Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

John? Or an Irish name?

86 replies

whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 10:21

Hello everyone. Baby number 2 due in a few weeks. What do people think of John as a name? It doesn't seem to have come back like a lot of the other older names and I don't know why. Is it a bit boring? DD has a common Irish name (living in England) and we cant really think of an Irish boy's name that we like...which leads us to John which is a family name. Thoughts please?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
CormoranStrike · 26/03/2021 21:37

I really like the name John.

Original poster
whattocallhim · 26/03/2021 21:16

@MadeForThis

Oran Ciaran Liam Damian Fergal Patrick Padraig Cillian
Some of those names are family names. Definitely can't use Ciaran, outing but DD is the female version 😂 much as I love it. Maybe we can get her changed 😂 Liam I just think of Gallagher. Would worry about Sillian, maybe Killian but not sure about Kill at the start. Also doesn't go brilliantly with our name. Why do so many boys names end with n or an 😂
OP posts:
MadeForThis · 23/03/2021 22:50

Oran
Ciaran
Liam
Damian
Fergal
Patrick
Padraig
Cillian

Apparentlystillchilled · 23/03/2021 22:03

OP don't worry too much about pronunciation in the UK. I've gor a Seamus nn Shay. When he was born we got a few Sea-mus (like the sea) from the older family members who weren't familiar w Irish names. But it has never bothered him and he's 9 now.

I love the name Oisín (but agree about the fada)- go for it if you both love it. Everyone will get used to it very quickly.

MaverickDanger · 23/03/2021 20:02

Haha don’t worry - we went with it because both my parents are teachers & every name we went through, one of them had taught an awful one over the years.

Lachlan escaped as neither of them had taught one in their combined 80 year career!

Beefstew · 23/03/2021 19:38

Cathal
Dara
Niall
Diarmuid

Original poster
whattocallhim · 23/03/2021 07:16

Oops sorry just seen Lachlan is your own, I'm sure most are lovely 😐

OP posts:
SilverStory · 22/03/2021 22:04

Go for it. John is an extremely Irish name. And if it makes any difference, it still is very popular name Ireland (no. 26 last year www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ibn/irishbabiesnames2020/babiesnames2020tables/). I can count at least 10 John's or Johnny's under the age of 10 in my small village.

autumnkate · 22/03/2021 21:55

Finbar?

Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 21:53

@Chocolatepeanuts

I love the name John, I like PP suggestion of using the 2nd name, adore John-Paul which seems quite popular here (NI).

Also love Oisín bit surely it needs a fada which you were hoping to avoid?

Yes you are correct, I have seen it without the fada though I'm sure.
OP posts:
TatianaBis · 22/03/2021 21:51

Also love Oisín bit surely it needs a fada which you were hoping to avoid?

Was going to say the same thing. One of my most favourite names.

Chocolatepeanuts · 22/03/2021 21:35

I love the name John, I like PP suggestion of using the 2nd name, adore John-Paul which seems quite popular here (NI).

Also love Oisín bit surely it needs a fada which you were hoping to avoid?

Watchingthetelly · 22/03/2021 21:27

I also think that Cormac is a good name. Not “out there” to me.

Watchingthetelly · 22/03/2021 21:25

Lorcan?

Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 21:20

@MaverickDanger

I like John - for a kid, Jonny works well.

I adore Cormac but we can’t use it. We have a Lachlan - couldn’t persuade DH to go for the Irish spelling. Would that work with your surname?

I quite like Cormac but is it a bit "out there"? There's a dreadful Lachlan in nursery so that's out 🙈
OP posts:
Pumpkinpops · 22/03/2021 21:20

I like John well enough, but love Oisín. I am Irish but didn't grow up in Ireland (or UK) and I have an Irish first name and surname. It's been important to me to have it because to a lot of people I'm "not really Irish" (despite what my passport says!). I like at least having my name having a link to that heritage. Maybe just something to consider, especially if both you and your partner are Irish.

MaverickDanger · 22/03/2021 21:11

I like John - for a kid, Jonny works well.

I adore Cormac but we can’t use it. We have a Lachlan - couldn’t persuade DH to go for the Irish spelling. Would that work with your surname?

Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 21:09

@KILNAMATRA

I like Orin or Eoin or could I tempt you with Fiachra? Now there’s a name!
Unfortunately it reminds me of teeth 😂
OP posts:
Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 21:08

@Watchingthetelly

How about Orin? Similar sound to John, gorgeous Irish name, travels well with the anglicised spelling.
Doesn't go with our surname unfortunately
OP posts:
eggandonion · 22/03/2021 21:05

We have a local Olan which I like.

KILNAMATRA · 22/03/2021 20:27

I like Orin or Eoin or could I tempt you with Fiachra? Now there’s a name!

Watchingthetelly · 22/03/2021 20:12

How about Orin? Similar sound to John, gorgeous Irish name, travels well with the anglicised spelling.

schnubbins · 22/03/2021 19:26

I am Irish also but living in Germany .There are no other John's.

schnubbins · 22/03/2021 19:25

I have a John , he is 22 years old and he loves his name.He is named after my twin brother.

Apparentlystillchilled · 22/03/2021 19:24

I'm Irish living in England and between us we have lots of Johns in the family. If I had another, it would def be on my list.