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John Johnson etc

33 replies

youbethemummylion · 08/10/2014 15:09

What do you think of names such as John Johnson, Robert Robertson, William Williamson, Harry Harrison etc?

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Middleagedmotheroftwo · 08/10/2014 15:14

Well, I think they are silly, but they are surprisingly common in Wales. Evan Evans, Thomas Thomas etc. I had a great uncle with similar, but to name him would out me, as it's an uncommon surname

minkah · 08/10/2014 15:16

I like the Welsh ones. Evan Evans etc. I like the limited name pool which strengthens local character. Lack of name dilution, national character loyalty, etc.

Can't think of any other reason to do it though.

BananaToast · 08/10/2014 15:21

I think they sound like you lack imagination. So many lovely names out there, I wouldn't choose to do this.

grufallosfriend · 08/10/2014 15:29

Unimaginative and dull - there are SO many names to choose from! And potentially confusing, especially a Thomas Thomas!

squoosh · 08/10/2014 15:55

Thunderingly unimaginative.

The kind of person who never, ever deviates from shepherd's pie on a Monday, fish fingers on a Tuesday etc.

ChippyMinton · 08/10/2014 16:10

If you have a surname that makes it possible, why not? I could but it would be beyond ridiculous Grin

BigGlasses · 08/10/2014 16:14

I know a Donald MacDonald and a William Williamson. Both named after their fathers. I suppose for some people family tradition is stronger than a slightly unimaginative name. Though I suppose at least I remember them so it's not that bland.

Littleturkish · 08/10/2014 16:17

I know a family that did this as far as it could with all three children. All alliterated, two proper Robert Robertson types and one tenuous link. It was just ridiculous.

I've discounted a name just because there are too many repeated letter sounds in both names. It just sounds ridiculous, and that person is lumbered with that name for a long time!

ChippyMinton · 08/10/2014 16:18

I know a teen with one of these names, and he is known by his double initials eg JJ, DD, TT.

JabberJabberJay · 08/10/2014 16:32

I think they show a lack of imagination. DC goes to nursery with a Jack Jackson. No family tradition or anything according to his mum. They just liked the name and wanted to use it. Which is fair enough I suppose.

AhoyMcCoy · 08/10/2014 16:49

I know a Connor O'Connor and I always want to ask him mum "but WHY?!" Grin

maggiethemagpie · 08/10/2014 18:47

I knew a Donald McDonald once.

StetsonsAreCool · 08/10/2014 19:48

I met a Huw Huw once. He said his mum had an evil sense of humour, but it was character building Grin

I suppose it must be really!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/10/2014 19:57

I think they smack of a deep and desperate lack of imagination, and probably a smattering of evil too, on behalf of the parents. Really silly.

MsCoconut · 08/10/2014 23:57

It's like an extreme form of alliteration. I think it can sometimes have a stately ring to it when a middle name is inserted e.x. Ford Madox Ford, William Carlos Williams (or is just fun to say: Boutros Boutros-Ghali).

Wikipedia has a page on reduplicate names to get lost in:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_reduplicated_names

Didactylos · 09/10/2014 00:00

I once met a Findlay Findlay
but never a Major Major Major Major

Badvoc123 · 09/10/2014 00:04

Nancy mitfords husband was called Peter Rodd.
Yep.
PRod.

Mouldypineapple · 09/10/2014 00:06

Hasn't done MP Jo Johnson any harm (yes I know, pronounced differently but same sort of thing!)

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/10/2014 19:04

I think the parents are stupid.

AmITwirly · 09/10/2014 19:13

Well it didn't do Magnus Magnusson any harm....but I wouldn't actually choose that sort of name myself.

However, I do know a "John" Johnson and a "Harry" Harrison, who aren't actually called John or Harry. They are just nicknames which have stuck. So perhaps this happens a lot, and it wasn't their parents' choice at all?

SunshineAndShadows · 09/10/2014 21:36

I knew a Richard Richardson. Even as a child I thought it was ridiculously unimaginitive!

thatstoast · 09/10/2014 21:47

My grandad was William Williams. It's very common in Wales in older generations due to historic naming conventions. I think these days there are enough names to chose from to avoid it.

Littlebluebutterflies · 09/10/2014 21:50

I know a few Donald McDonalds. It's nice, there's lots of tradition behind it.

Compared to some of the deeply awful names proposed on MN, really quite refreshing.

PillForgettingIdiot · 09/10/2014 22:17

Neville Neville is Gary and Phil's dad. Bloody stupid.

QuicheConverter · 09/10/2014 22:27

I thought an acquaintance was jesting when she named her baby like this. I've met a Thomas Thomas and a Harry Harris.