How awful an idea is Jack?

[owlborn]

I know it's a super popular name, but has anyone used it? How many boys would be 'Jack' in nursery school? Is it a bad idea going for a really common name?

DH has decided he really likes it.

Its not dull! (my ds is very far from dull!) Its lovely! All Jacks on tv/characters are cool too - Jack sparrow, Jack from torchwood, Old Jack off old Jacks boat, Ive never met a not awesome Jack, so Id say choosing Jack as a name guarantees an awesome ds (which mine is, he is really awesome).

I have a lovely Jack too, really quiet and kind mobster like at all

Not mobster like at all ... Stupid phone

Jack was originally a nn for John I think, so if you are concerned about it being too popular you could register/christen as John and use Jack so he has the choice later?
I think it's lovely btw, and not nearly so popular as it was: 11 in ED's year (she's 15) and only 2 in YDs year (Y5).

I think Jack's a good solid name for a boy. Fairly popular, yes, but not faddy.

And you're not necessarily going to end up surrounded by Jacks. There aren't any Jack's at my DC's nursery.

I think Jack has been less popular in the last few years, possibly as a result of being over popular a few years ago. I like it! That said they won't be at school forever so perhaps overall numbers of jacks in the world is more relevant than whether they are one of three in their class.

All the young Jack's I know are lovely! Epitomy of English name in my mind.

Jack up
Jack off
Jack it in

Nah.

I love it - and only wimped out of using it for DS when I found out it was the number one name. As it happens I have met NO baby Jacks - so wherever it is being used a lot it isn't where I live. If I had another DS I would now use it without hesitation !

If you're set on it, I'd recommend Jonathan / John, nn Jack. As pp have said, it has been very popular for nearly 20 years so your son will be one of many, many Jacks in his generation. I teach and encounter a lot of Jacks, including multiple Jack Smiths.