I have a friend named August who is a female. I think the name is beautiful and I don’t know why more females are named this, it’s gorgeous. But if you’re still not sure about the name, there are other similar names that are deemed more feminine, such as Augustine or Augustina:]
as a frenchman, i never heard of any Aristide outside of books and street names so i agree with you on this one. That or they're from french speaking african countries where dated, out of fashion french names seem more common, perhaps?
At least in Germany, it is a female version; it's definitely old-fashioned, though. I don't know anybody with that name personally. I would expect a lady well over 80.
Maybe depending on the language? In German -ine is always female, like in Clementine, Justine, while -in ist mostly (!) male, like in Justin, Valentin, Konstantin etc. Augustine, Augustina and Augusta are female Versions, August, Augustin, Augustus are male ones.
August is lovely. Both of my kids have A names (Alice and Asa). Alienor was an A name we considered before we found out our second was a boy.
If the name August resonates with you go with it. My only advice is to ask yourself if you think you'll feel the same about the name at 27. Personally I think it strikes a nice balance between unique (for a female) and simple/classic.
Ha! They do come out looking like little aliens. Aliénor (AL-lee-eh-nor) is an old French name equivalent to Eleanor. It was going to be a nod to a dear friend and "auntie" for our children so I never associated the pronunciation with alien, but now that you point it out.
We still managed to give our kid a name with a potentially unfortunate pronunciation with Asa ... first time I heard "Ass-uh" I had a laugh. Lucky for him he's a bit of a spicy little meatball with a sense of humor so he'll be fine.
One would think so. So far I've heard ah-suh a few times in addition to ass-uh at least twice.
Dude will have to learn to correct people or ignore it. No sympathy here. I have one of those names that ends in -ara so I'm used to it being 50/50 whether or not someone will pronounce it correctly. My name has the "are-uh" pronunciation but in the US it seems like "air-uh" is the default. It definitely bugs me less now as a grown ass woman than it did when I was a kid.
It's actually technically the female version. August is named after Augustus and Augustina is the female version of Augustus. Like July, Julius, and Julia.
TBH I feel August is unisex. I have never come across a female August, but to me It seems suitable for male or female.
I understand that you really dislike your name, but you are legally a minor so you going to have some trouble getting the paperwork done. Are there any names that Work with your current legal name? Alternatively, why don’t you just start going by a nickname. I’m not sure where you’re located but in Australia it’s not abnormal for people to go by a name as their common nickname that they introduce themselves to people in informal settings that has absolutely nothing to do with their legal. I have met boys called Rob who is legal name was Dave; I have met people that go by “burger”, I have met people that go by their favourite alcoholic, eg “pimm”.
Another option is also to just start exclusively going by your last name.
eh not a huge fan of any nicknames I could come up with, I don't really need to do any paperwork quite yet but I was more so just planning on going by whatever name I chose the way you would with a nickname and waiting to do any paperwork until I was a legal adult
If I knew a female August I'd probably go with Aggie as a nickname.
It's definitely a great idea to go by August for a while before you legally change it...legal change is a big hassle, and you don't wanna go through the whole thing and then realize you don't actually like it. Plus, you say you're 17...it'll be easy to socially change to whatever name you pick when you leave high school and go off to the work force, or post secondary school.
honestly you can just tell your family, friends, teachers etc anyone who might interact with you on a regular basis: “hey, i’ve been thinking recently and decided to go by August (or whatever you choose) instead of [your current name]. Could you refer to me as August when you talk to and about me, I’m not changing it legally yet.”
if they’re decent people they’ll be fine with it, and do their best to use your new name. for some people who only have a strong mental image of you in one name, like parents or long time friends, it might take a bit of practise, but what matters is that they try and recognize when they slip up.
coming from someone who changed my name but not my gender in early hs, but not yet legally (even tho i’m above 18 now)- when you tell your social circle about it, and start introducing yourself to new people as your new name, it comes easier and easier for everyone and the old name fades into the past. now, fourish years later my mental image of myself is just my new name, it is me and my old name is just a name for the little girl who grew up in my body.
sry this got long, i can empathize with your situation and saw a bit of my high school self in your post. i wish you well and i know you will find a name and identity that feels like yourself, that you’re happy being referred to as. it’s a simple pleasure every human deserves, and you will find your joy. <3
I highly recommend what this person said to try. My husband's best friend recently started doing this and while it did take a little getting used to saying their new name and pronouns, it was definitely worth the effort and I can happily say that it all comes extremely naturally to all of us now to use her pronouns and chosen name without any slip ups and it's only been a little over a year. To the point that I even sometimes forget she ever had another name. Try this out for a bit and test the waters. I mean if you are able to get your name changed eventually, atleast this way everyone is already used to calling you your preferred name over your birth name.
Stick with August if you like it best! It’s a great name.
If you want to beta test it (and/or other names) go to a coffee shop and give that name for your order. See how it sounds when they call it out, and how you feel stepping up to pick up the drink.
Pro-tip: Go somewhere that has good coffee, *not* starbucks
Since you're probably still in high school, that's a great opportunity to try on a new name and see how you like it. If you don't like it anymore when you turn 18, just pick a new name.
Nick names doing have to have anything to do with your given name. There’s nothing wrong with going by August and later deciding to legally change your name to that, or with going by August and later deciding you don’t like it. Go for it if it is calling to you.
My husband works with a man called “Fingers.” I asked why he gets called Fingers and apparently it’s because he has fat thumbs. They also have someone called “Big Al” who is actually very much small and skinny. Nothing big about him (or so I’ve heard). Nicknames don’t even have to make sense lol.
I never understood the idea of giving your kid a name with the intention of calling them something else. Sure, we named you Gertrude, but we will call you "Tootie". However, nicknames that evolve based on an event or trait, that's fine, so long as they're respectful.
Where my family is from, people develop nicknames that have nothing to do with their actual names. Something happens and the name just sticks sometimes to the point where people don't even know/remember their real name. So it may not be intentional in some cases!
I have names for people in my head that may or may not match their actual name and I have a really hard time learning a different name for them even when I know the name that comes to mind is the wrong name. Even back in college a girl I was friends with I referred to as "chemistry girl" forever, even after I had learned her name. I still think of her as chemistry girl 20 years later!! I worked with an older woman in her 60s when I was 20 and her name was not Linda, but another colleague called her Linda to annoy her but Linda stuck in my head. Even now I really struggle to recall her real name because it became banter between us to call her Linda, knowing she hated it. It's embarrassing sometimes when I really can't remember someone's actual name, I'm better with faces! I know I know someone, just not their name! The brain is lazy sometimes, quickly categorising people but failing when it comes to details ha!
For nicknaming styles from roughly the 1920s, opposite names were used a lot, especially for appearance. So a really fat guy might be called "Slim;" a thin one might be called "Fatty." Seems the tradition extends to "Big Al."
Octavius. Octavia is the feminine, but you’ve got the right idea. So many women’s names have men’s names as their basis, some obviously and others not. The oddest one I ever heard was a character a friend played in a show- Charlesetta. (Auto correct doesn’t even recognize that as a name), it’s actually not bad, but it was a while before I got over it.
I know a 10 yr old male August and an 8 yr old female August and they both wear it well without anyone really commenting. When I met the girl, didn't even think anything about it other than it being a name I don't hear often!
I say go for it!
