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Baby names

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

First Child - Jonah?

69 replies

Lollypop0101 · 24/02/2022 10:27

So we're expecting a baby boy in a few months and have been set on the name Jonah for a bit however family and friends don't seem too keen on the name so it's making me a bit uneasy now :(

What do you think of Jonah? It will technically be a JJ as the last name will be Jones too haha.

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Biglipsmurphy · 27/02/2022 10:02

Makes me think of the character they dubbed 'jonad' in that presidential comedy about the woman vice president

SpiderVersed · 25/02/2022 16:37

It’s a lovely name but with your surname it sounds like a Marvel character.

I’m aware of the superstition around the name - in Master And Commander the sailors blame a ‘Jonah’ for bringing bad luck.

But I’m not superstitious so it wouldn’t bother me.

GeraldinesVicarage · 25/02/2022 16:30

Ah sorry OP, I definitely wouldn't go for Jonah Jones! Way too similar.

Jonah means unlucky to me too.

Kite22 · 25/02/2022 16:12

I've known a Huw Hughes and a Dave Davies, and they both find it really annoying that they can't say their name anywhere without people commenting on them having the "same" first and surnames.
I wouldn't inflict it on someone. Shame, as Jonah is a nice name.

diddl · 25/02/2022 15:45

Love it!

It's a name for someone who's going to be famous!

HoppingPavlova · 25/02/2022 11:55

I love Jonah. Not sure about combining with Jones though. Agree with a PP, Josiah would be a great alternative with Jones.

itssquidstella · 25/02/2022 11:54

It's a lovely name but sounds a bit odd with the surname Jones.

DappledThings · 25/02/2022 11:52

Jonah is a nice name. Wouldn't be put off by superstitions around it.

I would go for Jonah Jones though. Only an opinion and if it doesn't bother you go for it but I find alliterative names a bit silly at the best of times. Add in the matching first syllable and it does sound weird.

TrashyPanda · 25/02/2022 09:23

Another one who associates Jonah with bad luck.

Jonah plus Jones really isn’t great.

greenteafiend · 25/02/2022 08:26

Jonah Jones sounds really silly, OP.

MrsEricBana · 25/02/2022 06:37

Jonah Jones & the Temple of Doom.
I like it Grin

Kanaloa · 25/02/2022 06:30

I think Jonah is a beautiful name, but Jonah Jones? Unless he’s a marvel superhero then I’d steer clear. It’s just too samey and cartoony to me.

liveforsummer · 25/02/2022 04:11

Jonah is a great name, Jonah Jones not so much - sorry

Kite22 · 24/02/2022 21:48

I was going to say I really like the name Jonah, but then you said your surname and I think that makes it a no.

I am also a fan of each family member having their own initials, but that would be less of a concern than 'Jonah Jones'

apprenticewage · 24/02/2022 21:48

https://kidadl.com/articles/names-that-mean-misfortune-for-your-characters-with-the-worst-luck

Here's a lovely list of names with negative connotations...funnily enough a lot of them are quite common names!!! And would you believe Jonah isn't even on the list...Hmm

As I have said my Dh was a seafarer and spent 25 years at sea and only heard of the name Jonah in jest twice...who gives an actual shite about a made up story anywayConfused

CharlotteTuesday · 24/02/2022 21:40

The meaning is not good and a Jonah is bad luck so I'd swerve it

JemimaTiggywinkle · 24/02/2022 21:40

Jonah is fine.
Jonah Jones just doesn’t feel like a real name, it’s like Richie Rich or Marky Mark, or Evil Kenevil.

IVflytrap · 24/02/2022 21:40

I like the name Jonah, despite knowing it is/was a bad luck term amongst sailors. I really don't like the combination of it with Jones as a surname, however - the combination of the Joan sounds at the start of both names sounds a bit comedy repetitive.

How about: Jacob, Josiah, Joshua, Jethro, Jamie, Jeremiah, Joseph?

JassyRadlett · 24/02/2022 21:36

@apprenticewage

As much as people on here may think it's a ridiculous name. It doesn't matter what they think *@Lollypop0101*

My DS is 6 and not one person has ever said to my face anything negative about his name...in fact it's quite the opposite. He's a funny cute little boy so it suits him 100%

Bizarrely, I also know a Jonah Jones, but he's 10.
Luredbyapomegranate · 24/02/2022 21:34

Lovely

Somanysocks · 24/02/2022 21:26

Jonah means dove

Hidingin · 24/02/2022 20:48

Love Jonah
Don’t love Jonah jones
But if you do then go for it
He’ll grow into it
I wouldn’t really like jack jones for the same reasons but you do and your PIL did so why not go for it

Tillymintpolo · 24/02/2022 20:47

I wasn’t talking about the Bible

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 24/02/2022 20:45

Jonah has been used for centuries by sailors as shorthand for 'bad luck', so it's not just one poster taking that meaning from the bible story. It wouldn't put me off the name if I loved it but there's no denying that it's a very old expression for sea-faring types.

saleorbouy · 24/02/2022 20:45

Jonah Jones was a great Jazz musician too!

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