Are James and Jack too similar for brothers?

I think they sound great together, can't be shortened, classic nice names. I think @Livefornow makes a good point about the post, they will have to have different middle name initials or there will be much confusion at some point when potentially sensitive stuff starts arriving (bank statements, letters from the doctor etc.) However, it isn't a biggie for most families who just say "err..I opened your letter by accident, here it is".

I teach brothers called Jack and James and have never thought of them as too similar.

I really don’t get the angst about the post thing. To start with, we’re getting fewer and fewer letters and that’s only going to keep lessening. Secondly, medical stuff usually has your full name on rather than just initials. Thirdly, whilst they’re still living at home and not independently, I can’t think what awful outcome might happen if they accidentally opened the wrong letter?

Personally I wouldn’t use John and have him known as Jack. I know it is traditionally a nickname but Jack is very much a name in its own right these days and I feel doing that would confuse matters.

Jack is a solid, classic name but I wouldn’t say it was any less ubiquitous than Oliver really which you say you don’t want to use as it’s too popular.

I don't really like it when siblings have the same initial, but if it doesn't bother you, then James and Jack are not the worst I've heard - not absurdly similar or likely to be misheard for each other. James and Jacob would be much worse IMO as they both have the same origin and meaning, and they have more sounds in common than James and Jack. Of the other names you mentioned, I think Robert goes very nicely with James!

I have a Jamie and love Jack for the next one but I think they’re too similar! Also like Jake. Does it have to be a J name?

I’ve always like George with James but maybe because that was my brother and his best friends names. I love Alexander too, I think that goes well with James.

Sounds fine to me.

It's absolutely fine

I think Jack is just as ubiquitous as Oliver though. Robert is best from your options if you want something a bit more unusual but still classic.

No. It doesn't matter what siblings are called. They will get mixed up anyway. They could be Abraham and zebediah and they will still be called the other.

My Grandfather and his brother were John ( known as Jack) and James (Jim). It was a classic combination back then. Those types of classic names have endured for a reason. I'd definitely go for it.
Btw; at rude pp: it isn't dull or boring just because it isn't a badly spelled American surname.

There are a few John’s at my child’s primary school, it seems to be having a little moment of popularity locally.

James and Jack are fine.

I'm not sure he'll thank you for John on the BC but always known as Jack. I know that used to happen years ago but it's just a pain to explain, especially as it's not common now.

I think that so long as they have middle names that start with different letters, and they are encouraged to use the middle initial for important letters, then you can get away with it. One of my cousins has never really forgiven his brother for opening a letter with medically confidential information. The one who opened it contended that it said 'Mr J Brown' and that was his name too. Even his mother didn't believe he had done it innocently. Even worse if it is twins, but not so in your case I see.

Is no one else thinking of the ‘ Barnaby Bear ‘ theme tune - you must all be too young!

”…Barnaby the Bear's my name, never call me Jack or James,
I will sing my way to fame, Barnaby the Bear's my name…”

We have a Jack and James.

J names are very prevalent in our family.

Just another thought, growing up, I knew a family who were:
Caleb, Casper, Caroline and Mark.

Mark said to me several times he felt like an after thought as he wasn't in the Ca- team.

Might you have a third child? Might that impact the balance of the names you have chosen?

I think James is a much more classic name than Jack, which was until relatively recently used as a nickname for John rather than as a given name. It’s aggressively dull at this point, due to overuse. Much like Olivia for girls.

Based on family experience, I think you should always go for different initials.

Will the middle initials be different?

(to above poster, our mail nearly always seems to be Ms / Mr / Ms XX Surname - never seems to be first name, maybe it depends on your bank or other providers. So if the second initial were different you would probably be OK).

I can't tell you the last time I saw a letter addressed to initial+surname. 9 times out of 10 - at least - the full name is used. And I say that as someone who shares the same initial as both parents and two siblings!

My cousins are called Jack and James. Not once have I thought they’re too similar.

Shared initials is so useful for brothers when it comes to name tapes. I just do J. Surname.
names are fine together.

I think it’s fine - if not wildly exciting. Same initials could be a bit irritating

If you already have the James, then maybe James and..

Hugh
Guy
Max
Benjamin (Ben)
Daniel (Dan)
Samual (Sam)
Nathanial (Nat / Nate)
Francis (Frank)
Alexander (Alex / Alec)
William (Will)
Edward (Ned, Ed)
Henry (Hal)
Patrick
Michael
Laurence (Laurie)

No, they are nothing alike. I know a family with James and Jack actually as siblings.

My mum and myself and my sister all have the same first letter at the beginning of our first names. When post arrives with just 'J Smith' we don't know who it's for. Just something to consider in the future.

My dad is James and his brother is Jack, so you could say I'm biased but I do love it
James is my favourite boys' name. Such a classic.