9 Frustrating Moments That Only Happen to People With Gender Neutral Names

Have you ever walked into a job interview wearing your favorite power suit and a killer set of heels…only to see your interviewer’s face and realize you definitely weren’t what he expected? If you have a gender neutral name, your answer is probably “yes.” Compared to 2005, gender neutral names were 60 percent more popular in 2015 – and this trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

RELATED: Why Having a Gender Neutral Name as a Woman Leads to Success

Although gender neutral names can have their benefits – with studies reporting that women with masculine names succeed more as lawyers and in the science industry – they also can have unintended consequences. Here are nine challenges that only faced by people with gender neutral names.

1 Children can be merciless.

As of 2014, 49 percent of children in elementary and middle school reported being bullied. If you’re a boy named Susie or a girl named Charliee, you might be more likely to be included in those statistics.

Via Reddit

2 You feel like you’re starring in Punk’D every time you meet someone new.

Whether you’re meeting a friend-of-a-friend, a person from Craigslist who’s selling a sofa or just someone you’ve been chatting to online for ages, it’s almost impossible to not surprise one of them with your female (or male) self. Especially if you have one of the most common unisex names, like Casey, Riley, Jessie, Jackie or Avery.

Via Reddit

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3 One word: disappointment.

Sometimes, you could disappoint a prospective boss who was really hoping that “Terry” was a male candidate.

Other times, your masculine name may come with its share of family baggage…

Via Reddit

4 Telemarketers and junk mail never get the “Mr.” or “Miss” right…

Although, who knows? Calling someone named “Ashley” and finding out “she” is a dude instead might make a telemarketer’s day.

Via Reddit

5 You have to think twice before leaving your number for a cute waitress.

Note to self: next time write down, “From the cute dude at your 10 AM table.”

RELATED: How to Flirt at a Coffee Shop

6 Job interviews…sigh.

If you’re a woman, having a unisex name might help you with job interviews. Studies have shown that, when identical resumes from male and female candidates are given to employers, the male candidate is often preferred. However, that doesn’t make comments like these any less annoying.

7 Even once you get the job, the awkwardness doesn’t stop.

Another note to self: put my significant other in my phone as “babe” if I have an employee with the same name as him…

RELATED: Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Why Men and Women Should Work Together

8 Making reservations is way more confusing (and sexist) than it should be.

Um, actually I – the wife – am the doctor in the house. And, yes, I do wear the pants…or a pair of pants, anyway.

9 Wondering if your success is because of your abilities…or your gender neutral name.

If people think you’re a dude at work, does that mean your success at work is due to your incorrectly masculine status?

Some people think so…

RELATED: Carrie Fisher Raised Her Daughter Gender-Neutral; Why You Should, Too

The truth is, having a gender neutral name can be awesome. It can make you feel unique, give you the chance to surprise strangers and, if you’re a woman, could even give you an edge in the business world. However, as these people have shown, rockin’ a unisex name comes with its share of challenges too…

…as only a woman named Jordan, a man named Avery or any person named Skyler knows!