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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Jonathan

53 replies

17caterpillars1mouse · 13/02/2023 16:54

What are your thoughts on Jonathan? Which spelling do you prefer - Jonathan or Johnathan

I like the shortenings Jonty and John but not so keen on Nathan or Jonny / Jonno

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rexythedinosaur · 14/02/2023 12:31

Nice name, I've seen it spelled Jonathan and Jonathon which I think are both fine.

Don't like Johnathan though, it reads like a typo/ spelling error.

Seashor · 14/02/2023 18:51

Jonathan is a very stylish name. I really like it.

Dragonsandcats · 14/02/2023 18:53

Definitely without the h, I think it looks weird with the h in. Nice name, I like Jon for a nickname, and Jonty

LulooLemon · 14/02/2023 22:09

Jonathan is a lovely name. Diminutives of Jon and Jonty also great.

Paturday · 14/02/2023 22:13

Love it! Know a 5 year old Jonathan. Or maybe Jonathon. My dads middle name is Jonathan and I remember him saying he wished it was Jonathon as he hated the ‘Nathan’ part.

No need for a shortening, it’s only 3 syllables, but Jon is good for me! I actually also know a young John which is notable these days!

mynameiscalypso · 14/02/2023 22:13

I have one in my family who goes by Johnny. We called him Jonty as a little boy but it doesn't really work now he's a 35 year old not very posh man.

HoboHotel · 14/02/2023 22:16

Jonty is really awful. Fake posh. Wasn't it the name of Harry Hill's ventriloquist dummy?

Jonathan (correct spelling) is nice. Classic biblical name. There were quite a few in my school, but I'm Jewish and grew up in the 80s. I think it's less popular now.

MrsApplepants · 14/02/2023 22:18

We have one in my family, everyone calls him Jon. Except his mum, who calls him Bimbo. 😁

mushforbrain · 14/02/2023 22:31

My DH is a Jonathan. Interestingly he much prefers Jonathan and introduces himself as Jonathan but people immediately refer to him as Jon. They seem to think Jonathan is too formal, I referred to him once as Jonathan to a friend and she said ‘ooh Jonathan, he’s in trouble is he?!’ I tried telling her no he actually prefers to be called Jonathan but she literally didn’t believe me. Anyway he’s been called Jon and Jonny (which he hates) I just asked him if he’s ever been called Jonty and he said ‘no fucking way’ 😂

WeWereInParis · 14/02/2023 22:34

I like Jonathan but have never seen it spelled Johnathan, I think that looks like a mistake.

I like the shortening to Jon, I do not like Jonty at all.

DramaAlpaca · 14/02/2023 23:09

I love the name Jonathan, with the diminutives Jon or Jonny.

Johnathan is the spelling used by people who don't know how to spell Jonathan. It's a classic example of if you don't know how to spell a name it's best not to use it.

An alternative spelling is Jonathon, but it's unusual.

I don't see John or Nathan as diminutives of Jonathan as they are names in their own right. Jonty is a bit childish. Johnny derives from John, so the spelling Jonny is better - and nicer, I think.

UsingChangeofName · 14/02/2023 23:26

Jonathan is a nice name.

Don't stick an extra h in it.

FadoFado · 15/02/2023 09:39

Anyway he’s been called Jon and Jonny (which he hates) I just asked him if he’s ever been called Jonty and he said ‘no fucking way’ 😂

Don't blame him! 😅

sillysocks22 · 16/02/2023 06:49

Too dated me for me & not in a good way

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 16/02/2023 08:47

It's a good solid name but I know lots a similar age to me so it will be a bit of a 'dad' name for a child born now.

Classic Jon or Jonny are great as diminutives. Nathan is not a diminutive of Jonathan; it is a name in its own right, with the similarity coming from a similar meaning in Hebrew.

BanterEnjoyer · 16/02/2023 10:33

My brother is Jonathan usually called Jon. A friend's child was named after him recently.

LimeCheesecake · 16/02/2023 11:34

I love the name Jonathan - Johnathan looks wrong.

Jonty does feel posh as a shortening but not more than Archie and Bertie did 15 years ago. It will be Jon unless you push for Jonty.

Overthinkingmom · 11/04/2023 02:41

I love Jonathan.. he was a prince of great strength in bible. Love also the meaning “God’s gift”

MyEasterEggs · 11/04/2023 19:51

My partner is a Jonathan and it’s shortened to Jonny, Jonboy and Jono, much to his mother’s dismay 🙃 you won’t have a choice in it further down the line. I like Jonny but I always call him by his full name. Our whole family does. Jonty sounds a bit pompous.

SkyeBlue28 · 11/04/2023 19:54

I think it’s a nice name and prefer the spelling Jonathan. I like Jon and Jonny as nicknames. I have never heard of the nickname Jonty before but I quite like it.

CatCake · 12/04/2023 20:30

Jonathan is a fab name. Not keen on Jonty or Jon though. I'd want to use the full name or just call him John.

RuthW · 12/04/2023 20:53

Jonathan is lovely especially with the nn Jonty.

fairycupcakes · 12/04/2023 23:51

Jonathan and Nathan are two different names and I’ve never heard a Jonathan go by Nathan… I know it’s in the name but it’s not the same pronunciation at all.
Jonathan is the correct spelling, please don’t add an extra h it looks very clunky and like you’ve misspelt it. It will get shortened to Jon or Jonny. You’d really have to push to have Jonty I think, unless you are incredibly posh/live and move in those kind of circles you will get the obvious nicknames from friends/family/child’s peers etc. If you really want Jonty then call baby Jonty… this can still be shortened to Jon which is nice :)

Mammyloveswine · 13/04/2023 00:42

I know a johnathan... he gets John by his mates, Johnny by his wife, Jo-jo by his mother...

Johnathan/Jonathan is a lovely name and I really like Johnny as a nickname... "John" grates on me though..

KirstenBlest · 13/04/2023 16:16

Jonathon is awful. Correcting my typo upthread