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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To call my baby Joan?

251 replies

SecondChancesAtLife · 15/02/2024 21:39

What do you think?

I’m 5 months pregnant and having a girl.
Ive just watched “maid of Orleans” video by orchestral manoeuvres in the dark and had a brainwave. Joan as in Joan of Arc.

Classic, moving story/heroine, devout catholic. The name Joan has suddenly taken on new meaning for me!

Joan of Arc was also always my favourite bit in Bill & Teds excellent adventure ❤️

Or am I just suffering from baby brain? Is it awful?

OP posts:
ComingHome24 · 15/02/2024 22:06

Not keen. I prefer Jane or Jean. I don’t like ‘granny’ names like Ivy, Edith, Elsie or Mabel either.

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/02/2024 22:06

It’s nice . I know of a Joanie. So much nicer than the Ada/ Ivy/ Nora revivals.
Love OMD Maid of Orleon too.

BIossomtoes · 15/02/2024 22:06

Very cool name. I like it.

scorpiogirly · 15/02/2024 22:06

No way! Sorry

RestingPassportFace · 15/02/2024 22:07

Joni - lovely
Joan - ancient

FlutteryButterfly · 15/02/2024 22:07

I know a 4 year old Joan, it's a lovely name and due its comeback as is Jean!

Schum · 15/02/2024 22:07

Dreadful

Itsachange · 15/02/2024 22:08

Surprised to say I really like it

TeatimeBiscuits · 15/02/2024 22:10

I like it.

in my DC’s school a Mabel, an Albert and an Ethel sit next to each other for lunch which makes me smile

TeatimeBiscuits · 15/02/2024 22:10

These are all solid, traditional names which everyone can spell and which will be completely unremarkable to the next generation. If you like it, go for it

DeadButDelicious · 15/02/2024 22:12

I like it! My grandmas name was Joan and if we had gone on to have another daughter then I would have used it as a middle name.

Joanie is cute when shes little or she could be a Jo.

Notimeforaname · 15/02/2024 22:13

Jesus no.

BIossomtoes · 15/02/2024 22:13

Those old fashioned names are so much nicer than some of the made up bollocks ones some people saddle their kids with.

WaltzingWaters · 15/02/2024 22:15

Joan is my nans name! Love Joni.

kitsuneghost · 15/02/2024 22:15

ladygindiva · 15/02/2024 21:43

Why not? Joanie is cute. And if Joan is a little " old lady" ish that's highly trendy at the mo, and you can use Jo, JoJo, Joanie, Joey etc as nicknames. I really like it!

Come on !!!!!!
Its 4 bleedin letters

ForeverDelayedEpiphany · 15/02/2024 22:16

Joan... 😳

Each to their own...(Joan).

If I was being brutally honest, then I'd say it isn't great. But being a bit kinder, I could think of far worse. 🤔

I'm not sure a 3 year old child would really suit the name (IMHO), but objectively, if you love it, then that's all that matters.

sleepingbeau · 15/02/2024 22:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Previously banned poster.

MustDust · 15/02/2024 22:17

Actually love it, so many options for nicknames too.

Saladcreamdreams · 15/02/2024 22:18

I love the name!

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 15/02/2024 22:21

I love some of the older names but not Joan. As someone said about Dorothy, think of her as a teen or an adult. There are nicer names, but it's not as bad as the trend for surnames as first names.

Dontlookatmelikethat · 15/02/2024 22:24

No, it's not for me. It's painfully dull. Joni or Jolie are nice, but Joan is so lacklustre.

tutttutt · 15/02/2024 22:24

MaybeImbad · 15/02/2024 21:43

Love it. It’s my dream name if I had a girl.

How is Joan your dream name? 😂 I'm being facetious because of course you can live any name you want. But Joan? That's a bit like saying Warren is a dream name. Or Arnold

Okki · 15/02/2024 22:25

You could use the French version - Jeanne.

wallowinginmywellies · 15/02/2024 22:26

beautiful!

43ontherocksporfavor · 15/02/2024 22:26

Ethel???? Oh my Christ Mick!