it no matter what. It's your baby, give him a name you'll be proud to say out loud and write on the piles of paperwork you'll deal with for his whole life. :)
Good luck!

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

My neighbor's 4 year old daughter is named Presley

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X.O.

answers from Chicago on

I never would have thought of it for a girl, but I guess since it sounds very close to Leslie, I can see how it could be used for a girl.

I say go for it for your boy, but give a clearly masculine middle name to help balance it out.

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

Girl! That was my first reaction, although I can see how it can go either way.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

To be fair, I have only met two Presley's. But...they were both girls. Sorry.

It does seem like a more feminine name to me.

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☆.H.

answers from San Francisco on

It sounds like a boy's name to me...

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K.A.

answers from San Diego on

Boy. Really doesn't sound like a girls name to me at all.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

boy.
but it's so au courant to name little girls boys' names that you will almost certainly run into girl presleys. you just have to smile and deal with it, or go with another name.
OT- i'm fine with gender-neutral names, but i won't be okay with naming little girls michael or dylan until we're relaxed about naming little boys jane or mary.
(and yes, i'm a firefly fan!)
khairete
S.

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

The only Presley I know is a girl...

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A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

Unisex. Elvis or Priscilla. Since lots of people name their sons last names of rockers (I know a Bowie, a Jagger, a Jones and a Hendrix) people will assume you mean Elvis.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

I know two girls that are named Presley. Age 8 and age 2!

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

The only little Presley I know is a girl.

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M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I definitely think the name could go either way and if your heart is set on it, then use it. If you don't choose the name you love you may regret it. That being said, I have only met one Presley and it was a little girl. However, I have always considered Logan a boys name and I know 2 girls with the name Logan. Look at the name Cameron, for years that was only a boys name and now look how many girl Cameron's there are (with various spellings). The same goes for Elliott, that was always a boys name and recently that hit popularity and many girls have share the name too. I think most people have gotten away from it's a boys name or its a girls name and just go with what they love.
Good Luck :)

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L.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've always thought it was a boy's name. Never heard of a girl Presley. Paisley is a girl's name though. Maybe people are thinking of that name.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

Presley sounds feminine. Preston would be a more masculine name.

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I.G.

answers from Austin on

My son went to school with a girl name Presley. Her first name is Presley and ok here it goes...her middle name is Elvis. TRUE STORY. ;)
I personally think it can be either way, boy or girl name.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Girl.

A boy alternative would be Preston

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M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

My sons middle name is Presley - so I think it's more of a boy name ;)

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would never hear Presley and think it was a girl. I would either think it was a last name or a boy's name.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

At our local elementary school where I substitute a couple times a week... there are 4 Presli, Presly, Presley Girls in 1st grade. There are 4 first grade classes.

There is at least 1 Presly in each grade level, more in 3rd grade. All girls.

Bottom line... your baby you decision. I would think about the name as a toddler, then through school, a professional name and how does Presley sound at 80 yrs old?

Best wishes for a healthy baby and delivery!

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

I know two Presleys and both are girls.

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S.Q.

answers from Houston on

It does sound a little girlie to me, but who cares what we think:) if you love it, go w/ it! once everyone sees a cute little guy with that name, they'll never look back! Enjoy the last few months of your pregnancy & congrats!

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L.W.

answers from Chicago on

I only know one Presley and he is a 9 year old boy.

Love the name though.

Good luck!!!!

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J.O.

answers from Boise on

It's feminine so I would think girl, but then again I went to school was a Jan....all boy. I guess it's really a matter of preference, none of us ever thought twice about Jan, so it's possible no would about a Presley.

If nothing else give him a strong masculine middle name, and if he doesn't like Presley when he is older he can use his middle name.

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K.S.

answers from Detroit on

Presley is a cute name, boy or girl. It's to the point that any name is for boys and girls. You can't predict this one.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think it can be both. Like Taylor. I think boy Taylors and girl Taylors are peacefully coexisting at schools everywhere right now.

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M.O.

answers from New York on

I think it could be either. I'd be surprised if it was that popular that a boy Presley would meet a girl Presley that often, but maybe it's really popular in other areas?

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M.L.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Because of the Elvis connection, I think of Presley as a boy's name. What might concern me more is the boy (or girl) named Presley who is called Parsley by peers. It could happen!

L.M.

answers from New York on

What about Preston? Or is your heart set on Presley? I would skip it, it's girl or boy, equally...

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K.A.

answers from Phoenix on

It sounds masculine to me and not at all like a girl's name. I dislike the trend of naming girls with names that are traditionally used for a boy. It's not as if the opposite will ever happen and boys will start being named Jennifer or Sarah, you know? Once a name goes "girl" it's never quite as masculine. The pool for boy's names keeps getting narrowed. Sorry for the tangent... it just kind of annoys me.

As long as you and your SO love the name, then go for it!! (As long as you don't spell it Pressleeiyy!) I have yet to know or see a kid at DD's school with this name, so it's not common here. Must be a regional thing. However, I probably wouldn't use a name so iconic unless it had a special meaning to me.

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A.D.

answers from Omaha on

My youngest is Presley, and a girl.

I've met 2 other Presley's since she was born, they were both girls. That being said, I think it can go either way.

You have to choose what you like, don't worry about others.

Updated

My youngest is Presley, and a girl.

I've met 2 other Presley's since she was born, they were both girls. That being said, I think it can go either way.

You have to choose what you like, don't worry about others.

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T.A.

answers from Seattle on

I too would lean toward it being a girls name, sorry! Preston is cute, or similar names I like for boys are Parker, Weston, porter, Grayson.

K.J.

answers from New Orleans on

I know a woman who named her daughter Preslee. I think it could go either way. Kinda like Riley,Hayden etc. Do what you want to do.

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K.K.

answers from Saginaw on

My daughter's name is Maicyn (Mason) and she has a boy Mason in her class. it doesn't bother her... My name is K., and there were boy K.'s in my class, no one was bothered there either,

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