to think that Sinjun is really daft?

[ToeKneeChestNut]

My SIL (DB's wife) loves the name StJohn, but doesn't like the spelling. I understand this, as people will often find it confusing and read it as Saint John. I would therefore steer clear of it.

However, she's decided (DB isn't interested in names, so she's choosing), that "Sinjun" is the best solution.

AIBU to think that this is silly? Their DS's last name (he's a couple of days' old) is Smith.

Neither SIL or DB are pretentious people, btw.

I appreciate that SIL or my sister might recognise who this is posting. but it is ok as she knows I think this is really daft. We get on well.

I thought that the replies on here would be useful to either tell me to mind my own, or persuade her to go for a different monker.

The pronunciation comes from the Normans I believe...

For mis-pronouncing silent letters, I think this is the best story I've heard: Jean Harlow was at a dinner party and kept on addressing Margot Asquith (wife of prime minister Herbert Asquith) as MargoT (pronouncing the 'T'). Margot finally had enough and said to her "No Jean, the T is silent, as in Harlow".

Love this!

It's basically one of those little heffalump trap the English upper classes set to make sure the "wrong" people don't get into their club. There are loads of them. The way you say things and eat things....No English person can do anything without another English person judging them!

Isn't St John a surname?

Ouch squoosh, where's your Celtic solidarity?

Soz!

😄

I went to school with a St John Goldfingle. . What a truly outstanding name!!

What about sinbad?

I knew a boy called Sofian. Would that work for your SIL? Athough the poor child would probably be teased; Sophie-Ann.

Crispin sounds a bit pretentious but Crispian is downright silly. In my opinion.

Why not just call the baby John?
John Smith... will be better than the foray of silly made up names. Some people get carried away with trying to be unique and end up sounding/looking silly when calling their child from across the playground. There was a thread awhile ago about a K8lyn (can't remember the spelling but it had the number 8 in it). Ridiculous.

Serendipity's list is inspired, and I say that because we are also Smiths, and had a lot of those names on our (well, my) list for our boy. We had the same thought as OP's SIL: Smith is so ordinary, so we can be a bit crazy with the first name. IMHO, we NAILED it with DD, but a boy's name like that was so much harder. My favourites were Inigo, Barnaby, Kasimir (!)

But in the end, your SIL might like to know, I have no regrets about going with something very plain- he happens to have the same name as a singer who is v popular atm! For me, it had to pass the playground test: if you can't yell it across the park without sounding ridiculous, don't use it. Now ask yourself...

Oh, amusing cross-post with mission!

I immediately thought about Norman St John Stevan, politician in the 1970s. The route to his name is quite interesting.

Stevas that is (autocorrected😡)

Seriously?? Please remind your brother and his lovely wife that whatever they name their kid, that the kid has to get through school which is tough enough even if you don't have a 'catchy' name to be burdened with. It's even tougher with a catchy name. Especially if the surname doesn't go with the first name. It's such an unfair thing to do to a vulnerable child.
None of the names suggested go with Smith. Please help and guide them to a simple classy name not a cross to bear throughout this poor child's schooling.
Introduce her to Johnny Cash and play "A boy named Sue" for her.

Even though I know St John is supposed to be pronounced Sinjun, I still read it as Saint John. Every single time! I then have to go back and reread it as it is supposed to be.

Crispian sounds like a Findus pancake.

How is Lucien pronounced? I've heard Luci-en and Loo-shen.

Doesn't James Bond use "St John Smith" as a fake name in one of the movies? He's at some sort of horse event, I remember.

Its from jane eyre

What about Sebastian? It's posh and smarter than the surname but without all the silly pronunciation issues. Seb for short.

All her name options so far may as well be changed to "Beatthelivingcrapouttameintheplayground" Smith if you ask me.

If they go with "Crispian" please tell me you don't live remotely north as to me it sound like "Crispy 'un" ... as in "He's buggered up with the sunburn, he's a right crispy 'un"

Sorry but poor kid!

Lack lan I believe. But with the ch pronounced as in loch.

Thanks, Snickers. I thought it was going to be I would never have suspected.

Can't they just call the poor child Bernard (first name of the groom whose middle name was St John in Four Weddings and a Funeral)?

Years ago, I had to look up a student who had forgotten his ID (in a library). He had a very common name so I asked if his middle name was Bern ard. He had never heard that pronunciation. I asked if he had never seen the film Four Weddings etc.

I always have loved both Sufjan Stevens and the name Sufjan...but feared the multiple mispronunciations of the name.

Afraid to ask....