Jan for a boy?

[MJandherdog]

I don't have any Scandanavian connections but am considering the name Jan (pn Yan) for my DS due in Feb...any thoughts?

With my daughter, I instantly fell in love with her name...I just have no really strong feelings for boys' names.

I like names that aren't too popular (although I accept they're popular because they're nice names), nor pretentious nor 'naughty' (certain names just have 'naughty boy' associations don't they? Or is that just me???)

Any ideas most welcome...

[AKissIsNotAContract]

I think you will find a lot of British people will pronounce it Jan instead of Yan, so you will be forever correcting them. If that doesn't bother you then go for it. It's not a name I particularly like but it's not horrible either.

[MB34]

My grandfather was Polish and named my dad Janek (pn Yanek). He's known as Jan, but also has been called Yan, John and Ian (even Janet but that's a whole other story lol!).

So I agree with AKiss, as long as you don't mind correcting people that's fine. My dad doesn't bother correcting people - he's pretty laid back about what he's called! :-D

[DolomitesDonkey]

The brits will always mispronounce it, and even if they get the J right they'll get the a wrong.

[EdMcDunnough]

I like Janek.

I really struggle with boys' names too.

I've gone for something Swedish this time, I don't think it's a problem as long as you think people will be OK with pronouncing and spelling it.

Anyway it's the only name I really like so it's happening, like it or not

You could give him a 'normal' middle name to compensate, as a back up in case he doesn't get on with it or find it easy. He can switch to the middle one then.

[MamaGeekChic]

I know one and he's lovely I do still read it as Jan instead of Yan but do always say it properly.

[evamummy]

I know a Jan whose name is pronounced Yan (he is German though). I like it.

[HereLittleKitty]

I don't ike Jan but I knew a little boy called Jens (Yens) and I absolutly LOVE that name :)

[MJandherdog]

Thanks girls...I hadn't actually considered people's mis-pronunciation annoying the poor boy. I imagine that would be quite annoying...

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I knew a Jan through my kids love of swimming, the poor lad was forever being entered as a female in competitions despite the fact he ticked the 'male' box.

[MolotovBomb]

I knew a Jann (pronounced Yan) when I was at Uni. I think he was Danish; I know he was utterly gorgeous and I fancied the pants off him! It helped that he had a cool name. Go for it :)

[MrsJohnDeere]

What about Jens? Sort of the same but less confusing for others.

[attheendoftheday]

I like it. The main character in The Silver Sword was a Polish Jan I think.

[BackforGood]

I don't think I would want to go through life having to tell people "No, my name isn't Jan (as in Janet)" if I were a boy or man. I mean, understandable if there were cultural roots you wanted to keep alive, but as you say there aren't, I don't think I'd do that to him even though I like the name, for a German / Scandanavian person.

[doctordwt]

Why don't you go for Yann? It's the Breton version I think, I know two, both English! No mispronunciation issues there.

[DolomitesDonkey]

But there are mispronounciation issues, even spelled Yann, the English will pronounce it Yan to rhyme with Jan or Yan to rhyme with Yarn, neither are correct.

The sound just doesn't exist in the English language in anything resembling what the English know as "a".

[nagynolonger]

I would never pronouce it Yarn. Most from the midlands or north would make it rhyme with Jan(et). How should it be pronounced?

I think it's lovely.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Well do you say "bath" (I can't even mimic it without sounding ridiculous ;)) or "barth"?

Well, the way I'd pronounce Jan would be more like "Yun" with a really short "uh", more like a welsh Y.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Ugh, that sounds wrong now I've written it - a cross between an a and a u, and just can't think of a single English word which contains that sound - but it's most certainly a short sound and not drawn out.

[nagynolonger]

Well I don't say barth!

The Jan I knew at school was from a Polish family and he called himself Jan to rhyme with the girls name Janet.

[nagynolonger]

With a Y at the begining of course!

[ripsishere]

I think it's a nice name, my friends brother was/is called Jan. He comes from East London and no Polish or Dutch or German blood.
I think the pronunciation is a bit of a red herring Dolomites. I've a Dutch friend called Gert Jan. I certainly don't say his name the same way his parents do.

[MoelFammau]

Jan to me sounds fine. I know a few, having lived in Germany for a while. But if you think the 'J' could be tricky, how about Yannick, shortened to Yann? He could then use Nick if it bothers him later...?

[MJandherdog]

Ooh err I would have pronounced it Yan to rhyme with man...I'm questioning everything now!!! Who am I? Argh! Girls names are soooo much easier!

[Frikadellen]

Well I am Danish by birth so I would naturally pronounce Jan Yan so hard to say. I think people learn how to do so and you just put up with it.

[MoelFammau]

I think so too. My own name is always mispronounced by folk but only once. If they meet me after seeing my name written down, they ask 'Is your name pronounced XXX or XXX?'. If they hear it first then have to write it, they ask 'is your name spelt XXX or XXX?'. But I only have to tell them once.

A lot of 'standard' names also have this issue though. Rachael / Rachel, Claire / Clare, Graham / Graeme, Sara / Sarah, Steven / Stephen etc etc.