John Johnson etc

[youbethemummylion]

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

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

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.

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

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

Thunderingly unimaginative.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

I knew a Donald McDonald once.

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

I suppose it must be really!

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.

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

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

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

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

I think the parents are stupid.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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