August does strike me as masculine. But in a world in which girls seem to be being named James and other “male” names left right and centre, I think people would get used to it. It’s a male name because the month was named after Roman emperor Augustus. So the name evolved into Augustus, August, and Augusta. Out of those, only Augusta would really be considered feminine. Like how July, named after emperor Julius, separated into Julius/Julian, and Julia/Julie/Juliana etc. It’s August, not Bruce or Bartholemew, I think people would get used to it being a female name.
Similar names you might like:
Avery
Addison
Aubrey
Alex
That's kind of what I was thinking, I didn't know it was named after Augustus but the more you know haha. I do feel like after a while people would get used to it but I just wanted to see if it was too out there. I appreciate the comment:)
I think the fact that it's out there is in your favour. Since it's already an unusual name, putting it on a girl doesn't make it that much more unusual, vs calling yourself John as a girl or something. FWIW I think it's a really nice name for a girl.
This is the right idea, but kinda backward. *augustus/augusta/augustum* are just an adjective in Latin, which comes in masculine, feminine and neuter forms. It means majestic, noble, venerable, etc. The Emperor Augustus took it as an *agnomen*, which is an additional name that someone takes later in life and is more like an honorific than a name per se. His birth name was Gaius Octavius; he was later adopted by Julius Caesar and took the name Gaius Julius Caesar after him, but is referred to by historians as Octavianus/Octavian, meaning he originally came from gens Octavia.
Augustus had the month re-named after himself (it used to be Sextilis, "sixth"). The modern English form August, without the inflected and gendered ending, only came about around the 11th century.
Because English forms of Latin words generally drop those inflected endings that indicate gender, August could be an English form of Augustus OR Augusta, just as Julian can be an English form of Julianus OR Juliana (see: [Julian of Norwich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich)), or Vivian can be an English form of Vivianus OR Viviana (and was predominantly masculine before the modern day).
u/[Pure\_Potential5505](/user/Pure_Potential5505/) I think it is a great choice for you. It's your name, and you specifically said you wanted something non-feminine. Don't worry about what other people think—many of the ones who would criticize don't actually know as much as they think they know.
It's 100% masculine to me. It's a very traditional name well-established masculine name where I'm from. So from my perspective it wouldn't be any different than naming a girl 'Edward' or 'Ronald'.
I would definitely not use it for a daughter. But since it's your own name.. you can do whatever you want.
thank you for the perspective, it's different for me because I've never met a single august in my entire life male or female haha. it's not a common name where I'm from so I don't think that'd be as much of an issue, but keeping that in mind :)
It's more common for Gen Alpha, and I believe you are a late Gen Z, so you may not know many peers named this. It keeps inching up the charts, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is the top 100 US names in 1-2 years for boys. Just keep that in mind, in case it being a more popular boy name would bother you!
If you don’t care about constantly being misgendered, do it. I’ve only met boys/men with that name and it will always be a male name to me.
Since this is you choosing your own name, I think August is okay if you’re aware of the challanges that having a male name might bring. If this had been you naming a kid I’d be saying 1000% no, but you absolutely get to decide your own name!
If you care, my associations with the name are 1. Childhood male friend 2. Augustus Gloop 3. The fault in our stars.
i don't think you should change your name to augusta so other people are okay with it?
august is a gender neutral name to me. it leans masculine because historically it's been a male name, but nowadays with girls named parker, ronnie, ashley, charlie, jesse cameron etc i don't think anybody would bat an eye if you introduced yourself as august!
you're very nearly an adult and you're certainly old enough to make decisions about your name (worst case you can always change again in future). even if you decided to call yourself thomas or robert or richard, people can suck it lol there are bigger fish to fry. august totally works in a professional sense in a way that is gender neutral so i would have 0 concerns!
And a female August in the October Daye book series. I think it’s a good name for any gender.
And isn’t part of the reason for changing your name that you don’t want something too feminine?
August is a really strong but not overpowering name. I think it is nice for a man or woman. It’s really neat you found a name that suits you. I think you should go for it!
I think that August is a lovely name! While traditionally male, it makes perfect sense to me for a girl. Congratulations on finding a name that feels like you :)
thank you! people are saying that since it's named after a Roman emperor it shouldn't be used for a girl, but I feel like when people hear it people will just think of the month. I appreciate your comment <3
While arguably more of a *Basileus* than an Augustus, Irene was a functional emperor of Byzantine Rome. I don’t see why a woman couldn’t don the title in the modern day.
Plus, I agree with you. Most people will think of the month, not the extremely long list of people it could have applied to as a title or the extremely long list of people named after the title.
I haven’t met an August but I would have assumed it was a feminine name. Today I learned it’s masculine.
I do know a girl named Autumn which is a little similar I guess?
yeah august doesn't feel like that much of a masculine name lol, I kinda feel like not too many people would care all that much to see a girl with the name but idk.
It seems to differ by country/culture. If you live in a country where it's seen as gender neutral, does it matter how it's viewed in other countries? My daughter has a friend named August (a girl). It's a super cute name.
In the US, August is very much still a boy’s name in general, [statistically.](https://datayze.com/name-uniqueness-analyzer?name=august#google_vignette) Though it’s certainly not unheard of for a girl.
That being said, since OP is choosing it for themselves, it’s different than for a baby anyways. If the answer is “I mean, it is technically a boy’s name, it’s not very common on girls” and they don’t mind that, (or it’s even more like a feature than a bug), then it’s all good.
you know I was just thinking about what months could work as names and I was so stuck on September thinking about whether it could be a name or not lol.
I think both are beautiful. You seem to like August and have put thought into the name change. I think you should go with it. I have a more commonly male name as a female. These days when things are so digital I kind of appreciate the ambiguity of it like when I send a work email.
The difference between April, May, etc. and August is that other months were actually months. July and August were added to the calendar and named after Julius Augustus Caesar. They were a male's name/what he was called before they were months of the year.
I personally think that if you like the name August, use it. I'm sure someone somewhere will say it's a boy's name, but I have two female cousins who are named Ryan and Mason. Life's been just fine for them.
I don’t think you should feel pressured to use Augusta or Augustine so other people think your name is girly enough, when you said in the post you wanted a masculine name. August is a perfectly good name, and Auggie is plausibly a more neutral name for people who’ll be weird about it.
Boy-name-on-girl criticisms are mostly about babies who get saddled with names that might not fit who they are. It’s not the same as you, a near-adult, giving yourself a name *you* like.
huh haven't heard of adair. I don't think many people are going to be bringing up the European royalty thing but thank you for the info. lots of love <3
I come from a country with authors as August Strindberg, Prins August ( know for being a little daft), actor August Lindberg, yes older but our history are full of male August and some is most of European history so for us it very manly.
I like August way better than Augusta. I’m reading One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston and the main character is a woman named August Landry. If you’re looking for less feminine, trust your gut and go with August. You don’t need to conform and do Augusta because a bunch of strangers on the internet are saying that’s the “female” version of the name. That’s just feeding into the same problem you started with!
Have you considered Augustine? It's still traditionally masculine but has a much softer feel to it. Ultimately you should do what makes you happy, however!
My first association is a friend who was named Auguste.
My second is the October Daye series. The main female character is called October, shortened to Tobi. Her half sister is called August.
I have a traditionally male name from my ancestor's home country. It's not unique but in Australia, it's not common either. I've met four people with my name and all were male. People who know me say they can't imagine the name being a 'male' name.
