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Baby names

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Original poster

Jonathan Jack as middle names

35 replies

Mottledgrey · 21/12/2023 14:51

Does it sound a bit much? We are set on a first name which is short 4 letters long but my DH wants to recognise his Grandad and I want to recognise my dad and neither of us want to back down. Can we have both middle names or is it too much of a mouthful? Our surname is also short!

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GraceFairbrother · 25/12/2023 21:09

Jack can be a nickname for Jonathan
In the same way as it could be a nickname for Jackson or Horatio or Daniel

UsingChangeofName · 25/12/2023 21:00

Having spent many hours in dentists waiting room filling out forms that ask you to complete your dcs' full names every damn time you go for a check up, I'd definitely stick to one middle name per child Grin

That said, although Jack can be a nickname for Jonathan or John (often where a son was given the same name as his father, to distinguish them), so it does seem a bit odd to me, middle names are rarely heard out loud between the birth announcement and then the child's graduation, wedding then funeral (and apparently court appearances if Porridge is true to life), so I couldn't get worked up about a middle name sounding a little unusual. Both / either are perfectly nice names - it's not like one of you is wanting to call him Horatio or something.

Spyrothedragonn · 25/12/2023 20:52

I think it’s fine - quite like it when people use middle names that are a bit incongruous (a nickname for example) it has a story and that is the most important bit

GraceFairbrother · 25/12/2023 20:06

Jack is probably from Jacobus not John or Jonathan. It became used as a diminutive of John.

mathanxiety · 25/12/2023 20:01

John and Jonathan are different names. Their Hebrew meanings ate not the same.

It's fine to use both imo.

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 25/12/2023 18:39

The name Jack is a derivative of John

yes, it is - but Jonathan has nothing to do with Jack or John. If I tell you that the original Hebrew form of John was Jochanan, you can see more easily that it's not just a shortened form of Jonathan. The only thing they have in common is the first element, which is also shared by a lot of other Hebrew names such as Joseph and Joel. I wouldn't have any problem at all with the suggested combination of names.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 25/12/2023 18:26

whatausername · 22/12/2023 02:03

My first thought was that they're the same name. A bit like saying "Harry Henry".

My first thought too, Prince Harry is Henry isn't he? Same sort of thing. I wouldn't do it.

Original poster
Mottledgrey · 25/12/2023 18:16

Thanks all. The first name begins with E and the last name begins with R. Similar name would be:

Ethan Jonathan Jack Rhode

Even though Jonathan and Jack might sometimes be the same name my DH only knew his grandfather as Jack so it would be weird!

OP posts:
WarningOfGails · 25/12/2023 17:47

It’s absolutely fine.

GraceFairbrother · 25/12/2023 15:23

Johnathan isn't a name and Jack isn't short for it.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 25/12/2023 15:08

Jack is a nn for Johnathan. It’s a bit weird for that reason.

APurpleSquirrel · 25/12/2023 15:02

It's fine - my DS has Jeffrey Jack as his middle names - DHs grandfather & my grandfathers names. My grandfather was actually John but known as Jack to all his friends/family - it would have been odd to use John when no-one knew him as such.

BoohooWoohoo · 25/12/2023 14:56

Does the first name start with a J too? If not I think it’s fine and the nickname JJ could be used.?

user1492757084 · 25/12/2023 14:52

Look on your grandfather's birth certificate.

HorseyMum346 · 22/12/2023 03:55

Far too much of the same sound.. not a good idea OP. DH is called John but goes by Jack, it’s very common. Basically sounds like you’re naming your child Johnathan John

whatausername · 22/12/2023 02:03

My first thought was that they're the same name. A bit like saying "Harry Henry".

Coffeeandcakemum · 22/12/2023 01:08

It's absolutely fine, I think they flow nicely together 😊

roshi42 · 22/12/2023 00:09

It's super cute! No one uses middle names, but sometimes initials. He'll be Firstname JJ Lastname. JJ could even end up being a nickname he uses.

theduchessofspork · 22/12/2023 00:02

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/12/2023 15:21

A man of an adult's grandparent's age is unlikely to have been Jack on his birth certificate. He almost certainly will have been John 'officially.' So you could have just Jonathan to honour them both. Or you could have Jonathan Jacob - technically Jacob comes from James but it and Jack do start with the same 3 letters!

Short forms as full names (like Harry, Jack and Annie) were quite common in the late 19th / early 20th century, mainly for working class kids.

theduchessofspork · 22/12/2023 00:00

It’s quite weird as Jonathan (as well as John) is shortened to Jack, I can think of two I know.

Plus it reminds me of Gentleman Jack..

Aparecium · 21/12/2023 18:19

One of mine was very nearly Jonathan Jack. But dh decided there was another name he wanted more than Jack, and I liked both Jack and the name dh wanted, so Jack was dropped.

Ironically, dh called our ds Jonathan Jack for many years - even though Jack was not his name!

CrapBucket · 21/12/2023 17:27

I know a few men with names like Jonathan Jack, Jonathan James, Jonathan Jackman, it’s a great combination.

so you are talking about e.g.

Brad Jonathan Jack Smith

sounds lovely

GraceFairbrother · 21/12/2023 17:24

I know a Mr Jack, his first name is Jonathan

peaceinourtime · 21/12/2023 15:48

It’s fine, in day to day life a middle name/s rarely get a mention.

toastofthetown · 21/12/2023 15:27

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/12/2023 15:21

A man of an adult's grandparent's age is unlikely to have been Jack on his birth certificate. He almost certainly will have been John 'officially.' So you could have just Jonathan to honour them both. Or you could have Jonathan Jacob - technically Jacob comes from James but it and Jack do start with the same 3 letters!

Jack was a top hundred name from 1904-1944 in England and Wales. It’s far from unlikely it was used as a given name for the grandparent of an adult.

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