John? Or an Irish name?

[whattocallhim]

Hello everyone. Baby number 2 due in a few weeks. What do people think of John as a name? It doesn't seem to have come back like a lot of the other older names and I don't know why. Is it a bit boring? DD has a common Irish name (living in England) and we cant really think of an Irish boy's name that we like...which leads us to John which is a family name. Thoughts please?

What about Oisin or Shea? Love Irish names!

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

I love John - a classic, simple, strong sounding name and I think it's really underused now but somehow doesn't feel like an "old man" name to me the way some very traditional names do.

But I'd be hesitant if by "family name", you mean living in the same household - only because I think having the same name on post is annoying! If it's wider family, it doesn't matter so much - he could be known as Jack, Jackie, Johnny, Jonno, Jay etc if there was any confusion for other relatives.

No Johns in the same house, or even withing about 500 miles!

@Watchingthetelly

Ooh just seen a PP suggested Fionn - beautiful name

I agree, lovely but there's a Finn in the family and Fionn doesn't flow with the "on" sound of our surname

@Leesha94

What about Oisin or Shea? Love Irish names!

I love Oisin

Thanks a million everyone who's replied so far. I'm so glad that there seems to be a lot of love for John! The only thing holding me back is the fact that as a pp said its almost like the default name in generations of Irish. A friend was making suggestions for names by naming out people in work and her parting shot was.... All the the other men are called John 😳
I think deep down I'd still love an Irish name. Would Oisin cause problems in England? Would anyone know how to pronounce it? It would also make the initials OH, is that weird? I'm starting to get quite stressed, baby is due in a matter of weeks 😬

There is an Oisín in my dd's year 1 class in a small town in SE England. No problems with pronunciation. Dd says it correctly and she has always lived in England and is only 6!

I like John as it's a well known name but very unusual for the current generation so he likely to be the only one at school etc.

@IllNeverLetGoJack

There is an Oisín in my dd's year 1 class in a small town in SE England. No problems with pronunciation. Dd says it correctly and she has always lived in England and is only 6!

That's reassuring

@eggandonion

John Joseph shortened to Jonjo? Although I prefer Eoin or Shane.

I absolutely love the bames John Joseph, shortened to Johnjo.

John is fast becoming one of my favourite names. Steady, strong and masculine. Everyone knows it, but it’s unusual enough for children these days to make an impact. I’d be delighted to meet a baby John, and I imagine an adult John would be rather gorgeous.

Adding to the John love! My much younger Irish brother is one (15) and it makes a change to the 7 Josh’s he knows in his year! He very occasionally gets Johnathan as a strange nickname from immediate family but never really Johnny. Although all the Johnny’s I’ve met have been fairly cool. I always think Oisin sounds a little dated would expect to meet a fair few in their 30s/40s

I'm Irish living in England and between us we have lots of Johns in the family. If I had another, it would def be on my list.

I have a John , he is 22 years old and he loves his name.He is named after my twin brother.

I am Irish also but living in Germany .There are no other John's.

How about Orin? Similar sound to John, gorgeous Irish name, travels well with the anglicised spelling.

I like Orin or Eoin or could I tempt you with Fiachra? Now there’s a name!

We have a local Olan which I like.

@Watchingthetelly

How about Orin? Similar sound to John, gorgeous Irish name, travels well with the anglicised spelling.

Doesn't go with our surname unfortunately

@KILNAMATRA

I like Orin or Eoin or could I tempt you with Fiachra? Now there’s a name!

Unfortunately it reminds me of teeth 😂

I like John - for a kid, Jonny works well.

I adore Cormac but we can’t use it. We have a Lachlan - couldn’t persuade DH to go for the Irish spelling. Would that work with your surname?

I like John well enough, but love Oisín. I am Irish but didn't grow up in Ireland (or UK) and I have an Irish first name and surname. It's been important to me to have it because to a lot of people I'm "not really Irish" (despite what my passport says!). I like at least having my name having a link to that heritage. Maybe just something to consider, especially if both you and your partner are Irish.

@MaverickDanger

I like John - for a kid, Jonny works well.

I adore Cormac but we can’t use it. We have a Lachlan - couldn’t persuade DH to go for the Irish spelling. Would that work with your surname?

I quite like Cormac but is it a bit "out there"? There's a dreadful Lachlan in nursery so that's out 🙈

Lorcan?

I also think that Cormac is a good name. Not “out there” to me.

I love the name John, I like PP suggestion of using the 2nd name, adore John-Paul which seems quite popular here (NI).

Also love Oisín bit surely it needs a fada which you were hoping to avoid?