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Baby names

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Original poster

Popularity of Jack?

33 replies

insanelycheerful · 25/01/2014 09:03

How popular is the name Jack where you are? (And where are you if you don't mind me asking!)

I've always loved this name and trying to narrow down boys names for DC3 (already have 2 DSs). I know it's always been high up in the baby name charts and even no 1 for a while, but I only know 2 (aged 6 and 2) and I think I know quite a lot of little ones!

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thegreylady · 27/01/2014 22:56

My dss is John known as Jack but he is adult. There are two Jacks in local primary (fewer than 100 pupils).

pilates · 26/01/2014 21:19

I know a few, but it's a great name.

AsiaGold · 26/01/2014 12:44

I live in South East London, there are 3 Jacks in my youngest sons class.

mylittlesunshine · 26/01/2014 12:28

I'm in East Midlands. There was 2 boys called Jack in my class last year and one this year, I wouldn't say it was very popular here. I really like the name.

Chottie · 26/01/2014 06:44

p.s. even my SIL is called Jack (short for Jacqueline)

Chottie · 26/01/2014 06:44

Very, very popular here in the SE. I know of Jacks over 80 right down to PFB Jacks.

But it's still a nice name :)

Original poster
insanelycheerful · 25/01/2014 22:22

I have to admit I do tend to agree with those who say if you love it just have it. Also the point that you can choose a more unusual name and still have another with the same name in a class etc.

DS1's name was much less popular when we had him than it is now. Its position in the "charts" was not a factor in our decision at all, we just chose the name we both loved. But if we had favoured it for being less popular we could be quite annoyed now that it has had a bit of a surge!

DS2's name is more common (top 20). Again we went for the name we both loved. Pretty sure DH had no idea where it was in the charts! It seems to be a very popular name in the immediate area where we live. i am sure it must be top 10 here, but I have friends in other parts of the country where there are none or just one or two they know of.

I have come to the conclusion over the years that you can get too hung up on the name charts, and unless you are desperate for your child to be the ONLY one with that name, just go with what you love. So the popularity of Jack wouldn't put me off per se, I was more intrigued to know whether it was particularly well used in some places as it's always been so high up the charts but I have only come across a couple myself.

OP posts:
woodrunner · 25/01/2014 20:15

I know a few, including two in my immediate family and my best friend's son. But so what? Lovely name. A classic.

clary · 25/01/2014 20:15

I live in the East Midlands.

I teach secondary and there is a Jack in most of my classes. There are more kids called Josh and Jordan and Harry but it's still pretty popular.

Jacks in all my DCs' classes. Don't know so much about younger kids tho, my youngest DC is 10yo. I probably know/teach in total about a dozen.

LiegeAndLief · 25/01/2014 20:13

I'm not far from you and have a Jack.

Miraculously, he has never had another Jack in the same year as him at school (two form entry). There are three in the year above though and every opposition football team has at least one.

It's turned out to be not as popular as I thought it would be!

Weirdly, dd, who has a less common name, has a best friend by the same name. So a lot of it is down to luck really.

Original poster
insanelycheerful · 25/01/2014 20:09

Thanks for the replies!

I'm in Bucks so am surprised there aren't as many here as in some areas not that far away (Berks, SE generally, Sussex).

I can't really use John, although it's a lovely name, because it's DS1's middle name! And I prefer Jack just as itself to longer versions or names it can be derived from.

It is definitely on my short list but will have a mull over it as it's probably not my absolute favourite boys name, although I do like it a lot! It also sounds great with our surname!

Finding it harder to narrow down boys names for DC3 with already having 2 boys and having used up our truly favourite ones already, plus trying to find a name that "goes".....

OP posts:
Rhubarbgarden · 25/01/2014 19:56

Sorry meant to add that's in SE.

Rhubarbgarden · 25/01/2014 19:55

I only know two. A two year old and a two day old.

SS3J · 25/01/2014 14:23

In Berkshire I hear it all the time. There is always at least one in every group I go to and is one of the names always being called out in playgrounds and shops. However, I don't know any toddlers or babies personally called Jack. But if you love it, go for it. At least it is not number 1 any more. And like others have said, you could make it short for something like John, Jackson, Jacob, Jonathan.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 25/01/2014 14:07

Mine is one of 3 in his class, I know a few others. We're SW Sussex.

Theonlyoneiknow · 25/01/2014 13:55

I don't know any Jacks where I am ( NE Scotland). The only one I know lives in the US

dinkystinky · 25/01/2014 11:04

DH loved Jack doe ds3 - but there are so many where we live. We compromised on Jackson which I love and suits him perfectly

Meglet · 25/01/2014 11:03

Bloody phon

Meglet · 25/01/2014 11:03

It's not much fun ha

FamiliesShareGerms · 25/01/2014 10:55

London / SE England - soooo many Jacks! And Harry.

Like both names, just too popular for my liking

Mrsindecision · 25/01/2014 10:53

I know very few given its run of huge popularity for well over a decade and there is only one in my sons year at secondary school of well over 100 boys - interesting as it was statistically the most popular name given to boys when he was born. Go for it if you love it!

PandaNot · 25/01/2014 10:37

My ds9 is a John known as Jack. There is only one other in his school and we only know one other. We're in the NE.

singaporeswing · 25/01/2014 10:32

Love the name Jack, my DGDad was Jack and my 22 y/o brother is named after him. He is an absolute charmer, little bit too cheeky at times and adored by all.

I don't know any others. My DP's are both teachers and have taught a handful over the years - both said that they are all a little bit cheeky but get away with it.

poppydaisy · 25/01/2014 10:23

Wasn't Jack THE most popular names for a few years until recently?

We certainly know loads of Jacks, along with Harrys and Charlies.

SanityClause · 25/01/2014 09:56

I think it's one of those names, like Thomas, that are always around. Its unlike, say, Freddie, which is currently popular, but was out of fashion for many years before that.

Don't worry about popularity, though. DD2 has quite an unusual name, but at nursery, she was Little Name, because there was already a Name at nursery, who was now called Big Name.

The other mother, who had gone out of her way to give her DC unusual (but lovely) names, was quite amazed.