Baby Name Poll Results

I think of an African American boy. But only because I used to know an African American boy named Marcelle. I think it could be a really cute girls name too, though.

Yeah, I guess that’s my dilemma. It was my grandmother’s name and I think it’s pretty yet strong but paired with my last name I feel like it does sound like it could be more of an African-American boy’s name instead of a little girl.

Marcelle is definitely sounds masculine to me. Marcella is a beautiful name, why not go with that?

Marcel is the masculine form and Marcelle is the feminine form. If you’re willing to change the spelling of your maiden name to Marcel for a boy, I think it works, but the -elle suffix is ALL girl. And I’m not sure what the first poster is talking about...but since they used anecdotal evidence, I’ll do the same: I knew a Swiss student on a college semester abroad named Marcel and he was very intelligent and well-spoken. It’s a French name after all, not an African American name...and you know that poster wanted to say black, not African American.

Thank you poster ^ but I too was thinking that it already might sound more like a boys name despite the -Elle ending, and I don’t think it’s ridiculous for people to use anecdotal evidence to formulate name associations and I won’t imply they are racist just because they do so. I asked because I questioned myself, with my last name being one of the top 3 most common names and not a French one at that, that people might indeed associate it more as an African-American boys name, instead of the little girls name I’m aiming for. I’m not trying to stir anything up. But the thought occurred to me as well and I wanted to see if anyone else had the same association.

Masculine name and I think of both French and African American nationality.

Poster 4, how do you know that the first poster "wanted to say black"? So what if she did?! My husband is black and he prefers to be called black. He isn’t ashamed of the color of his skin! So get over it, your comment was ridiculous!
@ the poll poster, one of my best female friends is named Marcelle so she is obviously what I associate the name with. I do think Marcella is pretty too. GL

I think of a boy, because the only Marcel I’ve ever heard of has been Marcel Marceau. I picture someone French, so white, I guess, but it could work for any race. And while if I heard the name I’d think boy, if I saw the spelling Marcelle, I would assume girl. I don’t like this name at all, but I would definitely spell it Marcel if it’s a boy.