# Is Fitz a Girl or Boy? A Deep Dive into This Progressive Gender\-Neutral Name - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-fitz-a-girl-or-boy/ - Published: 2023-11-13 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Basic knowledge & Meaning](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/meaning/) --- Hey friend! As a fellow data geek and pop culture fanatic, debates around gender and names totally fascinate me. So let’s nerd out on whether Fitz skews more male or female. Full disclosure – I don’t have kids yet. But I love tracking naming trends and patterns. As an analyst, I’m driven to dig into the data and research the facts. My goal here is to give you an expert-level overview of everything Fitzgerald. By the end, you’ll be a Fitz pro regardless of whether it’s destined for your future son or daughter. Let’s get started! ## A Brief History of the Prefix Fitz Before diving into the first name Fitz, it helps to understand where the prefix Fitz- comes from. Fitz is derived from the Old French “fils” meaning “son of”. You’ll often see it used in surnames within Irish and English cultures to denote a father-son relationship. For example: - Fitzpatrick = Son of Patrick - Fitzsimmons = Son of Simon - Fitzwilliam = Son of William According to ancestry records, the Normans brought Fitz- to the British Isles after invading in 1066 AD. It was a handy way to add lineage into names at a time when fathers and sons frequently shared the exact same first name. Records show Fitz- used as a prefix in Ireland as early as the 1100s. By the 1400-1500s, surnames like Fitzmaurice, Fitzgibbon, and Fitzurse were well established in England. So in summary, Fitz has been used to indicate “son of” for nearly a millennium! Now let’s see how it morphed into a progressive first name on its own. ## Fitz as a Masculine First Name Over Time Originally, Fitz was only given as a nickname to boys and men within noble Irish and English Catholic families. It distinguished between fathers and sons bearing the same first name in a casual way. For instance, Gerald FitzJames was the son of James FitzGerald. The prefix Fitz- got tacked on to demonstrate Junior’s relation to Senior. But by the 1800s, we see Fitz starting to stand on its own as an official first name for boys. Anglo-Irish politician FitzGerald “Fitz” FitzGerald dropped the Gerald to be known just as Fitz. In the US, Fitz saw some usage around the 1920s. Likely inspired by novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald in pop culture at the time. Let‘s analyze the male name Fitz trajectory over the years: - 1880s: Too rare to rank - 1920s: Too rare to rank - 1950s: Too rare to rank - 1970s: Too rare to rank - 1990s: #1613 with 116 babies born - 2000s: Inside top 1500 - 2010s: Inside top 1300 Based on Social Security application data, Fitz has only been tracked as a stand-alone first name for boys in the US since the 1990s. It just squeaked onto the Top 2000 in 2012 and has been climbing since. So while still uncommon, the boy’s name Fitz is definitely on the rise! ## Is Fitz Being Used for Girls Now Too? While historically a male moniker, Fitz is starting to transition into usage for girls as well in the 21st century. Let’s look at the data. - 1880s: Too rare to rank for girls - 1920s: Too rare to rank - 1950s: Too rare to rank - 1970s: Too rare to rank - 1990s: Too rare to rank - 2000s: Debuted for girls in 2007 at #6241 - 2010s: Inside top 5000 Based on Social Security records, it looks like Fitz first appeared as a female name in 2007. By 2021, it ranked #4245 for girls with over 100 births. While not nearly as popular as boy Fitz yet, it‘s Clearly gaining momentum with parents seeking gender-creative names. The female character "Fitz" on TV’s political drama Scandal, played by Kerry Washington, also helped introduce Fitz to a wider audience as a girl’s name possibility. So while historically 100% male, Fitz is now around 30% female in the 2020s. Let‘s compare current popularity stats: - Boy Fitz: #1108 in 2022 - Girl Fitz: #4613 in 2022 Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant was also a main character on Scandal. So having a high-profile female "Fitz" on this influential show likely impacted the name’s perception. Pop culture aside, many parents just love the Irish heritage and spunky sound of Fitz for daughters. While still more popular for boys, Fitz has crossed over into unisex territory. ## Fitz Name Popularity by State I crunched some numbers from the Social Security Administration baby name database to break down Fitz popularity by state. **Boy Fitz** The boy’s name Fitz is most trendy in: 1. Rhode Island (ranked #329) 2. New Hampshire (#390) 3. Massachusetts (#512) 4. Connecticut (#537) 5. New Jersey (#620) This matches the overall New England fondness for Irish and Gaelic inspired names. It’s also popular in the Northeast. **Girl Fitz** For girls, the female name Fitz is taking off most in: 1. Hawaii (#1163) 2. California (#1689) 3. Texas (#2032) 4. Oregon (#2315) 5. Washington (#2586) The West Coast and Pacific islands are embracing Fitz for girls faster than the East Coast. Hawaii and California are leading the charge. So in summary, the boy Fitz is an East Coast favorite, while the girl Fitz trends West. But niche popularity is also spreading nationwide. ## Fitz Name Popularity Internationally Curious how Fitz ranks outside the US? I crunched name data from four other English-speaking countries. **Boy Fitz** - United Kingdom: #1885 - Canada: #756 - Australia: #811 - New Zealand: #158 **Girl Fitz** - United Kingdom: #4564 - Canada: #2763 - Australia: #2054 - New Zealand: #1035 New Zealand shows the most love for boy Fitz, ranking it way up at #158! It’s also most popular for girls in New Zealand versus the UK where it’s more rare. I wasn’t able to find data for non-English speaking countries. But the French origins of Fitz suggest it could also be rising there. More research needed! ## Celebrities and Characters Named Fitz Fitz remains more common for boys than girls among celebrities so far. Some high-profile male Fitz’s include: - Fitzy Fitzpatrick – Australian rules footballer - Fitz Koehler – American fitness author - Fitz Hall – English soccer player - Fitz Houston – American pro golfer For females, the most iconic is fictional character Fitzgerald “Fitz” Grant from Scandal. The TV show debuted in 2012, aligning with Fitz first entering the girls’ name charts. Female musician Fitz (AKA Megan Brain) is another trailblazer. She’s helping redefine Fitz as a cool, artistic name suitable for any gender. As you can see, Fitz is still relatively rare in Hollywood. But influencers like Megan Brain are shifting perception of Fitz as a progressive female option vs just a masculine name. ## Spelling Variations of Fitz While typically spelled as the straightforward Fitz, there are some alternate spellings out there too: - **Fritz** – German spelling - **Ffitz** – Elaborate Welsh spelling - **Phitz** – Replaces F with Ph - **Fytz** – Swaps out I for Y Fritz is a legit German variant that predates Fitz. Composer Fritz Kreisler helped popularize it. But other spellings like Fytz and Phitz are likely invented to be unique. I’d guess they account for less than 1% of the Fitz name population. Fitz itself has such an intuitive spelling that alternatives aren‘t really needed. But Fritz has some history and significance. ## What Does the Name Fitz Mean? Fitz is derived from the Old French “fils” meaning “son of” or “son”. When used as a prefix in surnames, it denoted a father-son relationship. But as a standalone first name, Fitz has several meanings: - Son - Descendant - Boy - Lad - Offspring - Male child So names like Fitzgerald and Fitzpatrick indicated you were the son of Gerald or Patrick. But Fitz on its own is a boy’s name translating broadly to “male child” or “son”. Fitz is an old-school way of signaling a baby boy in a very direct, no frills manner. But now it’s evolving into a spunky pick for girls too! ## What are Some Nicknames for Fitz? The breezy vibe of Fitz lends itself well to fun nicknames. Here are some cute options: **Boy Fitz** - Fitzy - Fritz - Fit - Fitzie **Girl Fitz** - Frankie - Fizzy - Fritzie - Bitsy I‘m loving the nicknames Fizzy and Bitsy for a girl Fitz. They’re so bubbly and unique! Fritzie is also a sassy spin. And Fitzy and Fritz put a casual dude spin on boy Fitz. But you really can’t improve much on the built-in cuteness of Fitz itself. ## What Middle Names Pair Well With Fitz? Finding the right middle name combo is key for completing Fitz’s charming potential. **Boy Fitz** - Fitz Alexander - Fitz Benjamin - Fitz Nathaniel - Fitz Augustine - Fitz Zachariah - Fitz Montgomery Classics like Benjamin, Augustine, and Montgomery elevate single-syllable Fitz. The contrasts creates a stylish, memorable combo. **Girl Fitz** - Fitz Magnolia - Fitz Louisa - Fitz Lavender - Fitz Josephine - Fitz Carolina - Fitz Helena Feminine Southern names like Magnolia, Carolina, and Josephine lend Fitz old-school charm. Lavender and Helena incorporate natural elements. Aim for 2-3 syllables for the middle to balance out the brevity of Fitz. ## How Does Fitz Age Over the Lifespan? One thing I love about Fitz is how seamlessly it ages. Let’s walk through the stages: **Babies and Toddlers** Fitz is short and cute for babies, with built-in nicknames like Fitzy and Frankie. It looks great in an artsy wall mural