Honesty please!

[sbs287]

We're considering Joseph for a boy to be named after a family members. Not sure about Joe or Joey as nicknames; what are your thoughts on Jody?

[tak1ngchances]

Isn't it a girl's name?

[Deerhound]

My first thought is: girl's name

But I'm sure people would get used to it. It's not that strange sounding.

[RL20]

Like the male actor Jody Latham? I always liked that name after hearing it! But I also do like Joe and Joey x

[Babylove2015]

I also firstly think of a girls name, and then I think of a surfer in board shorts.

If you're not crazy about Joey which I think is cute. How about calling him J as in Jay? Or just use his full name which is quite charming on a baby. :)

[Sophronia]

I really like Jody for a boy, I think it's lovely as a nickname for Joseph.

[d0ttyne11]

I agree. Joseph is a lovely name and would be on my list if it wasn't my uncle's name. I worked for a guy called Jody once & yes, I think it's a great alternative nickname. Go for it!

[Mynewnamenotyours]

Being very blunt here, Joseph is a lovely name and so is Joe as a shortened version. Jody is just a different spelling of girls name Jodie and I really think of it as a girls name. Now to the very unPC bit, nickname Joey probably still has negative connotations for people 40-50ish as was often used as a playground insult.

[Deerhound]

? What does Joey mean

[myflabberisgasted]

I was apparently going to be called Jody if I was born male... Thank god I wasn't (don't mean to sound harsh!) but I just think girls name. Joseph and joe are lovely though .

[DramaAlpaca]

I love the name Joseph, but don't like Joe or Joey much so ended up using it as a middle name instead. The only other young Joseph I know doesn't abbreviate it at all.

Jody is quite nice as an alternative nickname for Joseph, but it might be difficult to get people to stick to it as it's not an obvious nickname.

I think the spelling Jody is fine for a boy, whereas Jodie is definitely a girl's name. As a pp said, Jody has a bit of a surfer vibe about it.

I've never heard of Joey having any negative connotations and I'm in the age bracket mentioned above. Maybe it's a regional thing & wouldn't matter anywhere else?

[Mynewnamenotyours]

See Blue Peter part of Wikipedia link

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Deacon

Unfortunately it was often not used as 'affectionate ridicule' as per article but as an insult. We are talking the 1970s here so being PC was not common.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I don't like Jody for a boy but love it as a girls name spelt Jodie. Stick to Joseph

[Mynewnamenotyours]

Don't know about regional or not, I was in Home Counties, DH from Manchester also has the same memories.

[MissWimpyDimple]

Yes. V unPC but that's exactly the connotation of Joey for me too. That was in the early 80s.

I have to say, I don't think it would actually be an issue but it's true that it's the first thing that comes to mind

[MissWimpyDimple]

I'm from sussex by the way so different region

[lollygagger]

I know a Jody who is a northerner. His full name is Jonathan. It's a perfectly lovely name.

[ChippingInLovesChristmasLights]

No, not Jody.

I'm not wild on Joseph, but it's better than any of the shortenings. If you are going to use it and shorten it, I'd go for J.

[Allalonenow]

Once he is at school you will have no control over his nn and he will surely become Joe.

[sbs287]

Thanks all! I never knew that about name Joey... Can't believe that still applies?!

Still, much food for thought.

I don't love Joseph but finding it hard to get excited about any boys names.. We already have 2 girls and I could think of another hundred girls names but boys names are proving a real challenge.

I don't want something too diminutive, or fashionable ... I want something solid but which also feels warm.

Baby due v soon ... Help! ??

[DavenotChas]

Danny. Then he can be Dan if he prefers when he's older. That's what we finally decided for our baby after agonising for the last few months. Turned out, she was a girl .

Seriously though, go through the whole how it sounds at different stages of their life, infants, seniors, uni, work etc and choose something that you as a couple think works. Joe is a great name for all of these occasions, just not as great as Danny

[nooka]

I didn't realise that Jody was a diminutive of Joseph, I thought it was a name in it's own right. I went to school with a Jody, never really thought twice about it.

[PitchWrapped]

As a 28 yo i associate Joey with friends, have never heard of Joey Deacon before

[BikeRunSki]

I know a male Jody as well has a female Jodie. I don't particularly like or dislike the name, but it can be used for boys. The Jody I know is just Jody; it's not an abbreviation for anything in his case.

[ImFineThankYouSusan]

How about Joshua?