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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

John / Johnny and other associated musings...

34 replies

lizzie1977 · 05/11/2010 01:02

Hi
I've been reading these threads for months now looking for inspiration. DH has been impossible and I've finally agreed to the shortlist below after his paltry contributions and mostly veto'ing of all my favourites which he thinks are plain weird! He is mega traditional and would probably choose Sophie or William, given his way. I, myself, would probably choose Primrose or Abraham lol!

Am due in 2 weeks and we have a very grudgingly agreed shortlist below, already.

B:
Samuel John David (Brother's name, FIL, father's names respectively)
William John David (Am finding William too commonly used now though so doubt I will agree to this - it's DH's no 1 choice. I love Bill though)
Patrick John David (bit ho hum on this tbh)

G:
Josephine Elizabeth (don't want her to be called Jo)
Alexandra Elizabeth (Quite happy with this)
Florence Elizabeth (Doubt will use this)

So, we are not very far-forward and agreed even though in principle we are, iyswm!

DH's dad is named John and he is very unwell and may not live long. We had never considered John for a first name (I thought too boring) but I had a (probably)hormonally-charged moment yesterday and thought how much I do like the name Johnny. DH loves it. I wouldn't want Johnny on the birth certificate though as it is quite nicknamey so would have to put John. Then I come back to John being boring........

Is John horribly boring? I mean it has dropped totally out of popularity and is trending downwards every year so in theory should be less boring, in some ways, as it becomes more unusual. Johnny on birth certificate is a no no, right?

Would appreciate any thoughts you have on any of this. Am at wit's end. Thanks!

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Beavermum · 09/11/2010 00:49

I have a Jonathan who gets called Johnny, Jon or Jonno tried Jonty he hated altough I tihnk DH had biased his view although they both deny it

We chose Jonathan because it was the only name we were equally ambivalent about! I cant bear Jonno

thesecondcoming · 09/11/2010 00:38

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
lizzie1977 · 09/11/2010 00:35

Although I adore it, I've now talked myself out of Josephine but what mostly sealed the deal is that one of my new pals from playgroup has a Josie (Josephine) so I'm going to steer clear. Feels like a sign!!

Am still on the John wagon & secretly hoping for a boy now!!

OP posts:
takethatlady · 07/11/2010 13:29

Haven't read the whole thread but you could shorten Josephine to Josie?

SoMuchToBats · 06/11/2010 23:37

We also have a Jonathan, who is a Jonty for short (although he gets called Jonny or Jonno as well by some of his friends). It's not too popular (he is the only one in his school with the name).

If you go for Johnny, I would definitely use John on the birth cert.

I like Alexandra best out of your girls' names.

I like Alexander too (it's ds's middle name).

muminthemiddle · 06/11/2010 23:16

If dd1 had been a boy then she would have been called John, but spelt differently.
When I had ds I had gone off John slightly and when he was born I just didn't think he looked like a John iyswim.

Anyway I would go with John (definately don't put Johnny on the birth cert). It is a name that you like and it has sentimental meaning to you. For a middle name either something you both love or a family name.

As for the girl's names I prefer Alexandra but all 3 sound good.

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 06/11/2010 20:23

I have a 6 year old John. Most people thought it was a bit boring when we announced it (though not to my face, thankfully), but I love it more and more as time goes by. He's the only one in his school - it's been at 60-70ish in the popularity charts for some years now (higher in Scotland).

I think it's fabulously traditional, solid, strong, and classless. He's never Johnny but I don't object to it as he might like that as he gets older. I am so so glad now that DH vetoed all my more flowery suggestions, as most of them are far too trendy for me now!

Original poster
lizzie1977 · 06/11/2010 19:01

Ahr, I'm imagining twins Juliet & John - cute!

I don't suppose it's totally unfashionable, still being in top 100, as you say. I just don't want a mega-popular name, say in top 10. DH & I disagree on this, his view is that if you personally love a name then use it & don't care about a thing else. Me, I've just read too many baby name threads!!!!

I feel really excited about a wee John/Johnny arriving now. Bit silly, isn't it, but it is nice to hear other views that are what I'd hoped for but wasn't sure about. Yay!

I really wasn't 100% behind our boys shortlist - it's great to feel excited about a potential name. Also, am very pleased that FIL will be really chuffed if it is a boy and he is the namesake. I love carrying on family names (I am Elizabeth & my sister is Mary, which is my DD middle name). Unfortunately, mum is Denise & MIL is Lyn and DH & I just don't like the names enough to add into a child's name no matter how much we love & respect the mother and MIL....that is a whole different thread though...!!!