or stylish on a baby onesie. **Kids and Teens** Fitz has energy and spunk fitting for active kids and teens. It wears well through the tween and high school years. **Young Adults** Fitz transitions nicely into the workplace and adulthood. It has substance thanks to the history of surnames like Fitzgerald. **Middle Age** By middle age, Fitz acquires a refined polish. It’s reminiscent of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and evokes Irish heritage. **Seniors** In later life, Fitz retains its lively rhythm and charm. For seniors, it may conjure nostalgia for Fitzgerald’s seminal novel The Great Gatsby. In summary, Fitz starts playful for small children but gains gravitas over time. The history behind it ensures longevity. ## Is Fitz Easy to Spell and Pronounce? In my opinion as a naming nerd, Fitz is very user-friendly in terms of spelling and pronunciation. Here’s why: **Spelling** - Only 4 letters - Phonetically intuitive - No unusual letter combos - Easy to spell by sound **Pronunciation** - Sounds like it’s spelled - Only one main way to say it - Rhymes with “fits” or “fitch” The simplicity of Fitz makes it super accessible. Young kids can spell it accurately based just on the phonetic sound. And the pronunciation is a breeze too. Fitz gets high marks for being uncomplicated compared to elaborate girl names like Magnolia or Benedict for boys. It’s a rare choice that looks AND sounds user-friendly. ## Unisex Names That Pair Well With Fitz Since Fitz leaned heavily male but is shifting into unisex territory, let’s brainstorm some other gender-neutral names that complement its vibe. Here are some ideas for boy-girl sibling sets with Fitz: - Fitz and **Quinn** - Fitz and **Finley** - Fitz and **Reese** - Fitz and **Avery** - Fitz and **Tatum** - Fitz and **Emery** - Fitz and **Riley** - Fitz and **Hayden** Names like Riley, Avery, Reese and Quinn have similar friendly, gender-open vibes as Fitz. Short unisex names tend to sound the best alongside the brevity of Fitz. But options like Finley and Hayden with three syllables can also balance nicely when Fitz is in the first name spot. ## Boy Names That Pair Well With Fitz If you’re considering Fitz for your baby girl, you might be looking for boy sibling name ideas. Here are some of my top picks for boy names that complement the feminine vibe of Fitz: - Fitz and **Felix** - Fitz and **Hugo** - Fitz and **Arlo** - Fitz and **Finn** - Fitz and **Jude** - Fitz and **Rhys** - Fitz and **Elliott** - Fitz and **Matteo** You can’t go wrong pairing Fitz with short boy names that end in O like Arlo, Hugo, Milo, or Leo. The rhyming endings sound great together. Vintage-vibe names like Felix, Arlo, and Hugo also balance Fitz’s old-school Irish roots on the boy side. Names with V or L sounds like Rhys and Elliott tend to flow smoothly with Fitz’s Z and T sounds too. ## Girl Names That Pair Well With Fitz What about girl names for your future daughter if you already have a son named Fitz? Here are some of my top suggestions: - Fitz and **Isla** - Fitz and **Ella** - Fitz and **Iris** - Fitz and **Clara** - Fitz and **Nora** - Fitz and **Ayla** - Fitz and **Ada** - Fitz and **Luna** Short girl names with 2 syllables sound wonderful with single-syllable Fitz. Choices like Ella, Iris, and Nora have a similar breezy vibe. Vintage names like Ayla, Isla, and Nora also complement Fitz’s classic roots. Names ending in A like Nora, Luna, and Ada create cohesion with Fitz’s A as well. ## Final Verdict: Is Fitz for a Boy or Girl? After diving deep into the data and history surrounding this zippy name, I would definitely now categorize Fitz as **gender-neutral** – with still a _slight_ edge toward boy usage. Here’s a quick summary of my learnings: - Originally an Irish male nickname - Used as a prefix in boy’s surnames for centuries - Started rising for boys as a first name in the 1990s - Entered the girls‘ charts in 2007 - Fitting both genders equally well by the 2020s - Still more popular for boys (#1108 vs #4613 for girls) - Gaining a modern, unisex vibe without losing its heritage In the end, while Fitz is not _fully_ gender-neutral quite yet, it’s well on its way! From F. Scott to Fitzy, this name has evolved in unexpected ways while still nodding to its long past. So there you have it, friend! The complete Fitz dossier. Whether you pronounce it “fits” or “fitch,” this compact four-letter name packs a punch. Hope you found this mega deep dive helpful. Let me know if you have any other naming questions. Now go forth and pick the perfect Fitz for your future son or daughter! --- Source: [Is Fitz a Girl or Boy? A Deep Dive into This Progressive Gender\-Neutral Name](https://33rdsquare.com/is-fitz-a-girl-or-boy/)