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Original poster

Opinions on calling 'J' named boys Jay as a nickname

44 replies

NearlyThere91 · 12/03/2025 08:51

What do you think of the sound of J (Jay). Is it too Inbetweeners? I think it's a beautiful sound

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Tbrh · 26/03/2025 09:52

Jacob or Jamie, some of my favourite names.

CakeIsNotAvailable · 26/03/2025 09:51

My husband's name begins with a J - I call him J all the time 😬 Before I saw this thread it wouldn't have occurred to me that it might be contentious!

Chunkilumptious · 26/03/2025 09:44

I had a glance out of nosiness online (mutual connections). Naughty Jay too has a very respectable job now and kids. I hope they give him a run for his money at times!

It's nice. Sounds bit tougher than Wren or Robin. That makes sense, a jay is a much bigger bird than a cute little Jenny wren. They're very intelligent and the name comes from garrulous/ garrulus so you'd expect a bit of sass and noise!

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 25/03/2025 22:28

Jay can be a name in its own right - I know a grown man in a very responsible job who's just Jay. Otherwise, I think it makes a good short form for any name that starts with the "jay" sound, like Jason or Jacob, but I wouldn't personally use it for a child called John or Joseph, any more than I'd use "Dee" for a child called David.

Snorlaxo · 13/03/2025 14:20

My son is a J and he likes it. His name doesn’t start with it’s the sound Jay

Considering the popularity of names like Wren, Rowan, Robin, Jay should fit that vibe but strangely doesn’t. I don’t know if its name like Jayden that have changed perceptions. Before anyone comes at me I know Jadon is a biblical name but in England, it’s morphed into a name with other associations.

Bigfishes · 13/03/2025 14:19

Short for Jason. Or Junior.

LegoAirlines · 13/03/2025 14:12

I know a Zainab, known universally as Zee! Suits her.

Sorry for continuing the detail OP. Jay is nice, and James is one of my top boys names of all time.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 13/03/2025 12:31

I think jay works either as a standalone name or as a shortening for a name starting with a jay sound like Jamie . I would find it a bit strange to use for a Julian/Justin/Jude although ultimately any nickname can be used.

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 22:23

Nooa · 12/03/2025 22:18

Yes calling Thomas 'T' is fine, but when he signs his name he'll write T, not Tee.

Thomas can be T but not Tee.
Jonathan can be J but not Jay.

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I think only because 'Tee' isn't a widely recognised nn whereas Jay is.

My niece gets 'Gigi' (written like that) for no other reason than her name starts with a G.

I may well be in the minority but I honestly wouldn't think anything about someone being called Jay just because their name started with that letter (Jonathan for example).

Nooa · 12/03/2025 22:18

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 18:48

I disagree with this. Jay/J could be used for any name starting with the letter J (in my opinion).

Same as people who might go by their initials......a Dillon Jack going by 'DJ' for example..... the names don't have to start with the sounds of the letters

or I know a Gracie who gets called 'G' and a Tony and a Thomas who both get called 'T'. It's their first initial, nothing to do with the letter sound being the first part of their name

Edited
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Yes calling Thomas 'T' is fine, but when he signs his name he'll write T, not Tee.

Thomas can be T but not Tee.
Jonathan can be J but not Jay.

CandelabraCat · 12/03/2025 21:25

DarkMagicStars · 12/03/2025 09:01

I don’t like it at all. Sounds like a lad off the estate.

God forbid 🙄

WisdomToothExtractionCare · 12/03/2025 21:21

Jay Rayner

Love51 · 12/03/2025 20:49

This brings to mind an episode of The Simpson's where Homer wanted to know what the J in Homer J. Simpson stood for.

itsgettingweird · 12/03/2025 20:47

I'm female and called Jay for short of my name. I've been called it for so long I often forget to respond if anyone uses my actual name 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

Branleuse · 12/03/2025 20:44

I don't mind it

Hedjwitch · 12/03/2025 20:44

Jay is ok as a name if that's your thing,but don't like it as an abbreviation for any name beginning with J.

Onlyvisiting · 12/03/2025 20:39

It's fine as a NN. And if your child doesn't like it, then they can go by their full name or a different NN when they are old enough to express a preference.

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 20:37

BoleynMemories13 · 12/03/2025 20:33

You're fully entitled disagree, just like I'm fully entitled to think it's odd. Each to their own.

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Of course.

That's the beauty of discussion and debate on forums such of these and why I am always keen to point out that whatever i write, it's just my own opinion.

BoleynMemories13 · 12/03/2025 20:33

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 18:48

I disagree with this. Jay/J could be used for any name starting with the letter J (in my opinion).

Same as people who might go by their initials......a Dillon Jack going by 'DJ' for example..... the names don't have to start with the sounds of the letters

or I know a Gracie who gets called 'G' and a Tony and a Thomas who both get called 'T'. It's their first initial, nothing to do with the letter sound being the first part of their name

Edited
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You're fully entitled disagree, just like I'm fully entitled to think it's odd. Each to their own.

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/03/2025 18:56

I’m female and have a name starting with J and I get called J by quite a few people (from work people to my neighbours). Note that I have never called myself J!!

I think it’s fine as a nickname as that’s not something we have any/much control over (hence my J above!) but to deliberately choose to shorten a boy’s name to J/Jay, it only really makes sense if they’re a Jason or Jayesh etc.

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 18:48

BoleynMemories13 · 12/03/2025 18:15

Yes I agree with this. I would imagine a 'Jay' to be short for Jayden, Jason, Jamie etc. It would be a weird shortening for something like Jude or Joshua.

So I think it's fine for names which start with the Jay sound, but not just the letter J in general.

Show quote history

I disagree with this. Jay/J could be used for any name starting with the letter J (in my opinion).

Same as people who might go by their initials......a Dillon Jack going by 'DJ' for example..... the names don't have to start with the sounds of the letters

or I know a Gracie who gets called 'G' and a Tony and a Thomas who both get called 'T'. It's their first initial, nothing to do with the letter sound being the first part of their name

BoleynMemories13 · 12/03/2025 18:15

Nooa · 12/03/2025 09:30

It's fine as a standalone or if the full name starts with that sound. Not otherwise.
So Jay, James, Jason etc fine.
But Jay isn't a natural shortening for Jonathan, Jarvis, Jeremy etc.

Yes I agree with this. I would imagine a 'Jay' to be short for Jayden, Jason, Jamie etc. It would be a weird shortening for something like Jude or Joshua.

So I think it's fine for names which start with the Jay sound, but not just the letter J in general.

sel2223 · 12/03/2025 17:38

Absolutely fine - we have a J, a T and a G in my family

Lavablue · 12/03/2025 17:11

I like Jay! Doesn’t make me think of inbetweeners and I loved that show.

DuchessOfNarcissex · 12/03/2025 16:53

P, I, O, U, X, Y