OP posts:
tummytickler · 06/11/2010 18:30

It is in the top 100 though isn't it, so not really out of fashion.
It is a gorgeous name though, dh and I both love it, but we cannot use it as it sounds really bad with our surname which sounds very similar!

imahappycamper · 06/11/2010 16:24

I have a Jonathan who calls himself Jonny.
Someone told me that if adults call themselves Jonty everyone assumes they are gay.

Cortina · 06/11/2010 15:42

I've met a few Johnnys and Johns - 10 years to about 4 years. Great name.

spler · 06/11/2010 15:06

John is my favourite name in the world and I am very happy that it is out of fashion! It's simple, strong, biblical and classless. My Johnny has never met another one his age.
Love Juliet too - was my 2nd choice for John's twin sister, we must have v similar taste Smile

TheNextMrsDepp · 05/11/2010 22:55

John is lovely, it was our choice for dd2 if she had been ds2!

It is definitely due a revival.

Greenwing · 05/11/2010 22:53

John is a lovely name. It is ideal - a strong, classic, classless name which everybody knows but which is currently quite unusual - not even in the top 100 for boys.

maryz · 05/11/2010 20:32

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emptyshell · 05/11/2010 20:28

You could make a point of shortening Josephine to Josie to pre-empt the Jo thing somewhat?

cece · 05/11/2010 18:11

So far the condom thing hasn't been a problem for us. These days the 'youngsters' seem to call them rubbers or condoms I think.

My mum did ask me why I had called him after a French Letter soon after his birth though. I asked her what a French Letter was. She was too embarassed to say Grin Oh and it took MIL about 12 months to actually call him Jonny. She was the only one who called him Jonathan...

Original poster
lizzie1977 · 05/11/2010 18:05

Oh yes - condoms - I'd forgotten that one!!

Thanks for the thoughts. I do think Jonty is a great alternative too. Heaps of interesting ideas here. I was nervous to post but it's helping, for sure.

We are in NZ after moving from the UK 3 months ago (I'm kiwi, DH is English) so I look at popularity lists for both countries as well as trends etc. It seems even more the trend here than in UK to give babies quite unique names so tbh, I've not come across barely any traditionally named LO's at groups etc. That suits us, really, as although I proclaim to prefer the more unusual names, particularly for a boy, I think when it comes to the crunch, I'll agree solid & traditional works best for us.

DD is Juliet & I do like the idea of a Juliet & a John.

In saying all this, it's probably going to be a girl again!

OP posts:
onimolap · 05/11/2010 17:58

Johnny stopped being used as a nn (in my generation at least) because of the contraceptive associations. Would that still be a consideration?

I like both John and Jonathan.

cece · 05/11/2010 16:30
Smile

I have a Jonny. He has Jonathan on his BC.

Personnally I love it and so far we have not met another child called this. A couple of adults but no children.

FIMBOfedupofrandomfireworks · 05/11/2010 16:21

I like Johnnie. Also know a Johnston.

darleneconnor · 05/11/2010 15:49

Josephine will get shortened so dont use it if you're not happy with nn.

What about Johnson or John-Paul or Sean as alternatives to John?

megonthemoon · 05/11/2010 15:42

John is a great name - my dad, my uncle and my grandad are all John. My uncle is known as Johnny and I love this even more - slightly mischievous version of John, but works well for a baby and for an adult.

I know a little boy called Johnny - it is fab on a toddler.

If not that, then could you not go with William nn Bill so you both have something you like?

flopsy1974 · 05/11/2010 15:37

I love all your girls names. they are lovley.
I have a Patrick Joseph and a William John (William is supposed to be a popular name but he is the only one in his primary school and we don't know any others - although I think this depends on the area you live in.)
As far a the name John goes it is a timeless classic. In my opinion strong, timeless, classic names suit boys well. To be honest I don't think you can go far wrong with any of the names on your shortlist.

emptyshell · 05/11/2010 15:36

Only issue with John, for a short while at least is that kids seem to be utterly incapable of spelling it so he's going to spend a good few years getting Christmas cards to Jhon!

My brother's named similar because of his father/grandfather's names - he's Fraser (never gets spelt right) John Michael (another one prone to misspellings!).

I love Samuel, was a massively high choice for us before I miscarried.

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