Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

Jack?

38 replies

BarbieLovesKen · 14/02/2011 22:15

Its much too popular, isnt it?

As many of you will know, I've actually embarrasingly got myself in quite a state over lack of a boy's name that we feel anything but a vague liking for. I am now terribly, terribly ashamed to admit Im slightly hoping this one will be a girl purely because of the name issue - otherwise I would be over the moon with another little boy (or girl, I just wouldnt care). I almost feel like Ill let a boy down by giving him a sub standard name thats not good enough for him - I know that sounds really stupid.

I have trawled through a ridiculous amount of books, sites and suggestions from mnetters and nothing really sparks any interest. I feel like we've considered a billion names.

A girl will be Kate Anne Elizabeth.

We have an Oisín which is a name we adore, the only other boys name that comes remotely near this, for us is Jack. I brushed off considering using it after reading on her how popular it is, seeing the stats and by peoples comments about how common it is in RL.

Funny though, dd tells me there are none in her school. First hand, I know two - one is 67, the other is 18. There are none in our (extended) family (and we have 7 boys under 5).

That said, out of 4 in my office, one has a nephew Jack and one has a son Jack,(both approx age 6) also very recently, a colleague (from a different department) has given birth to a Jack (I actually think this was the one that made me think theres no way I could consider it).

Also, cant get it out of my head - when I was pregnant with ds, I mentioned to someone that I was considering Jack for a boy and got an awful response, with a screwed up face and lecture about how popular it was/is. (that said, he had just moved to Ireland from London - where Im sure this name is more common)

Pah! once again Im really rambling on. Sorry.

I love this name. I think its beautiful, simple and classic. I can see a Jack. It suits my other 2 dc's names. That said, I think Ill be slightly embarrased to use it as it appears to be so common and this popularity is really turning me off.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tstar · 17/02/2011 12:07

Jack was my first choice for a boy but we never used it. We used a different name.
I work in child care for over 7 years and my children are at school and kindy and you know what NO Jack, everyone has heard of it but not used it much these days.
I think it is really nice (adorable)
Don't be sorry, I thought the same when I was pregnant with my now daughter. Her name was picked and ready.
Nobody liked the boy name We choose. Lachlan.
It freaked me out with the OhhhooWwwww sighs and the Ohhhhhhh's.
Just be a girl, I said to my self please, Please!
I had a girl and her name was set, But Be assured the only Lachlan I have ever met since is a lovely little guy with lots of spirit and cuddles.
Sorry to carry on but thank you for reminding me of the name Jack.

Hedwig3 · 17/02/2011 11:42

Once a name becomes very popular people stop using it, SO I think if you used Jack now he would not be surrounded by other Jacks when he gets to school.

The youngest Jack I know is 5

Broody1976 · 17/02/2011 11:36

I like Jack - it's a classic I think.

I love Oisin though, we are TTC and if we have a boy, he will def be Oisin.

Also like Seoirse for a boy and Aine or Niamh for a girl.

My friend just had an Eimear which is lovely too!

Way too many nice names to choose - although all a pipe dream for me since we are still working on the mechanics of making a baby LOL!!!

rachel1970 · 16/02/2011 10:04

People are not going to put you off using Jack as you seem to love the name. Personally I find it way too popular - there are three in ds's class of 27 alone - but this overuse doesn't seem to bother some as much as others .

HildegardVonBlingen · 16/02/2011 09:53

I know about a zillion Jacks - but if you really, really love the name, I wouldn't worry about it at all.

WaddlingSheep · 16/02/2011 09:51

You can't go wrong with Jack IMO! Lovely classic name. Yes, there are a lot of Jacks but no one is ever going to go, " she called him WHAT? WTF was she thinking?"

bugsonbuns · 16/02/2011 09:42

I have a Jack too...he was Jack from 5 weeks pg. I chose it despite its popularity - although my preference is for classic names generally. Fits him down to the ground. Funnily he is the only Jack in his school and I only know of two other Jacks in passing. Love Jack...(name and the boy!)

nancythenaughtyfairy · 16/02/2011 09:26

It's a great name and he will be the one and only Jack in your immediate and extended family and that's what counts. People may have started to not choose the name because of it's popularity, so he might be the only one in his class!

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 16/02/2011 09:19

My DS has never had any of the name jokes. Granted, he's not in secondary yet, but most names can be twisted if you put your mind to it. Children are very creative.

avaj · 15/02/2011 20:45

I think Jack is really nice. There are none in p1-p3 where I am(scotland), or at local toddlers. My DD has 3 John's in her class though!

flower38 · 15/02/2011 20:26

I only know one amongst lots of olivers,xanders and finn's .

pilates · 15/02/2011 20:22

Jack is fab, a name to suit all ages!

booandbump · 15/02/2011 17:43

I only know 1 Jack. He is 5 (and a real cutie!)

Tortington · 15/02/2011 15:40

seriously though, this will be a child - at school - with childish ..erm...children

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2011 15:26

DH and I have sniggered a bit about inadvertent 'Jack, off!'s, I must admit

Original poster

BarbieLovesKen · 15/02/2011 15:24

OP posts:

Tortington · 15/02/2011 15:22

hi jack
jack off

car jack

Original poster

BarbieLovesKen · 15/02/2011 15:20

Really expected a different reaction to this. Am really really thinking that I can actually use it now. DH loves it too.

(Im not mad about John, (sorry), I mean its a perfectly fine name its probably because theres something like 11 Johns between both our families)

OP posts:

tattycoram · 15/02/2011 14:49

Use it. I love it too and didn't use it because I thought it was too popular. I haven't met a single one since DS1 was born. Finn and Stanley on the other hand....

calaloo · 15/02/2011 14:43

Sorry I dislike it.

John much much nicer!

AvengingGerbil · 15/02/2011 14:35

I have a Jack who is really a John, to distinguish him from my Dad (who is John), and Young John (dad's godson) who is fifty-two.

No-one told me it was wildly popular ten years ago. And he's the only one in his class of four Olivers...

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 15/02/2011 14:30

Jack is a rare example of very popular = very good. Go for it. I would have it if my cousin hadn't got there first.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/02/2011 14:27

I have a Jack. It's a great name. Couldn't have called him anything else :)

Hatterbox · 15/02/2011 14:20

It is a fine name, but I prefer it as a nn for John, rather than as a name in its own right.

SameOldJollster · 15/02/2011 13:15

Have always liked Jack. Simple, classic, works well at every age. Stylish. popular yes, but popular for a reason, I actually only know one under 5, yet know more Thomases and Finns and Milos.

Use it.

Unflip

1 2