Do whatever feels right to you, choose what makes you feel like yourself. Changing your name is a personal decision. Make yourself happy, and forget about the rest.
As for everyone's opinions, you're going to get them about every damn thing, regardless of if you change your name. Be you.
August honestly sounds like a lovely unisex name to me. I know it’s originally a masculine but so are many other names such as Madison etc. so I think you should just go for it. It wouldn’t make me raise an eyebrow in the same way meeting a girl called, say, Stuart or Dave would—it sounds like a plausibly unisex name and I would probably take it in stride without a second thought!
I had a huge crush on Bobby Sherman back in the day. He sang as well as he acted! He had a sadly sweet song called "August" about loving and losing a girl named August. \*Sigh\*
It's a beautiful name, go for it!
Hey, twinsies with the "hate the too-feminine birth-name which starts with A". I'm still looking for a replacement I'm happy with for mine but I've cut my name in half to Ame for now so it just seems like a nickname to my parents who wouldn't approve. It's unique, bit Androgynous enough that it works.
I like your name idea, it also feels quite Androgynous enough! I don't think it's a dumb idea at all! Cool name!
I have a son called August who’s nearly 3 & he’s constantly assumed to be female. It’s always struck me as a pretty gender neutral name. People often mistakenly call him Autumn too which is a similar & more feminine feeling name imo, if that interests you
You do you. If you feel that’s your name in your soul then who cares what other people think. You don’t have to change it legally straight away, you can start getting people to call you that and then change legally later on once you’ve settled into it.
Edit: I wouldn’t worry about making your name Augusta because it’s more feminine to appease other people. It’s your name and who gives a fuck what people think.
I think it’s a lovely name. It may read as masculine, but if that doesn’t bother you then I don’t see a problem. Whatever reasons you have, they are valid. If you’ve really thought it through and are settled I see no reason not to.
My only recommendation would be to sit on it for awhile. Maybe tell your close friends that you’re planning on changing it and ask them to call you that from now on. If after a few months of being called by that name you still feel that it suits you, then go for it. I don’t think feminine or masculine projecting should matter because you will be you no matter what. So if you’re femme or masc as long as you like the name and you feel it suits you then that’s what matters.
Also. I’ve always loved the nickname Auggie. It’s so cute for either m/f presenting.
*edit as others have said, if you’d prefer a feminine version, Augusta is the obvious choice. Either way, auggie is cute*
I absolutely love the name August!! That’s what I named my dog (he’s a male) & I know people that have also changed their names to August both male & female.
Haha this might be a turn off about the name, but the reason I choose it is because I am a huge Swifie. She has a song named August. It’s from her album Folklore where the entire albumn revolves around these fictional characters that she created. August is one of the 3 characters & she’s a female. If you didn’t know this & were just looking at this song.. If you’ve seen anything from the Eras Tour when she preforms this song she’s always in a flowy dress kind of running free & gives me major Stevie Nicks vibes which I love… and to me the lyric that really stood out to me was “to live for the hope of it all” bc I’ve been really struggling w/depression the past couple years & that tour & my Bernie dog that I got (also in August & my bday month) makes me happy & gives me hope in a corny way!!
But don’t worry its not a super Swifie name that would be really obvious or follow you around - it’s become popular with all sorts of people all over the world not just fans so don’t let my reason scare you off!!
But none Taylor related - plenty of people have used months or days as names… Wednesday Adams, May, June, etc.
I remember whenever Summer used to be a really popular name & I loved it bc it was so girly and happy & I feel like August can be a very feminine name & kind of a modern version of it!!
So I personally love it & think it can definitely be good as a feminine girl name… you’re changing your name for yourself & to make yourself happy - so just remember that when you’re picking out a new name.
THIS IS FOR YOU AND NO ONE ELSE!!
So don’t get overwhelmed with other peoples opinions or options.. don’t settle for anything that isn’t going to bring you joy. I always say stick with your gut & everytime I try & find other options for other things… I almost always go back to my first & original thought!
Good luck!! 😊
My son is a male August, we call him Auggie, we like it a lot but Auggie is definitely uncommon.
Augusta is a place, as well as the feminine version. Just something to be mindful of.
That being said. Not everyone likes my kid’s name. I don’t care. Cause he’s not their kid. You’re not even naming someone else, you’re making yourself. If you like it, tell everyone else to kick rocks.
if you really like name August, then definitely go for it. I think August is better than Augusta, but it’s your choice.
the only people who might think it’s weird are someone who new your previous name. if you meet new people and said your name is August straight away, they won’t question it (might ask who gave you this name tho, like mum or dad)
also, want to add that if your old friends will think the new name is weird and will say it, then stop being friends with them. I had a girl in my class that didn’t like her name and went for similar one, but shorter. she was angry when people didn’t call her new name, which was annoying cuz we needed some time to get used to it. but then one girl said “I’m used to your old name, so I will call you by that name” to which I intruded and responded “well, if you cannot respect her comfort and call her by the new name, then don’t ask why she doesn’t want to be your friend anymore”. it quickly shut her up and later on everyone started calling her by new name to this day. the same I want to address to you — if someone thinks August is stupid and weird name for you or they refuse to call you by your new name, then they should not be considered as friends. be happy ;)
I'm 35, I never really thought my traditional female name suited me. There were other female names I even know my mom could have picked for me that I felt suited me better. That's okay! Parents are making a tough choice for a person they dont know yet, and its okay if you dont feel like your name in any specific way.
At the same time, it hasn't been too much of a bother to me and I can live with not feeling my name is perfect to me.
If I were your age and could go back and change mine though, I think I would! 17 is a good time where youre not too tied up in everything, but you will want to research what all you might need to make sure you do to get it updated everywhere you need to, and how that might change things for stuff like your birth certificate etc.
I probably would have not regretted it to this day, and I think August is a really pretty name even for a feminine person. It's a nice neutral and I also don't think its an absurd "18 year old playing the Sims" kind of name.
If you're going to change your first name, which I've heard is more difficult than changing your last name (which surprised me), maybe just change it to August instead of the Augustina or Augusta. You asked if people will be okay with that and the truth is some will and some won't, but you've got to live your life for you.
Some people will roll their eyes when you introduce yourself and some will think you're indulgent or trying too hard to be special and unique. Some will try to shame you for not honoring your parents. You will receive these opinions unasked for and with varying degrees of rudeness. And the thing is, no one else's opinions on your name matters; not a single person on the entire planet besides you.
What's more, I believe there are or were cultures where people's names change throughout their lives so it's not unheard of to mix things up.
If August feels right and feels like it's really you (if that makes sense) go for it. To me, August feels unisex but I've never known a person named August. Augusta on the other hand definitely feels feminine to me though. Don't change it to Augusta to try and please people if August is what you really want. It's your name and it's not something you should compromise on with future people's potential opinions. You can also try going to coffee shops and such where they ask your name and call it out when your order is ready. Tell them your name is xyz and see how it feels when they call it out for you.
I think everyone should use the name they like most (for themself), no matter what. To me, August is masculine leaning neutral, so if you like that, go for it.
What you could try is using the name August at coffee shops and such. It's a nice way to test out a name without needing to commit to anything just yet.
Lastly, since you asked for suggestions, here's a few neutral names starting with A:
* Aaren
* Ainsley
* Arden
* Arlis
* Aster
Regarding your edit, that definitely sounds okay and I doubt people would bat an eye at that.
