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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jonathan or Jonathon??

47 replies

notmuchofaclue · 14/02/2015 13:46

We're almost settled on this as a name for our DS, but can't decide on the spelling. I always thought it was spelt with 'on' and my DH thought it was 'an'. Does anyone have any idea which is the most common? I don't want him to spend his life having to spell it out but I guess that's bound to happen if there are two variations?

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HolgerDanske · 25/02/2015 20:14

Jonathan, definitely.

Allalonenow · 25/02/2015 20:11

Jonathan Smile

LarrytheCucumber · 25/02/2015 20:07

There was an estate agent locally called Jonathon Surname, so there are probably a lot of parents here who think it is the usual spelling, but in the Bible it is Jonathan.
Our family Jonathan has had party invitations addressed to Jonathon, Johnathan, Johnathon, and my favourite, Johnython.

Threeorangewhips · 24/02/2015 22:06

Agree with above pp. Jonathan is a lovely name :)

Original poster
notmuchofaclue · 24/02/2015 21:59

Shedding I'm the same - only knew one who was a Jonathon, I honestly thought my DH was entirely wrong when he said it was mainly spelt Jonathan. Lucky I did my research on here before pushing the point too hard!
serin - oh lord, that was DH's only objection to a name that could be shortened to Jonny!! It never occurred to me that anyone else would have thought of the same!
Still, very glad to hear that people like the name, am even more set on it now.

OP posts:
WaitingForMe · 23/02/2015 22:14

I know a Jonathon. Don't do it to your child.

PattyPenguin · 23/02/2015 22:07

Jonathan is related to the name Nathan in a way. Both are Hebrew - Nathan means "given" or "gift" and Jonathan means "Yahweh (i.e. God) has given" or "gift of God".

The traditional diminutive was Jonty, which I think is really nice.

fattymcfatfat · 22/02/2015 18:44

I have a Jonathan in my family and if bump is a boy one of its middle names will be Jon.

dangerrabbit · 22/02/2015 18:37

Jonathan

serin · 21/02/2015 23:07

Jonathon means literally 'son of John' in old English.

We have a 14yr old Jonathon but he is known as Jonny

(although his rugby mates do call him rubber Hmm)

BlackberryandNettle · 20/02/2015 22:18

Another vote for Jonathan - my dad is one

cece · 18/02/2015 20:53

Ours is Jonathan.

We mainly use Jonny and only Jonathan if he is in trouble.

I think it is a fab name and so versatile. Smile

maggiethemagpie · 18/02/2015 20:50

Jonathan can be nn Nathan if he wants an alternative when he is old enough to choose

Chertsey · 18/02/2015 20:35

Jonathan, lovely name. I might be influenced by the fact that it belongs to possibly the nicest man I've ever met - universally known as Jono.

PattyPenguin · 18/02/2015 20:20

Jonathan in the Bible. Which is its origin as a name, of course.

Shedding · 17/02/2015 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DanyStormborn · 17/02/2015 20:44

JonathAn

shakemysilliesout · 17/02/2015 20:12

I wanted to use this name - its so nice.

Bowlersarm · 15/02/2015 06:57

Oh good, I think Jonathan is by far the better spelling.

Nice name.

Blahia · 15/02/2015 03:55

Definitely Jonathan. The other looks made up to me...

Original poster
notmuchofaclue · 14/02/2015 21:29

Fab, thanks everyone - Jonathan it is!

OP posts:
Sophronia · 14/02/2015 20:44

Jonathan. Love the name Smile

DramaAlpaca · 14/02/2015 18:59

Jonathan is the usual spelling, and it's a lovely name.

Jonathon is an acceptable alternative.

Johnathan is just wrong.

Cornberry · 14/02/2015 18:58

Jonathan much nicer

MyBootsAreMuddy · 14/02/2015 18:55

Jonathan.
Its a fantastic name! Ours will be 5 in April and is know mostly as Jonny. It is definitely the most common and assumed spelling, although ON is an acceptable spelling..... it all depends on how much people getting it wrong will do your head in!