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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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HummusAndCarrotSticks · 14/03/2021 22:32

I like John, but it seems a shame not to have an Irish name if you're both Irish.

I love (and have one of these, so don't say they're all hideous or I'll cry Wink)

Seamus
Fionn
Rory
Fergus
Cormac

MNHQ
EstherMumsnet · 14/03/2021 22:24

We've sorted out the namechange fail for you and we're also moving this to the Baby Names topic area as well.

Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 21:40

Not Jonjo sorry! I like Cillian but DH doesn't. Conor same. Can't use Ruairi as best friend has one.

OP posts:
MrsEG · 14/03/2021 21:37

I love the name John, my fathers name! We have twins with Irish names, Conor and Ruairí.
Go with your heart on it! It’s their name forever!

Slacktide · 14/03/2021 21:32

@eggandonion

John Joseph shortened to Jonjo? Although I prefer Eoin or Shane.
PLEASE reclaim Jonjo. I will die of delight if there emerges an array on mini-hipster Jonjos.
Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 21:30

Gah name change fail again 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 21:27

@Si1ver

How about Eoin, that ties through to John as it also means Sean in Gaelic
It doesn't really flow with our surname. I do like it though.
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MrsMcNtobe · 14/03/2021 21:04

I like John, I think our boys name is going to be Cillian but unsure if we will change this to Killian

eggandonion · 14/03/2021 20:22

John Joseph shortened to Jonjo? Although I prefer Eoin or Shane.

Greenmarmalade · 14/03/2021 20:21

Irish name!

Authenticchicken · 14/03/2021 20:19

I really like John and hope it makea a comeback. Lovely classic name.

YouAreYourBestThing · 14/03/2021 20:16

I have a John in my class this year...first one I've had in about 10 years! There isn't another in our school of over 400 primary children, so it certainly isn't a popular name. The last time I had a John he was one of twins, and they were John and James. They would be about 18 now I would think! It's a great name OP 🥰

Si1ver · 14/03/2021 20:11

How about Eoin, that ties through to John as it also means Sean in Gaelic

Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 19:58

*it not do

OP posts:
Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 19:58

Mostly positive comments so far! I like Jonathan but our surname is really long do would be a bit of a mouthful! x

OP posts:
Dottybirds · 14/03/2021 19:27

Love it

Helspopje · 14/03/2021 19:15

Can’t be that bad!
Lorcan is a wonderful name
Lorcan John ?

Analysethat · 14/03/2021 18:18

My grandpa, uncle and cousin are called John, love the name! Go for it!

partyatthepalace · 14/03/2021 17:17

I really like John and think it will have a resurgence soon.

Much nicer than Sean, and also nicer than the massively overused Jack.

FeistySheep · 14/03/2021 17:09

I would call a child John - it's a good classic name. If you think it's boring, how about Jonathan and shorten to John?
Also I don't know if you would do this in Ireland, but in the Scottish Highlands it's common to use two names together, like John Angus or John Norman, and actually say both names all the time (ie the second name is not a middle name). Would that be a way to make it more interesting?

anormalperson · 14/03/2021 16:47

I know two Johns under five (NI) . I think it's a lovely name

Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 16:43

The problem with our surname is it ends in an in/on sound so lovely names like Lorcan don't go! John goes OK I think. I really like Eoin.

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Helspopje · 14/03/2021 13:04

John is great. V few baby Johns nowadays

If I were going for a fada free boy name I’d do Eoin or perhaps Lorcan or Oisin (the fada less varieties)

Newmum110 · 14/03/2021 12:52

I think my favourite Irish boys name is Conor. Lots of lovely straightforward Irish names. Don't know any baby Johns but nice to hear older names making a come back

Original poster
whattocallhim · 14/03/2021 11:19

haha Slacktide I'm not sure I do feel differently hence my dilemma Grin

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