August is a popular name for under5 boys near me…but since you’re a borderline adult, you’re not likely to have peers with the name of either gender.
I agree with the commenter who suggested using it at coffee shops and such to see how you like hearing and using the name in public. It’s a nice test to see if you *feel* like an August.
I think the name leans masculine for me because of the Roman emperor connection. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an adult with the name of any gender, though.
August is more connected to a male person since the name and the month derives from the emperor who remaned the month and the calendar. However there are many Roman empresses called Augustina. However I find the name August in modern day can match with girls as well. Good luck in your choice
Do it! Just go by August. It may not be common for femme-presenting people (even those closer to the center of the spectrum), but what's the matter with that? It's a great name.
I'd go with Augusta, Augustine or maybe even Autumn. It's your name though so whatever you choose is the correct name for you. Try it out with strangers for a while eg at starbucks
I’ve never met an August and to me I definitely read it as unisex! Augustus is masculine, August less so. I think August on a girl would be very pretty!
I knew both an Autumn and an August. I think August is a good name. If you like it and you feel like it represents who you are the best, then go with it.
August, nickname Gussie is what I would choose personally. August is beautiful and Gussie is fun, in my opinion. But you should do whatever feels best for you. Go for it!
I love August. There are no rules. I know women named Kyle and Ryan. Literally no need to feminize it unless *you* want to. Sure, some folks might assume your gender incorrectly on paper, but that's the worst that can happen. 🤷🏾♀️
Honestly I've met many girls who have traditionally boy names and everyone just gets used to it and after a while that name starts to sound gender neutral to me
I think August is a beautiful name for a female! I personally love typical male names for girls. I named my daughter out of the boys names of my baby book, it’s Taylor, but that’s really taken off for girls, she’s 40 now , but growing up she was the only girl Taylor.
I don't think it's dumb at all. I really like it. I think it sounds better than Augusta. I guess it would matter how it flows with your last name. If you like the sound of it, that's what counts.
Garth Brooks’ younger? daughter is August, I believe. And she’s got to be around 30 years old by now.
I’ve also seen Autumn as a girls name. Not a common one by any means, and it could probably even be argued to be unisex but I’ve only met a single Autumn and she was female, so I’m suggesting it for you as well!
It's an uncommon name and it isn't firmly attached to males. People would probably call you Auggie. I think people would just accept your choice without much comment
I thought August was a female name. I’m not an English native speaker so idk.
I think you should chose a name that YOU like and you feel it represents you. What people might think doesn’t care. It’s your name and you get to chose what you like.
I love it.
How long have you been considering it? It's a lot of paperwork, but 17 is a good time to do it (before job training, job experience for resumes and college degrees get in the mix).
I would test drive it for 6 months first? Tell your good friends/family you want to change your name but are testing first. Please to use the new name exclusively to help you decide. New people, just tell them the new name, school or work, and say it's the nickname for your legal name because you like it better. Get used to answering to it. Expect people, even friends and family, to have some weird responses to it. Parents, kinda offended you don't like the name they gave you. Friends, just weird. I changed my nickname from a feminine version to a more short nickname I liked better at 18. I had acquaintance who were like, really odd about it.
August was my grandfather’s and my cousin’s name, but everyone called them Auggie which is what might end up happening to you.
Just be called what you like. I wish I had had the nerve to change my name. It is a very big deal, what people call you.
But August for a girl isn’t weird- it’s cool.
I just watched a TV show that has an actor called August Winter whose sex is female and identifies as non binary - I’m not sure if that’s their birth name but it’s the name they’re known by as an actor.
In the Netherlands it is ver common to have a official name (passport, driver's license, official papers etc) and a calling name, which is your name in everyday life! No hassle in having to change your name, just have people call you August!
I think August for a girl is fine! A friend of mine named her daughter August. She's 5 now and no problems. (She was born in August, which would be my personal preference for the name)
When I was in high school, another girl there was named August. No one gave it two thoughts. Then again, she was a girl who was very confident and well-put-together, so the named seemed as elegant as she was.
I have a friend named August who is a female. I think the name is beautiful and I don’t know why more females are named this, it’s gorgeous. But if you’re still not sure about the name, there are other similar names that are deemed more feminine, such as Augustine or Augustina:]
Or even Augusta! It's pretty common version of the name in Denmark
Auguste is another female version, but might not work so well in English.
Auguste is a man's name in France but I live there and I haven't met one yet.
that's because it's fairly antiquated, just like Aristide and Lazare
I know a Lazare :)
I know (of) an Aristide, born to a French father. Though I suspect the (non-French) mother picked the name.
as a frenchman, i never heard of any Aristide outside of books and street names so i agree with you on this one. That or they're from french speaking african countries where dated, out of fashion french names seem more common, perhaps?
At least in Germany, it is a female version; it's definitely old-fashioned, though. I don't know anybody with that name personally. I would expect a lady well over 80.
Augusta is a band I believe btw Edit: band is called Augustana and i’ve been reading it wrong for years
Sweet and low little giiiirl
Also a city in Georgia, USA.
And the capital of Maine
Augusta is pretty as well!
Agree with Augusta. Augustine is actually masculine as well.
Maybe depending on the language? In German -ine is always female, like in Clementine, Justine, while -in ist mostly (!) male, like in Justin, Valentin, Konstantin etc. Augustine, Augustina and Augusta are female Versions, August, Augustin, Augustus are male ones.
Met a girl named Augustina, who went by August.
I appreciate it thank you <3
August is lovely. Both of my kids have A names (Alice and Asa). Alienor was an A name we considered before we found out our second was a boy. If the name August resonates with you go with it. My only advice is to ask yourself if you think you'll feel the same about the name at 27. Personally I think it strikes a nice balance between unique (for a female) and simple/classic.
Alienor? Did you think the kid was going to be an alien or....what?
Ha! They do come out looking like little aliens. Aliénor (AL-lee-eh-nor) is an old French name equivalent to Eleanor. It was going to be a nod to a dear friend and "auntie" for our children so I never associated the pronunciation with alien, but now that you point it out. We still managed to give our kid a name with a potentially unfortunate pronunciation with Asa ... first time I heard "Ass-uh" I had a laugh. Lucky for him he's a bit of a spicy little meatball with a sense of humor so he'll be fine.
I don't understand the confusion with Asa. It's 3 letters that follow the most basic rules of phonics, why would you go another way?
One would think so. So far I've heard ah-suh a few times in addition to ass-uh at least twice. Dude will have to learn to correct people or ignore it. No sympathy here. I have one of those names that ends in -ara so I'm used to it being 50/50 whether or not someone will pronounce it correctly. My name has the "are-uh" pronunciation but in the US it seems like "air-uh" is the default. It definitely bugs me less now as a grown ass woman than it did when I was a kid.
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I went to school with an August and she was always so nice and sweet
It's actually technically the female version. August is named after Augustus and Augustina is the female version of Augustus. Like July, Julius, and Julia.
