Entertainment
There are plenty of places you can draw inspiration from when it comes to naming your baby. Honoring your family's heritage, remembering a loved one, celebrating a particular season or holiday are all good ideas and jumping off points for you to factor in when you're selecting a moniker for your future little munchkin. But what about a cause near and dear to your heart? If you haven't thought of this already, consider baby names inspired by feminist men to acknowledge your passion for gender equality.
It's somewhat of a misconception that only females are the sole supporters of the feminist cause. My husband, in fact, is a staunch feminist and he doesn't see it as a movement that puts men down. He sees feminism for what it is: a need to elevate a gender which has been historically and economically oppressed to an equal standing with the opposite sex.
Thankfully, my partner in life isn't the only guy who proudly supports and advocates for gender equality and women's rights issues. From current celebs to historical figures, there are plenty of feminist men who can serve as the inspiration behind your little one's name, whether they're a girl or a boy.
1
Frederique
Taking inspiration from one of the earliest American male feminists, Frederick Douglass was a supporter of the women's rights movement of his era, according to The Atlantic. The feminine version of Frederick, Frederique means "peaceful ruler" in German.
2
Pat
In a speech given at an Amnesty International event, Patrick Stewart spoke passionately against domestic violence and shared his own experience growing up seeing his mother abused. An option for either a boy or a girl, Pat takes its meaning from the Latin word for "nobleperson," Patricius.
3
Ezra
An advocate for One Billion Rising, a campaign taking on the issues of violence against women, actor Ezra Miller openly supports gender equality. Meaning "help or helpful" in Hebrew, Ezra is a unique and compassionate name for a boy.
4
Josephine
In a video from his production company, hitRECord, Joseph Gordon-Levitt talked about why men should be feminists and care about women's rights issues, too. The feminine form of Joseph, the name Josephine means "God will add" in French and is a cute option for a girl.
5
Stuart
In The Subjection of Women, written by John Stuart Mills in 1869, the author spoke up for gender equality in Britain at a time when few men shared his viewpoint. Stuart takes its meaning from the Scottish word for "steward" and loosely translates to "house guard."
6
Ryan
According to Entertainment Tonight, Ryan Gosling expressed that feminism has always been important to him, but it means more to him now than ever since he has a baby girl with partner, Eva Mendes. Ryan, a unisex option, means "young royalty" in Gaelic.
7
Nicola
According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, French philosopher, Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat argued for women to receive equal rights. The feminine version of Nicolas, the name Nicola means "victory of the people" in Greek. What's gender equality if not a victory of the people?
8
John
John Legend isn't just known for his great music or that his better half is Chrissy Tiegen. According to E!, Legend said, "all men should be feminists. If men care about women's rights, the world will be a better place." A classic boy's name, John means "God is gracious" in Hebrew.
9
Alda
"I think misogyny is like a disease that needs to be cured," Alan Alda told the Huffington Post. "And if we could eradicate Polio, I don’t see why we can’t eradicate misogyny." Alda, a nickname for the gender-neutral Aldegund, which means "old war" in Limburgish.
10
Barack
As reported by Time, President Barack Obama said at the United State of Women Summit, "I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like." Barack means "blessing" in Arabic.
11
Danielle
If you were to ask about feminism and Harry Potter, most would probably mention Emma Watson, but her co-star, Daniel Radcliffe is also a feminist. In an interview with BuzzFeed, Radcliffe said, "I definitely think the idea of friend zone is just men going, 'This woman won’t have sex with me.'"
12
Ashton
Ashton Kutcher most recently spoke up for gender equality when he pointed out the sexist nature of public bathrooms since women in an interview with APlus, "I would like my daughter to experience a world where gender doesn't dictate one's responsibility or limit one's opportunity." A unisex name, Ashton means "ash tree" in Old English.
13
Joss
In his acceptance speech at an Equality Now event, Joss Whedon said, "Because, equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity." A gender-neutral option, Joss means "salvation" in Hebrew.
