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Baby names

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

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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?

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Rachellow · 22/03/2021 19:21

Adding to the John love! My much younger Irish brother is one (15) and it makes a change to the 7 Josh’s he knows in his year! He very occasionally gets Johnathan as a strange nickname from immediate family but never really Johnny. Although all the Johnny’s I’ve met have been fairly cool. I always think Oisin sounds a little dated would expect to meet a fair few in their 30s/40s

Orphlids · 22/03/2021 19:21

John is fast becoming one of my favourite names. Steady, strong and masculine. Everyone knows it, but it’s unusual enough for children these days to make an impact. I’d be delighted to meet a baby John, and I imagine an adult John would be rather gorgeous.

LookAtWhatYouCouldHaveWon · 22/03/2021 19:18

@eggandonion

John Joseph shortened to Jonjo? Although I prefer Eoin or Shane.
I absolutely love the bames John Joseph, shortened to Johnjo.
Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 19:10

@IllNeverLetGoJack

There is an Oisín in my dd's year 1 class in a small town in SE England. No problems with pronunciation. Dd says it correctly and she has always lived in England and is only 6!
That's reassuring
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Whyisitalwayssocold · 22/03/2021 18:12

I like John as it's a well known name but very unusual for the current generation so he likely to be the only one at school etc.

IllNeverLetGoJack · 22/03/2021 18:10

There is an Oisín in my dd's year 1 class in a small town in SE England. No problems with pronunciation. Dd says it correctly and she has always lived in England and is only 6!

Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 17:31

Thanks a million everyone who's replied so far. I'm so glad that there seems to be a lot of love for John! The only thing holding me back is the fact that as a pp said its almost like the default name in generations of Irish. A friend was making suggestions for names by naming out people in work and her parting shot was.... All the the other men are called John 😳
I think deep down I'd still love an Irish name. Would Oisin cause problems in England? Would anyone know how to pronounce it? It would also make the initials OH, is that weird? I'm starting to get quite stressed, baby is due in a matter of weeks 😬

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Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 17:25

@Leesha94

What about Oisin or Shea? Love Irish names!
I love Oisin
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Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 17:25

@Watchingthetelly

Ooh just seen a PP suggested Fionn - beautiful name
I agree, lovely but there's a Finn in the family and Fionn doesn't flow with the "on" sound of our surname
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Original poster
whattocallhim · 22/03/2021 17:23

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

I love John - a classic, simple, strong sounding name and I think it's really underused now but somehow doesn't feel like an "old man" name to me the way some very traditional names do.

But I'd be hesitant if by "family name", you mean living in the same household - only because I think having the same name on post is annoying! If it's wider family, it doesn't matter so much - he could be known as Jack, Jackie, Johnny, Jonno, Jay etc if there was any confusion for other relatives.

No Johns in the same house, or even withing about 500 miles!
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Leesha94 · 15/03/2021 20:12

What about Oisin or Shea? Love Irish names!

Ifixfastjets · 15/03/2021 18:16

Ds was at baby group with a johnHenry
He was also at school with a john.
They are late teens now.
John is a traditional royal name. In fact john and his brothers were named after kings.
King john was not the nicest IIRC?
Anyway, it's a perfectly good name. Easy to learn to spell/write
I personally wouldn't use it as john made ds life hell through junior school.
I like Jonathan, shortened to jon. I have a lovely uncle jon.

Watchingthetelly · 15/03/2021 18:07

Ooh just seen a PP suggested Fionn - beautiful name

Watchingthetelly · 15/03/2021 18:06

John is a good name and it would be fabulous to have that family name connection. Eoin is also a good choice.

DotDotDotDotDot · 15/03/2021 11:34

It’s a shame Eoin doesn’t flow with your surname. John is a solid boys name though, Ivan is another variation. Or maybe Tadhg? Just because it’s my favourite Irish boys name🍀

CaffiSaliMali · 15/03/2021 10:59

I like John, it's relatively unusual these days.

Bruce2 · 15/03/2021 10:31

Love it

We're probably going to name our boy Jonathan shortened to Jon
(Such a solid name in my opinion obviously)

Ellmau · 15/03/2021 08:32

Great name.

Whatsyourflava · 15/03/2021 07:43

Such a refreshing name to hear these days

The next generation will not see the name as we once did, it's a great choice

daisypond · 15/03/2021 07:02

John is excellent

Jennobop · 15/03/2021 05:19

I love the name John. Classic and strong. There are variations like Evan & Euan too

Summerdayshaze · 14/03/2021 23:40

Johnny

So cool

eggandonion · 14/03/2021 23:19

I will actively campaign for Jonjo on threads where Jonathan is being shortened to Jonty.
My neighbours have cian, Shane and Seamus and Evan.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 14/03/2021 23:09

I love John as a name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 14/03/2021 23:06

I love John - a classic, simple, strong sounding name and I think it's really underused now but somehow doesn't feel like an "old man" name to me the way some very traditional names do.

But I'd be hesitant if by "family name", you mean living in the same household - only because I think having the same name on post is annoying! If it's wider family, it doesn't matter so much - he could be known as Jack, Jackie, Johnny, Jonno, Jay etc if there was any confusion for other relatives.