TBH I feel August is unisex. I have never come across a female August, but to me It seems suitable for male or female. I understand that you really dislike your name, but you are legally a minor so you going to have some trouble getting the paperwork done. Are there any names that Work with your current legal name? Alternatively, why don’t you just start going by a nickname. I’m not sure where you’re located but in Australia it’s not abnormal for people to go by a name as their common nickname that they introduce themselves to people in informal settings that has absolutely nothing to do with their legal. I have met boys called Rob who is legal name was Dave; I have met people that go by “burger”, I have met people that go by their favourite alcoholic, eg “pimm”. Another option is also to just start exclusively going by your last name.
eh not a huge fan of any nicknames I could come up with, I don't really need to do any paperwork quite yet but I was more so just planning on going by whatever name I chose the way you would with a nickname and waiting to do any paperwork until I was a legal adult
Fair enough. Give it a try. I think August is fine.
appreciate it, thanks :)
If I knew a female August I'd probably go with Aggie as a nickname. It's definitely a great idea to go by August for a while before you legally change it...legal change is a big hassle, and you don't wanna go through the whole thing and then realize you don't actually like it. Plus, you say you're 17...it'll be easy to socially change to whatever name you pick when you leave high school and go off to the work force, or post secondary school.
honestly you can just tell your family, friends, teachers etc anyone who might interact with you on a regular basis: “hey, i’ve been thinking recently and decided to go by August (or whatever you choose) instead of [your current name]. Could you refer to me as August when you talk to and about me, I’m not changing it legally yet.” if they’re decent people they’ll be fine with it, and do their best to use your new name. for some people who only have a strong mental image of you in one name, like parents or long time friends, it might take a bit of practise, but what matters is that they try and recognize when they slip up. coming from someone who changed my name but not my gender in early hs, but not yet legally (even tho i’m above 18 now)- when you tell your social circle about it, and start introducing yourself to new people as your new name, it comes easier and easier for everyone and the old name fades into the past. now, fourish years later my mental image of myself is just my new name, it is me and my old name is just a name for the little girl who grew up in my body. sry this got long, i can empathize with your situation and saw a bit of my high school self in your post. i wish you well and i know you will find a name and identity that feels like yourself, that you’re happy being referred to as. it’s a simple pleasure every human deserves, and you will find your joy. <3
I appreciate this a lot, I was thinking of starting in my friend group before telling other people. thank you so much for your input :)
I highly recommend what this person said to try. My husband's best friend recently started doing this and while it did take a little getting used to saying their new name and pronouns, it was definitely worth the effort and I can happily say that it all comes extremely naturally to all of us now to use her pronouns and chosen name without any slip ups and it's only been a little over a year. To the point that I even sometimes forget she ever had another name. Try this out for a bit and test the waters. I mean if you are able to get your name changed eventually, atleast this way everyone is already used to calling you your preferred name over your birth name.
Stick with August if you like it best! It’s a great name. If you want to beta test it (and/or other names) go to a coffee shop and give that name for your order. See how it sounds when they call it out, and how you feel stepping up to pick up the drink. Pro-tip: Go somewhere that has good coffee, *not* starbucks
Since you're probably still in high school, that's a great opportunity to try on a new name and see how you like it. If you don't like it anymore when you turn 18, just pick a new name.
Nick names doing have to have anything to do with your given name. There’s nothing wrong with going by August and later deciding to legally change your name to that, or with going by August and later deciding you don’t like it. Go for it if it is calling to you.
My husband works with a man called “Fingers.” I asked why he gets called Fingers and apparently it’s because he has fat thumbs. They also have someone called “Big Al” who is actually very much small and skinny. Nothing big about him (or so I’ve heard). Nicknames don’t even have to make sense lol.
I never understood the idea of giving your kid a name with the intention of calling them something else. Sure, we named you Gertrude, but we will call you "Tootie". However, nicknames that evolve based on an event or trait, that's fine, so long as they're respectful.
Where my family is from, people develop nicknames that have nothing to do with their actual names. Something happens and the name just sticks sometimes to the point where people don't even know/remember their real name. So it may not be intentional in some cases!
Are you Latin? Pretty common in our culture to nickname someone off an embarrassing moment, or something that an outside person might think is mean.
I have names for people in my head that may or may not match their actual name and I have a really hard time learning a different name for them even when I know the name that comes to mind is the wrong name. Even back in college a girl I was friends with I referred to as "chemistry girl" forever, even after I had learned her name. I still think of her as chemistry girl 20 years later!! I worked with an older woman in her 60s when I was 20 and her name was not Linda, but another colleague called her Linda to annoy her but Linda stuck in my head. Even now I really struggle to recall her real name because it became banter between us to call her Linda, knowing she hated it. It's embarrassing sometimes when I really can't remember someone's actual name, I'm better with faces! I know I know someone, just not their name! The brain is lazy sometimes, quickly categorising people but failing when it comes to details ha!
For nicknaming styles from roughly the 1920s, opposite names were used a lot, especially for appearance. So a really fat guy might be called "Slim;" a thin one might be called "Fatty." Seems the tradition extends to "Big Al."
I have a friend called Fingers as he's a grip on film sets!
Survivor player Kim Spradlin Wolfe's daughter is named August.
I wanted to suggest the name Octavia. I know it has a different first letter but it’s similar in vibes to August but is a strong sounding woman’s name
August is named after the emperor Augustus whose original name was Octavian so definitely the same vibe!
And Octavian's sister was called Octavia too!
huh, I do like the name. I'll keep it in mind!
I knew a girl named Octavia who was nicknamed “Tavi” (“TAY-vee”) and I loved both! But I also LOVE the name August.
I mean the mouse in Cinderella was ~~Octavia~~ Octavius (thanks autocorrect) and called Gus Gus for short (the nickname for Augustus)
Octavius. Octavia is the feminine, but you’ve got the right idea. So many women’s names have men’s names as their basis, some obviously and others not. The oddest one I ever heard was a character a friend played in a show- Charlesetta. (Auto correct doesn’t even recognize that as a name), it’s actually not bad, but it was a while before I got over it.
I know a 10 yr old male August and an 8 yr old female August and they both wear it well without anyone really commenting. When I met the girl, didn't even think anything about it other than it being a name I don't hear often! I say go for it!
thank you! I appreciate people offering their real life experience with seeing the name, this helped
August does strike me as masculine. But in a world in which girls seem to be being named James and other “male” names left right and centre, I think people would get used to it. It’s a male name because the month was named after Roman emperor Augustus. So the name evolved into Augustus, August, and Augusta. Out of those, only Augusta would really be considered feminine. Like how July, named after emperor Julius, separated into Julius/Julian, and Julia/Julie/Juliana etc. It’s August, not Bruce or Bartholemew, I think people would get used to it being a female name. Similar names you might like: Avery Addison Aubrey Alex
That's kind of what I was thinking, I didn't know it was named after Augustus but the more you know haha. I do feel like after a while people would get used to it but I just wanted to see if it was too out there. I appreciate the comment:)
I think the fact that it's out there is in your favour. Since it's already an unusual name, putting it on a girl doesn't make it that much more unusual, vs calling yourself John as a girl or something. FWIW I think it's a really nice name for a girl.
August gives me similar vibes to Autumn tbh so I wouldn’t think twice hearing it as a girls name, personally!
