Page 5 | Thoughts on Joan?

WhiskyCollins · 2026-08-10T10:36:59+00:00

Stuggling to decide on a name for my week old baby girl! Nothing on the pre-birth shortlist quite works. Looking for something short - frilly or overly feminine girls names aren’t my taste and her surname will be double barrelled. I like Niamh, Tess, Erin and Joan but there’s just something about Joan that is drawing me in. Interested to hear other thoughts and if people are seeing/meeting many baby Joans these days?

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scotsmumofteens · 10/08/2026 12:39

Like it and think she’s probs get joannie which is lovely !

mtobrokeme · 10/08/2026 12:37

I considered Joan when I was pregnant but alas I had a boy! I love it!

HangryBrickShark · 10/08/2026 12:36

Mum was christened (born 1935) Edith Joan but hated the Edith. So everyone knew her as Joan, even her bills were addressed to Joan. Its an old fashioned name but is having a revival thanks to Black Mirror (Joan is Awful episode).

MidnightMeltdown · 10/08/2026 12:33

ContractorQuestion · 10/08/2026 12:15

It’s always interesting to see people’s views on what names will/won’t come back. Generally, name popularity goes in 100 year or so cycles and eventually do come back.
When I was at school I had a classmate named Ivy. She really hated her name, it was such an old-fashioned granny name! Associated with Ivy from coronation street at the time. Yet 20 years later, the top 40 UK baby girls names are full of names from my grandmothers peer group - Lily, Elsie, Florence, Ivy, Mabel, Violet, Ruby, Ada. Two of these names are my grandmothers, four more are their sisters.
All names come back, unless perhaps they are associated with a criminal.
So I can imagine Joan, Jean, Phyllis, Margaret, etc all back. These are popular pre-wartime names that follow on from the previous generation I’ve listed above. We are 100 years on from. They’ll be back in fashion soon.

I don’t think all names come back. The names that have come back are the pretty ones. Phyllis is far too close to Phallus for my liking!

Gengha · 10/08/2026 12:25

Awful.

Pieceofpurplesky · 10/08/2026 12:21

Love Joan, Jean and Jane as names. I do love Joni/Joanie too

MaggieBsBoat · 10/08/2026 12:21

ContractorQuestion · 10/08/2026 11:59

I love Joan, it’s strong and beautiful. I also love Jean, and Jane. I’m a big fan of strong one-syllable names!

This.
Joan is absolutely beautiful. It’s strong, strident and feminine

DisplayPurposesOnly · 10/08/2026 12:19

Love Joan, definitely due a revival. And several classes above Phyllis and all the 'eens.

Any1ForTennis · 10/08/2026 12:18

I think this will be the new super trendy name replacing the likes of Ivy.

SchnitzelAgain · 10/08/2026 12:15

Love it! Joan from Mad Men comes to mind, and she was awesome.

ContractorQuestion · 10/08/2026 12:15

It’s always interesting to see people’s views on what names will/won’t come back. Generally, name popularity goes in 100 year or so cycles and eventually do come back.
When I was at school I had a classmate named Ivy. She really hated her name, it was such an old-fashioned granny name! Associated with Ivy from coronation street at the time. Yet 20 years later, the top 40 UK baby girls names are full of names from my grandmothers peer group - Lily, Elsie, Florence, Ivy, Mabel, Violet, Ruby, Ada. Two of these names are my grandmothers, four more are their sisters.
All names come back, unless perhaps they are associated with a criminal.
So I can imagine Joan, Jean, Phyllis, Margaret, etc all back. These are popular pre-wartime names that follow on from the previous generation I’ve listed above. We are 100 years on from. They’ll be back in fashion soon.

MidnightMeltdown · 10/08/2026 12:13

It sounds a bit old lady to me. Isn’t Catherine Tates nan called Joanie?

HobgoblinNorFoulFiend · 10/08/2026 12:10

Love Joan, not so keen on Joanie. Makes me think of Happy Days.

CreativeGreen · 10/08/2026 12:09

I think it's nice - sweet for a little one, and serious enough when she's older.

aliasfrog · 10/08/2026 12:08

I love it. It's simple and sensible. She'll get taken seriously in life.

Cherrycola4 · 10/08/2026 12:06

Joanie is beautiful.

Daffodilsinthespring · 10/08/2026 12:05

There are getting to be a few young Joan’s now. It’s not for me but a reasonable name.

Selfseedpoppies · 10/08/2026 12:02

YouSawBrigadoon · 10/08/2026 11:41

I think Joan belongs in the archives along with Phyllis, Doreen and Margaret.

Phyllis and Doreen were my grandmothers and Joan my great aunt so yes definitely the same generation. Joanie/Joni definitely has modern potential though. I can't see Doreen making a come back.

ContractorQuestion · 10/08/2026 11:59

I love Joan, it’s strong and beautiful. I also love Jean, and Jane. I’m a big fan of strong one-syllable names!

Original poster

WhiskyCollins · 10/08/2026 11:56

YouSawBrigadoon · 10/08/2026 11:41

I think Joan belongs in the archives along with Phyllis, Doreen and Margaret.

Oh interesting! I wouldn’t group it with Doreen and Phyllis at all, because I feel like it has a longer history maybe? And I actually love Margaret 😂

OP posts:

Brummiecurlz173 · 10/08/2026 11:46

what about

Joelle
Janey
Joni
Lois
Ruth
Faye
Juana
Jana

Crikeyalmighty · 10/08/2026 11:46

How about Joni ( like Mitchell) much prettier

Original poster

WhiskyCollins · 10/08/2026 11:46

Joan of Arc and the Joans Baez and Armatrading are all quite cool associations as far as I’m concerned! Don’t mind Joanie/Joni as a nn either

OP posts:

TheyGrewUp · 10/08/2026 11:45

Due a revival. It's an old classic and rather charming. Much nicer than: Elsie, Nora, etc. Joan of Arc springs to mind. Medieval roots.

user1492757084 · 10/08/2026 11:45

Love Joan.
It's a great choice.

Others similar ..
Jean
Jane
Dawn
Lisa
Gwen
Ruth
Anne
Lorna
Grace
Meg