Joan

[thing1andthing2]

We're thinking of using Joan as a middle name out of love for DH's grandmother who died the week I found out I was pregnant with this DC.
I don't like it much as a name myself, but I think the family significance overrides that consideration.
I'm just wondering how other people perceive it and if you think it's OK for use nowadays? Do you think it's an old lady name that will see a come back? I don't mind being ahead of a trend, but I don't want to saddle my DC with a name which she hates forever (I have Lilian as a MN which I hated as a child, although it seems to possibly be making a come back which is odd!).

Middle names don't matter a toss, so don't worry. They are pointless nice-to-haves and nothing more.
Joan isn't bad as middle names go - it's quite kitsch, and I reckon is next in line for a big come back.

Its fine for a middle name.

It's a lovely, classic solid name that will soon make a comeback. I'd use it as a first name.

As others have said, middle names rarely get mentioned so it really doesn't matter what you choose.

I like it and think its a lovely classic name. Also lOve Lillian :)

Hav you decided on a first name?

My two favourites for a first name are Beatrice and Alexandra. Might use both with Joan as a second MN. The first name has to also work in French due to family links.
I'm glad people like it. It's not a name I would have thought of without the family connection but I think it's slowly growing on me.
Of course this DC might be a boy but with one DD already I have sort of got stuck on thinking it's another girl!

its fine as a midddle name no one will bat an eyelid.

how about joni? its pretty and its almost joan and joni mitchell is amazing!

i would use it myself but our surname ends in y so any first name ending in y/i sounds like a squeaky toy lol

In my view I think it's going to be Joan or not at all, as we want the link to DH's GM to be strong and obvious. But thank you for the suggestion

I like it. As a middle name it is short and simple and goes with just about anything. While it is a name that went out of fashion after about 1950, there is nothing peculiar about it. I see no problem at all with it as a middle name and it is a lovely way to remember DH's grandmother.

No problem - I have a family mn which goes back to my g-g-g-grandmother. I hate it and broke the tradition by not passing it on to any od my DDs!!!
I've recently heard Janet as a middle name; again out dated but the family connection is strong and thats what counted to them.
Unlike old sour-puss me who starts my own traditions

Suzy

It's a real 1950s name but unlike some of those names is also very old. A few years ago I would have thought no way,but like others I now find it rather nice,and possibly due for a come-back.

A lovely solid name.

I think of it as a 1910s-1920s name. Prettier than Beatrice, imho.

I had the same thing, my DD's middle name is Vera after DH's grandma who died shortly before we found out I was expecting. I really don't like it as a name and rarely tell people her middle name which I feel bad about. I wish I had made it Vera-Rose or something less old lady-ish.

It's fine.

Beatrice Joan is gorgeous. I actually really like Joan, I think it's very cool. It's definitely ripe for a comeback.

Gavi, Vera is also gorgeous. I would use it as a first name. In fact, I would consider Joan as a first name too.

I know a 19yo Joan, named for her DGM.

I wouldn't use it myself, but don't hate it.

If DH would let me have a middle name, this one would be Joanna after my grandmother Joan. Janet is also another form of Joan

Joan is on the verge of a comeback, at least partly instigated by the lovely Ms Hendricks. It's much nicer than Beatrice IMO.

Besides, it's a middle name, given for a nice reason, so that's all that matters. :)

I like Joan - definitely the Joan's I know are all very old, so it's due to come round again. I much prefer it to Beatrice, which, IMO, is a very old fashioned name. However, middle names (unless totally ridiculous) don't matter as much to people in every day life as your first name, and it's nice to name her after dh's Nan.

Joanie is on my potentials list if we ever have a little girl.

Joan is very hip.

Not that it matters, the family connection will make it special.