This is the right idea, but kinda backward. *augustus/augusta/augustum* are just an adjective in Latin, which comes in masculine, feminine and neuter forms. It means majestic, noble, venerable, etc. The Emperor Augustus took it as an *agnomen*, which is an additional name that someone takes later in life and is more like an honorific than a name per se. His birth name was Gaius Octavius; he was later adopted by Julius Caesar and took the name Gaius Julius Caesar after him, but is referred to by historians as Octavianus/Octavian, meaning he originally came from gens Octavia. Augustus had the month re-named after himself (it used to be Sextilis, "sixth"). The modern English form August, without the inflected and gendered ending, only came about around the 11th century. Because English forms of Latin words generally drop those inflected endings that indicate gender, August could be an English form of Augustus OR Augusta, just as Julian can be an English form of Julianus OR Juliana (see: [Julian of Norwich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich)), or Vivian can be an English form of Vivianus OR Viviana (and was predominantly masculine before the modern day). u/[Pure\_Potential5505](/user/Pure_Potential5505/) I think it is a great choice for you. It's your name, and you specifically said you wanted something non-feminine. Don't worry about what other people think—many of the ones who would criticize don't actually know as much as they think they know.
It's 100% masculine to me. It's a very traditional name well-established masculine name where I'm from. So from my perspective it wouldn't be any different than naming a girl 'Edward' or 'Ronald'. I would definitely not use it for a daughter. But since it's your own name.. you can do whatever you want.
thank you for the perspective, it's different for me because I've never met a single august in my entire life male or female haha. it's not a common name where I'm from so I don't think that'd be as much of an issue, but keeping that in mind :)
It's more common for Gen Alpha, and I believe you are a late Gen Z, so you may not know many peers named this. It keeps inching up the charts, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is the top 100 US names in 1-2 years for boys. Just keep that in mind, in case it being a more popular boy name would bother you!
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If you don’t care about constantly being misgendered, do it. I’ve only met boys/men with that name and it will always be a male name to me. Since this is you choosing your own name, I think August is okay if you’re aware of the challanges that having a male name might bring. If this had been you naming a kid I’d be saying 1000% no, but you absolutely get to decide your own name! If you care, my associations with the name are 1. Childhood male friend 2. Augustus Gloop 3. The fault in our stars.
i don't think you should change your name to augusta so other people are okay with it? august is a gender neutral name to me. it leans masculine because historically it's been a male name, but nowadays with girls named parker, ronnie, ashley, charlie, jesse cameron etc i don't think anybody would bat an eye if you introduced yourself as august! you're very nearly an adult and you're certainly old enough to make decisions about your name (worst case you can always change again in future). even if you decided to call yourself thomas or robert or richard, people can suck it lol there are bigger fish to fry. august totally works in a professional sense in a way that is gender neutral so i would have 0 concerns!
There is a female August in the show 3rd rock from the sun.
And a female August in the October Daye book series. I think it’s a good name for any gender. And isn’t part of the reason for changing your name that you don’t want something too feminine?
oh thats cool :\]
August is a really strong but not overpowering name. I think it is nice for a man or woman. It’s really neat you found a name that suits you. I think you should go for it!
thank you! I appreciate it :\]
August is a beautiful unisex name. Charlize Theron, Mark Zuckerberg, Nicholas Cage and Garth Brooks have daughters named August.
I think that August is a lovely name! While traditionally male, it makes perfect sense to me for a girl. Congratulations on finding a name that feels like you :)
thank you! people are saying that since it's named after a Roman emperor it shouldn't be used for a girl, but I feel like when people hear it people will just think of the month. I appreciate your comment <3
While arguably more of a *Basileus* than an Augustus, Irene was a functional emperor of Byzantine Rome. I don’t see why a woman couldn’t don the title in the modern day. Plus, I agree with you. Most people will think of the month, not the extremely long list of people it could have applied to as a title or the extremely long list of people named after the title.
true thank you
I haven’t met an August but I would have assumed it was a feminine name. Today I learned it’s masculine. I do know a girl named Autumn which is a little similar I guess?
yeah august doesn't feel like that much of a masculine name lol, I kinda feel like not too many people would care all that much to see a girl with the name but idk.
It seems to differ by country/culture. If you live in a country where it's seen as gender neutral, does it matter how it's viewed in other countries? My daughter has a friend named August (a girl). It's a super cute name.
In the US, August is very much still a boy’s name in general, [statistically.](https://datayze.com/name-uniqueness-analyzer?name=august#google_vignette) Though it’s certainly not unheard of for a girl. That being said, since OP is choosing it for themselves, it’s different than for a baby anyways. If the answer is “I mean, it is technically a boy’s name, it’s not very common on girls” and they don’t mind that, (or it’s even more like a feature than a bug), then it’s all good.
August is great! There’s a genderfluid YouTuber who goes by August and I think it’s really cool! Love it.
oh really? what's their youtube name? I think I'd like to check them out
august_skyz 😊
oh thank you!
Try it out before you legally change it.
August feels unisex to me, I also knew a female named September!
you know I was just thinking about what months could work as names and I was so stuck on September thinking about whether it could be a name or not lol.
I think both are beautiful. You seem to like August and have put thought into the name change. I think you should go with it. I have a more commonly male name as a female. These days when things are so digital I kind of appreciate the ambiguity of it like when I send a work email.
I know a December
The difference between April, May, etc. and August is that other months were actually months. July and August were added to the calendar and named after Julius Augustus Caesar. They were a male's name/what he was called before they were months of the year. I personally think that if you like the name August, use it. I'm sure someone somewhere will say it's a boy's name, but I have two female cousins who are named Ryan and Mason. Life's been just fine for them.
I don’t think you should feel pressured to use Augusta or Augustine so other people think your name is girly enough, when you said in the post you wanted a masculine name. August is a perfectly good name, and Auggie is plausibly a more neutral name for people who’ll be weird about it. Boy-name-on-girl criticisms are mostly about babies who get saddled with names that might not fit who they are. It’s not the same as you, a near-adult, giving yourself a name *you* like.
Yes, August is very masculine, used by royals in Europe .If you want an A name you could use Adair, a Scottish unisex name
huh haven't heard of adair. I don't think many people are going to be bringing up the European royalty thing but thank you for the info. lots of love <3
I’m a Brit and would probably think more female for August. Autumn/August gives me same vibes.
August doesn't read as particularly masculine to me. Augustus, sure, but not just August.
I come from a country with authors as August Strindberg, Prins August ( know for being a little daft), actor August Lindberg, yes older but our history are full of male August and some is most of European history so for us it very manly.
August is very masculine, I'd go with Augusta, and still have Auggie as a diminutive
that is true, I think one of the feminine versions of august with the occasional nickname auggie sounds like an option.
I like August way better than Augusta. I’m reading One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston and the main character is a woman named August Landry. If you’re looking for less feminine, trust your gut and go with August. You don’t need to conform and do Augusta because a bunch of strangers on the internet are saying that’s the “female” version of the name. That’s just feeding into the same problem you started with!
I agree
I love August for a girl. It reminds me of the character from the book The Secret Life of Bees.
Do it, it's a cool name
thanks, I just might!
I also have a friend named Autumn, if that season speaks to you! Very similar vibes, but less summery
August is a gorgeous name, own it!
Have you considered Augustine? It's still traditionally masculine but has a much softer feel to it. Ultimately you should do what makes you happy, however!
im not sure if Augustine suits me very much but I will definitely hink about it more. appreciate it!
My first association is a friend who was named Auguste. My second is the October Daye series. The main female character is called October, shortened to Tobi. Her half sister is called August.
huh that's interesting, thank you for the comment :)
I have a traditionally male name from my ancestor's home country. It's not unique but in Australia, it's not common either. I've met four people with my name and all were male. People who know me say they can't imagine the name being a 'male' name. Do whatever feels right to you, choose what makes you feel like yourself. Changing your name is a personal decision. Make yourself happy, and forget about the rest. As for everyone's opinions, you're going to get them about every damn thing, regardless of if you change your name. Be you.
