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Gender Bender Names - Quiz

Before doing these activities, you might like to look at the discussion points in What's in a Name.

Introduction

There are some names which may be either female or male. For example the name 'Alex' may be a short form of 'Alexander' or 'Alexandra', and 'Chris' for 'Christine' or 'Christopher'. There are also names which sound the same but differ in spelling, e.g. Francis is male but Frances is female.

Activity I

Decide which name in each pair is a man's and which a woman's name.

Jerry or Gerri / Gerry
Robin / Robyn
Louis / Louise
Leslie / Lesley
Cyd / Sid
Jean / Gene
Terry / Terri
Andi / Andy

Check your answer here.

Activity II

The following can be male or female. Can you think of famous examples of both? Can you think of any other names which can be both male and female?

Hilary / Pat / Marion


Check your answer here.

Activity III

Below you'll find names of some famous British (and Irish) people. Is their gender obvious from the name? Who are / were they? First decide if you can recognise the person's gender and then check your answers.

  1. Gerri Halliwell
  2. George Eliot
  3. Leslie Stephen
  4. Bertie Ahern
  5. Gerry Adams
  6. Laurie Lee
  7. Vivien Leigh
  8. Sinead O'Connor
  9. Evelyn Waugh
  10. Aubrey Beardsley

Check your answer here.

If you want to find out more about some of the people mentioned in this quiz, try http://www.biography.com, which gives you short biographies of famous people.


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