Aaron or Isaac?

[christabell]

My partner is obsessed with the name Aaron for our baby due in January (if it is a boy!) I do like this name but only if pronounced Air-on which is how we would pronounce it. Not keen on the Arran pronunciation but am a bit worried this has now become the default pronunciation and I will be continually annoyed by people getting it wrong. Would really appreciate opinions on this and people's experience of how this name is usually pronounced (don't know any Aarons personally).

Our alternative name is Isaac, but middle name will be Jack and am worried it may be abbreviated to Zac (not by us) which would be Zac Jack! Is this likely?

Would really appreciate any views on these questions, and which name people prefer. Thanks!

[NormanNorris]

I like both. I don't think Zac is a regular nick name for Isaac is it?

[BelligerentGhoul]

Isaac.

Not fond of Aaron and think Air-on sounds worse, sorry. Like "keep yer 'air on."

[twolittlemonkeys]

I prefer Isaac. Lovely name. I don't think people naturally assume Zac is a nn for Isaac, everyone calls my Isaac by his full name

[CupcakesHay]

I think the whole Aaron Air-on thing will make you go mad!

Like Isaac and agree - don't think Zac is too much of a nickname, and who cares about Isaac jack - how often do you use middle names unless filling in a form?

[feedthegoat]

I know a couple of adults named Aaron and both pronounce it Arran. To be honest, I'm the other way round to you and don't like the air-on pronunciation.

I don't think you need to worry about Zak Jack because anyone calling him Zak is unlikely to be using his middle name too. None of the Issacs I know are shortened to Zak that I'm aware of though they are under five so maybe later on I suppose.

I prefer Isaac.

[Skyrg]

All the Aarons I know have it pronounced Arr-on rather than Air-on. Think you'd have to live in America for that!

Not personally keen on Isaac, but I don't think Isaac Jack would be a problem, in fact I quite like it. I think most people pronounce Isaac more like 'Eye-Zuk' It's subtle, but I think that stops it sounding too much like Jack. Don't think Zac is an obvious nickname tbh.
Most people make a nickname of the first part of a name, so I think Izzy or Ike is more likely.

Both names are lovely.

[MadameCheese]

I am biased I'm afraid, we thought that Zac would be a good way to shorten DS's name but we never call him this as it just doesn't suit him. Isaac = laughter and that is perfect :o

[MollysChambers]

Love love love Isaac.

[zachsmama]

I really like Isaac.
Aaron is ok but I don't really like the Arr-on pronunciation and I think that's how most people pronounce it now.

[ALurkerNotAPoster]

I've got an Isaac (middle names = John Edward) and it suits him perfectly. Roughly a third of his recent birthday cards were addressed to ISSac though, which grated terribly on my pedantic nerves.

[Laurarj84]

Isaac is a lovely name but I would say that because it's my husband's name! Nobody ever calls him Zak or Ike, it's always been his full name. However, he is half German and his name is spelt Isaak. A more unusual spelling might stop the nicknames!

Aaron is lovely too and the Aarons I know pronounce it Air-on. Pretty sure thats the nicest way. I think you just have to tell people how you want the name to be pronounced and eventually it will stick. Our DD is called Aoife, most Irish people pronounce this Eefa but we are saying Ifa, it's another acceptable pronunciation, you just have to train peope to say Air-on if that's the way you'd like it to be said!

[jellybeans]

I don't see Zac as a nn for Isaac as like someone above said isn't it pronounced eye-zuk? I know several Aarons and all are pronounced Ar-ran. I would go for Isaac jack, it's lovely. If he gets Zak as a nn, he won't get called Zak jack as you wouldn't use your middle name unless on a form or something, in whicn case, you would be writing Isaac anyway.

[christabell]

Thanks for all your opinions- Isaac seems to be clear winner, but dp still set on Aaron. Better hope it is a girl...

[MadameCheese]

Is this what you want too? I've been advised under no circumstances to go with my DH's choice for a girl's name on here :o

[violethill]

I agree with jellybeans that even if he does get the nn Zac (which is unlikely, as I've only heard it as a shortening of Zachary) then he's never going to be called Zac Jack, as you would only ever use the middle name on forms etc

I am totally with you on this one. The biblical name Aaron is fine, but sadly the pronunciation has generally become 'Arron' which is ugly and chavvy. Often the spelling is turned into Aron/Aran/Arron etc, but even when it remains as Aaron, it tends to be pronounced incorrectly, so your ds would face a childhood of having to correct everyone.

Go with Isaac Jack, which flows beautifully, and won't be mispronounced.

[christabell]

Not sure if it is what I want. I like the name Aaron as I would pronounce it but the previous poster pretty much sums up my reservations about the 'ugly and chavvy' Arran pronunciation! Though except for Isaac can't think of any other boys names I like which we can use, so is a bit tricky!

[pointydog]

I prefer Aaron but only when pronounced Arran.

[pointydog]

ugly and chavvy

[4sophia]

Definitely Isaac!

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

I have an Isaac, he gets called Isaac, Ike, Ikey, Izzy and Iggy but never Zac - don't think it's an obvious nickname. But, as someone else said, do get an awful lot of references to Issac, which I also found annoying

Not keen on Aaron, I'm afraid...