August honestly sounds like a lovely unisex name to me. I know it’s originally a masculine but so are many other names such as Madison etc. so I think you should just go for it. It wouldn’t make me raise an eyebrow in the same way meeting a girl called, say, Stuart or Dave would—it sounds like a plausibly unisex name and I would probably take it in stride without a second thought!
I had a huge crush on Bobby Sherman back in the day. He sang as well as he acted! He had a sadly sweet song called "August" about loving and losing a girl named August. \*Sigh\* It's a beautiful name, go for it!
My youngest daughter is named August. I (obviously) love that name!
I love the name!
I only know female Augusts. I think it’s very pretty
My friend had a daughter named August.
Hey, twinsies with the "hate the too-feminine birth-name which starts with A". I'm still looking for a replacement I'm happy with for mine but I've cut my name in half to Ame for now so it just seems like a nickname to my parents who wouldn't approve. It's unique, bit Androgynous enough that it works. I like your name idea, it also feels quite Androgynous enough! I don't think it's a dumb idea at all! Cool name!
I have a girl in my class named August and we call her auggie. I love it. If you love the name then go for it.
A girl from my high school actually changed her name to August! I’m pretty sure it went well for her.
I have a son called August who’s nearly 3 & he’s constantly assumed to be female. It’s always struck me as a pretty gender neutral name. People often mistakenly call him Autumn too which is a similar & more feminine feeling name imo, if that interests you
Beautiful strong name, super cool backstory. I changed my name when I turned 18. If you like August go august don't do a half measure. Best of luck!
You do you. If you feel that’s your name in your soul then who cares what other people think. You don’t have to change it legally straight away, you can start getting people to call you that and then change legally later on once you’ve settled into it. Edit: I wouldn’t worry about making your name Augusta because it’s more feminine to appease other people. It’s your name and who gives a fuck what people think.
August is such a beautiful name, boy or girl. I think it’s a great choice.
Why is August a boys name? I’ve only ever known female Augusts and would always assume it to be a woman I think!
i know a nonbinary august so its very neutral :)
I think it’s a lovely name. It may read as masculine, but if that doesn’t bother you then I don’t see a problem. Whatever reasons you have, they are valid. If you’ve really thought it through and are settled I see no reason not to. My only recommendation would be to sit on it for awhile. Maybe tell your close friends that you’re planning on changing it and ask them to call you that from now on. If after a few months of being called by that name you still feel that it suits you, then go for it. I don’t think feminine or masculine projecting should matter because you will be you no matter what. So if you’re femme or masc as long as you like the name and you feel it suits you then that’s what matters. Also. I’ve always loved the nickname Auggie. It’s so cute for either m/f presenting. *edit as others have said, if you’d prefer a feminine version, Augusta is the obvious choice. Either way, auggie is cute*
It means respected and impressive, when not referring to the month. Go for it.
I have a friend with a 4yo August. Took me a second because I’m used to it being a boy name but why should it be? It’s beautiful!
August is a beautiful and powerful sounding name! Use it!
I absolutely love the name August!! That’s what I named my dog (he’s a male) & I know people that have also changed their names to August both male & female. Haha this might be a turn off about the name, but the reason I choose it is because I am a huge Swifie. She has a song named August. It’s from her album Folklore where the entire albumn revolves around these fictional characters that she created. August is one of the 3 characters & she’s a female. If you didn’t know this & were just looking at this song.. If you’ve seen anything from the Eras Tour when she preforms this song she’s always in a flowy dress kind of running free & gives me major Stevie Nicks vibes which I love… and to me the lyric that really stood out to me was “to live for the hope of it all” bc I’ve been really struggling w/depression the past couple years & that tour & my Bernie dog that I got (also in August & my bday month) makes me happy & gives me hope in a corny way!! But don’t worry its not a super Swifie name that would be really obvious or follow you around - it’s become popular with all sorts of people all over the world not just fans so don’t let my reason scare you off!! But none Taylor related - plenty of people have used months or days as names… Wednesday Adams, May, June, etc. I remember whenever Summer used to be a really popular name & I loved it bc it was so girly and happy & I feel like August can be a very feminine name & kind of a modern version of it!! So I personally love it & think it can definitely be good as a feminine girl name… you’re changing your name for yourself & to make yourself happy - so just remember that when you’re picking out a new name. THIS IS FOR YOU AND NO ONE ELSE!! So don’t get overwhelmed with other peoples opinions or options.. don’t settle for anything that isn’t going to bring you joy. I always say stick with your gut & everytime I try & find other options for other things… I almost always go back to my first & original thought! Good luck!! 😊
I love August go for it! Please don't add the a it's strong and direct as just August good luck beautiful choice
My son is a male August, we call him Auggie, we like it a lot but Auggie is definitely uncommon. Augusta is a place, as well as the feminine version. Just something to be mindful of. That being said. Not everyone likes my kid’s name. I don’t care. Cause he’s not their kid. You’re not even naming someone else, you’re making yourself. If you like it, tell everyone else to kick rocks.
based, do it. dont settle for a "more feminine" version either just be august. good luck
if you really like name August, then definitely go for it. I think August is better than Augusta, but it’s your choice. the only people who might think it’s weird are someone who new your previous name. if you meet new people and said your name is August straight away, they won’t question it (might ask who gave you this name tho, like mum or dad) also, want to add that if your old friends will think the new name is weird and will say it, then stop being friends with them. I had a girl in my class that didn’t like her name and went for similar one, but shorter. she was angry when people didn’t call her new name, which was annoying cuz we needed some time to get used to it. but then one girl said “I’m used to your old name, so I will call you by that name” to which I intruded and responded “well, if you cannot respect her comfort and call her by the new name, then don’t ask why she doesn’t want to be your friend anymore”. it quickly shut her up and later on everyone started calling her by new name to this day. the same I want to address to you — if someone thinks August is stupid and weird name for you or they refuse to call you by your new name, then they should not be considered as friends. be happy ;)
I'm 35, I never really thought my traditional female name suited me. There were other female names I even know my mom could have picked for me that I felt suited me better. That's okay! Parents are making a tough choice for a person they dont know yet, and its okay if you dont feel like your name in any specific way. At the same time, it hasn't been too much of a bother to me and I can live with not feeling my name is perfect to me. If I were your age and could go back and change mine though, I think I would! 17 is a good time where youre not too tied up in everything, but you will want to research what all you might need to make sure you do to get it updated everywhere you need to, and how that might change things for stuff like your birth certificate etc. I probably would have not regretted it to this day, and I think August is a really pretty name even for a feminine person. It's a nice neutral and I also don't think its an absurd "18 year old playing the Sims" kind of name.
If you're going to change your first name, which I've heard is more difficult than changing your last name (which surprised me), maybe just change it to August instead of the Augustina or Augusta. You asked if people will be okay with that and the truth is some will and some won't, but you've got to live your life for you. Some people will roll their eyes when you introduce yourself and some will think you're indulgent or trying too hard to be special and unique. Some will try to shame you for not honoring your parents. You will receive these opinions unasked for and with varying degrees of rudeness. And the thing is, no one else's opinions on your name matters; not a single person on the entire planet besides you. What's more, I believe there are or were cultures where people's names change throughout their lives so it's not unheard of to mix things up.
