The Art of Manliness is one of our favorite sites. If you’ve never been, stop what you’re doing and go check it out. They’ll teach you how to wrestle an alligator and play pool like Minnesota Fats. It’s also a place for thoughtful discussion, like the one going on right now about the meaning of a man’s name.

Can your name actually have an effect on who you become?

When I hear a name like “Mitch” or “Butch,” I expect a certain type of person. For some reason, the phrase “crazy son of a bitch” comes to mind. As mentioned in the AoM discussion, it’s hard to see a guy named Max Fightmaster becoming a florist. He has to be a fighter pilot, doesn’t he? Or Colt McCoy? That is the name of an NFL quarterback—or a cowboy.

But what about guys with feminine names?

While I might not be named “Sue,” I don’t have the manliest name out there. “Ryan,” while usually a man’s name, can still be ambiguous. Naturally, I was startled the one time someone yelled out my name, and I turned around to see they were calling out for a woman. Now, I wasn’t upset. It made me pause for a few seconds, and that was it.

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Don’t get me wrong. I love my name, but I’m glad this is the extent of my gender confusion. For a guy named “Leslie,” middle school would be torture. Even later in life, people would get him mixed up. Should parents stay away from names like “Kelly,” “Lindsay,” “Tracy,” or “Marion” because of this?

As a parent, do you hesitate to give your son a quirky name? Do you wish you could change your own name? What are your experiences? When you hear a certain name, do you expect a certain type of person?

Join in on the discussion at the Art of Manliness, or let us know in the comments.