Funny this discussion comes up today, as I named my new bouzouki last night. Not all of my instruments get given names- my banjo's name is the name of the maker (or restorer, I'm not sure which) that's stamped on the neck, while my electric guitar and a couple of knockabout guitars are just referred to by their brand names. If I had to decide whether they were male or female I'd probably say male, but those of my instruments that I've given names to (two guitars, a mandolin and the new bouzouki) have female names.

My instruments' names tend to be a secret revealed to very few, because part of me feels that giving a name is symbolic of the deepest spiritual bond between player and instrument, while the other part feels silly giving a name to an inanimate object.



hence my keeping them secret.