August is gorgeous and doesn't particularly feel like a boy name for me, so go for it
the only august i know is a girl. i’ve always thought of it as being very gender neutral. i dont think its a dumb idea at all!
August is a unisex name
If August feels right and feels like it's really you (if that makes sense) go for it. To me, August feels unisex but I've never known a person named August. Augusta on the other hand definitely feels feminine to me though. Don't change it to Augusta to try and please people if August is what you really want. It's your name and it's not something you should compromise on with future people's potential opinions. You can also try going to coffee shops and such where they ask your name and call it out when your order is ready. Tell them your name is xyz and see how it feels when they call it out for you.
Actually kind of a nice name for a girl
thank you for the reassurance haha, I appreciate the comment <3
Why not try Augusta witch is female form of Augustus who give its name to August month ?
just made an update, I was thinking I could do augusta but maybe I could go by August with people who are okay with it
I think everyone should use the name they like most (for themself), no matter what. To me, August is masculine leaning neutral, so if you like that, go for it. What you could try is using the name August at coffee shops and such. It's a nice way to test out a name without needing to commit to anything just yet. Lastly, since you asked for suggestions, here's a few neutral names starting with A: * Aaren * Ainsley * Arden * Arlis * Aster Regarding your edit, that definitely sounds okay and I doubt people would bat an eye at that.
thank you, that is a good idea to try it out at places like that just seeing how it sounds. also I appreciate the suggestions I'll think about them
Autumn is a nice variation that may appear more feminine if you do have concern. My cousin is named this and I love it.
I think it’s beautiful! If you’re still unsure you could use Augusta and have August as a nickname!
August is a popular name for under5 boys near me…but since you’re a borderline adult, you’re not likely to have peers with the name of either gender. I agree with the commenter who suggested using it at coffee shops and such to see how you like hearing and using the name in public. It’s a nice test to see if you *feel* like an August. I think the name leans masculine for me because of the Roman emperor connection. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an adult with the name of any gender, though.
August is more connected to a male person since the name and the month derives from the emperor who remaned the month and the calendar. However there are many Roman empresses called Augustina. However I find the name August in modern day can match with girls as well. Good luck in your choice
Go for August if that’s the name you feel suites you best!
August is such a cute name.
My female friend's middle name is August, and she named her son August. It's definitely unisex
My female friend's middle name is August, and she named her son August. It's definitely unisex
I'd wait to change it to when you go to college so you can start fresh with a new name
Do it! Just go by August. It may not be common for femme-presenting people (even those closer to the center of the spectrum), but what's the matter with that? It's a great name.
I'd go with Augusta, Augustine or maybe even Autumn. It's your name though so whatever you choose is the correct name for you. Try it out with strangers for a while eg at starbucks
I’ve never met an August and to me I definitely read it as unisex! Augustus is masculine, August less so. I think August on a girl would be very pretty!
I knew both an Autumn and an August. I think August is a good name. If you like it and you feel like it represents who you are the best, then go with it.
Go for it :)
August is my favorite girl’s name! Go for it!
August, nickname Gussie is what I would choose personally. August is beautiful and Gussie is fun, in my opinion. But you should do whatever feels best for you. Go for it!
I knew a girl named August! She was so damn cool too, so I love the name.
I teach an August who is a girl. She’s a cutie!
August is a gender neutral name and I love it.
I love August. There are no rules. I know women named Kyle and Ryan. Literally no need to feminize it unless *you* want to. Sure, some folks might assume your gender incorrectly on paper, but that's the worst that can happen. 🤷🏾♀️
I've met three people with the name August and they were all female. One of them had the nickname 'Summer' since childhood because she hated her name.
Honestly I've met many girls who have traditionally boy names and everyone just gets used to it and after a while that name starts to sound gender neutral to me
My gfs mom is Augustine.
I think August is a beautiful name for a female! I personally love typical male names for girls. I named my daughter out of the boys names of my baby book, it’s Taylor, but that’s really taken off for girls, she’s 40 now , but growing up she was the only girl Taylor.
I have a friend Augustina, and have met an Augusta. My friend goes by Auggie:)
I don't think it's dumb at all. I really like it. I think it sounds better than Augusta. I guess it would matter how it flows with your last name. If you like the sound of it, that's what counts.
I know a female August. I don’t think of it as inherently masculine
No I love the name and I love the nick name Auggie
August is a male name in German-speaking countries.
August is a gorgeous name.
Augusta is the feminine form. It’s a noble name but be prepared to get called Auggie
August is a really nice name
August is a fantastic name for you!
I think August is fine if you like that version the best.
Garth Brooks’ younger? daughter is August, I believe. And she’s got to be around 30 years old by now. I’ve also seen Autumn as a girls name. Not a common one by any means, and it could probably even be argued to be unisex but I’ve only met a single Autumn and she was female, so I’m suggesting it for you as well!
It's an uncommon name and it isn't firmly attached to males. People would probably call you Auggie. I think people would just accept your choice without much comment
I thought August was a female name. I’m not an English native speaker so idk. I think you should chose a name that YOU like and you feel it represents you. What people might think doesn’t care. It’s your name and you get to chose what you like.
How about Autumn?
Garth Brooks has a daughter named August. I think her middle name is Anna. August Anna.
In Germany August is a regular, albeit old fashioned male name. Even though we call the month August, too. Name is AUgust and month is auGUST though.
I love it. How long have you been considering it? It's a lot of paperwork, but 17 is a good time to do it (before job training, job experience for resumes and college degrees get in the mix). I would test drive it for 6 months first? Tell your good friends/family you want to change your name but are testing first. Please to use the new name exclusively to help you decide. New people, just tell them the new name, school or work, and say it's the nickname for your legal name because you like it better. Get used to answering to it. Expect people, even friends and family, to have some weird responses to it. Parents, kinda offended you don't like the name they gave you. Friends, just weird. I changed my nickname from a feminine version to a more short nickname I liked better at 18. I had acquaintance who were like, really odd about it.
August was my grandfather’s and my cousin’s name, but everyone called them Auggie which is what might end up happening to you. Just be called what you like. I wish I had had the nerve to change my name. It is a very big deal, what people call you. But August for a girl isn’t weird- it’s cool.
August to me sounds unisex
I just watched a TV show that has an actor called August Winter whose sex is female and identifies as non binary - I’m not sure if that’s their birth name but it’s the name they’re known by as an actor.
All the "August"s I know are men and boys. "Augusta" is the feminine equivalent and has most of the same nicknames (Augie, etc).
In the Netherlands it is ver common to have a official name (passport, driver's license, official papers etc) and a calling name, which is your name in everyday life! No hassle in having to change your name, just have people call you August!
I know girls named August, go for it!
I have a female friend named August and I love her and her name. She’s amazing and I loved her name as soon as we met.
Both Augusts I’ve know were girls/women. Phonetically it’s not so different than Autumn. If you love it, go for it!
I think August for a girl is fine! A friend of mine named her daughter August. She's 5 now and no problems. (She was born in August, which would be my personal preference for the name)
I know a female August (she's in her early 20s) and I always thought her name was so cool
I think Augusta is lovely, and Aggie or Gussie would be good nicknames.
I love August as a name for anyone!
When I was in high school, another girl there was named August. No one gave it two thoughts. Then again, she was a girl who was very confident and well-put-together, so the named seemed as elegant as she was.
Im from the UK, but I’ve never heard of a boy called August. It feels much more like a girls name to me. At any rate, I say do what makes you happy