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.

Original poster

Jolyon

110 replies

SJFarter · 04/02/2022 15:46

Any thoughts on this name for a boy?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
StrychnineIntheSandwiches · 04/02/2022 17:02

Think Damian Lewis played him in the more recent adaptation.

StrychnineIntheSandwiches · 04/02/2022 17:01

Wasn't Soames the abusive prick in The Forsyte Saga?

Adatwistscientist · 04/02/2022 16:56

It was on my list with Soames and Digby! But then I came to my senses.

NoddingTulip · 04/02/2022 16:53

I know 2 Jolyons, both prn Joe-lee-on 1 is early 20s, he's a really nice lad, posh but down to earth, dresses mostly in jeans or chinos(navy or beigy) with casual shirts and blazer or rugby tops.
The other is in his 50s and is a vv posh, old money 'tally ho' gun weilding 'shoot the bastard deer/bird' type. A completely arrogant and obnoxious prick. He mostly wears(when not in shooting gear) cords or chinos in either mustard, burnt orange pink or red, with check or plaid shirts and cashmere v neck jumper(pink, brown or blue) which in summer is draped over his shoulders with the arms loosely tied. He has a disobedient lab called Mungo..... oh and did I mention he's a prick?

TheBareTree · 04/02/2022 16:50

@Pieceofpurplesky

I am another northerner and would not pronounce it jolly-on. Ridiculous (and insulting) stereotype of a thick northerner!
You beat me to it!
TheBareTree · 04/02/2022 16:50

We’re not all thick!

Pieceofpurplesky · 04/02/2022 16:48

I am another northerner and would not pronounce it jolly-on. Ridiculous (and insulting) stereotype of a thick northerner!

Thunderpunt · 04/02/2022 16:48

Went to school with a Jolyon in the 80's and he was lovely. Very sporty, intelligent and all round nice kid. Regular secondary school as well, nothing terribly posh about him, pretty middle class family. Nice name

fallfallfall · 04/02/2022 16:45

never heard of it; would assume jolly-on and think jog-on
nothing wrong with Leon.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 04/02/2022 16:39

Really don’t mind it at all and I have known two!

One was a friends brother who pronounced it “Joe-leeyon”
Another was someone I worked with who pronounced it Joll-ion - he was lovely and not particularly posh

Comedycook · 04/02/2022 16:37

@MrsTerryPratchett

Are you incredibly posh? In which case yes.

Names tend to be posh, then middle class and so on. Freakonomics did a thing about it.

Is it posh?! I've never heard of it before. I thought it sounded quite the opposite of posh...
StellaOlivetti · 04/02/2022 16:35

I don’t think I’d use it, it’d be constantly mispronounced and just sounds (to me) a bit theatrically posh. I love Julian though and would definitely have wanted that if I’d had boys. Which is strange as they’re not very different!

Original poster
SJFarter · 04/02/2022 16:33

@Beamur

Maybe you should use it OP and give it a new lease of life in Manchester. I quite like hearing 'posh' names on us ordinary folk. I know a few Ruperts. Not a pun. I do know of one or two Jocasta's too (which I think is lovely).
Not me. But if my friend decides against it, I could call my next dog Jolyon 😂. Might start a trend in Wythenshawe Park!
OP posts:
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 04/02/2022 16:30

My first thought was the fox killer too.

Beamur · 04/02/2022 16:26

Maybe you should use it OP and give it a new lease of life in Manchester.
I quite like hearing 'posh' names on us ordinary folk. I know a few Ruperts. Not a pun. I do know of one or two Jocasta's too (which I think is lovely).

waterlego · 04/02/2022 16:20

Fond of braying and leering. 😂

Kite22 · 04/02/2022 16:19

@Mins001

I used to have a name (before I changed it) that wasn't even that weird or difficult to pronounce. Nothing like Jolyon. About 70% of all people I met would need confirmation on how to say it and spell it. Others would glaze over as if to say 'Oh God, I just can't be arsed with that'. Some even asked if they could call me something else of their own choosing!

It really is shit to give a kid this kind of name just because you like it, because you think it's posh or kooky or whatever. If your child ends up shy, you've given them a name that makes them feel in the spotlight and uncomfortable every time they meet someone new. If they're not shy they will at least be irritated by spending most of their life correcting people who spell it or say it incorrectly.

This ^

and I'd put Jolyon in this category

Blubells · 04/02/2022 16:16

I wonder why it has got such a ' red trousers' image..?

Leah2005 · 04/02/2022 16:15

I worked with a Jolyon (named from the Forsyte saga). He was embarrassed by the name and used Joe instead.

MonkeyPuddle · 04/02/2022 16:11

Er, I’m very northern and wouldn’t pronounce it Jolly-on. Also wouldn’t call my kid it.

StrychnineIntheSandwiches · 04/02/2022 16:09

Really dislike it.

Red trousers, straining tweed waistcoat, probably owns an auction house in the Cotswolds. Fond of braying and leering.

germsandcoffee · 04/02/2022 16:05

I personally think it's awful but it's not my kid so 🤷‍♀️

Happenchance · 04/02/2022 16:05

I prefer Jovian.

Blubells · 04/02/2022 16:03

Had to google people called Jolyon. Are these all 'posh'?!

• Jolyon Brettingham Smith (1949–2008), British composer, conductor, performer, author, radio presenter and university lecturer.
• Jolyon Connell, British journalist.
• Jolyon 'Jol' Danzig, one of the founders of Hamer Guitars.
• Jolyon Dixon (born 1973), English guitarist.
• Jolyon Howorth (born 1945), British scholar of European politics and military policy.
• Jolyon Jackson (1948–1985), Irish musician and composer.
• Jolyon James, Australian-born actor.
• Jolyon Maugham (born 1971), British barrister.
• Jolyon Palmer (born 1991), British professional racing driver.
• Jolyon Rubinstein, British actor, writer, producer and director.
• Jolyon Stern (born 1939), President of the DeWitt Stern Group.
• Jolyon Petch (born 1978), New Zealand DJ & Music Producer.

•	<a class="break-all" href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_and_Jol_Temple" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jolyon Temple</a>, Australian children's author.
Blubells · 04/02/2022 16:01

I like Jolyon.

But then I don't know anyone called it, posh or common,

Why do some think it's posh?

Swipe left for the next trending thread