Jonathan Jack as middle names

Mottledgrey · 2023-12-21T14:51:23+00:00

Does it sound a bit much? We are set on a first name which is short 4 letters long but my DH wants to recognise his Grandad and I want to recognise my dad and neither of us want to back down. Can we have both middle names or is it too much of a mouthful? Our surname is also short!

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WashItTomorrow · 21/12/2023 14:52

It’s fine.

plusjamais · 21/12/2023 14:53

It's lovely.

pinkdelight · 21/12/2023 14:55

I had it in my head that John and Jack are both from same name ie some Johns get called Jack. Just looked it up and seems I didn't dream it:

"The name Jack is a derivative of John, which originated in medieval England. The name went from John to Johnkin to Jankin to Jackin to, you guessed it, Jack."

So you could well make the case that John covers both. Or that Jack does. So you're sorted on the honouring parents side of things and can choose the one that goes best with your other names. I do think both is a bit much personally, but people call their kids all sorts of mad stuff so it's not the biggest mouthful out there if you can't come to a better compromise.

TheBirdintheCave · 21/12/2023 14:58

I just see Jonathan John as I know that Jack is a diminutive of John. It's not something I'd do to be honest.

dontcallmelen · 21/12/2023 15:01

TheBirdintheCave · 21/12/2023 14:58

I just see Jonathan John as I know that Jack is a diminutive of John. It's not something I'd do to be honest.

My first thought as well, does seem a bit much tbh.

WashItTomorrow · 21/12/2023 15:07

They’re middle names for family members. It doesn’t matter if they don’t go - though I think they do go.

idontlikealdi · 21/12/2023 15:10

My grandad was Jonathan, went by jack his whole life so it's a bit like you're naming him the same name twice

Original poster

Mottledgrey · 21/12/2023 15:12

Thanks all! I didn’t know that about Jonathan and Jack I always thought they were completely different names. My dad has never gone by Jack so I don’t think I’d feel like I was recognising him if we went with Jack to be honest

OP posts:

toastofthetown · 21/12/2023 15:16

John (which Jack is a diminutive for) and Jonathan are different names with separate etymologies. I don’t think it’s too long, though I do have a preference for two middle names.

I wouldn’t group them together as one name saying John/Jack/Jonathan covers both. My grandfather was a John and I wouldn’t feel like I’d named a son after him by giving him the middle name Jack or Jonathan. They weren’t his name.

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/12/2023 15:21

A man of an adult's grandparent's age is unlikely to have been Jack on his birth certificate. He almost certainly will have been John 'officially.' So you could have just Jonathan to honour them both. Or you could have Jonathan Jacob - technically Jacob comes from James but it and Jack do start with the same 3 letters!

toastofthetown · 21/12/2023 15:27

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/12/2023 15:21

A man of an adult's grandparent's age is unlikely to have been Jack on his birth certificate. He almost certainly will have been John 'officially.' So you could have just Jonathan to honour them both. Or you could have Jonathan Jacob - technically Jacob comes from James but it and Jack do start with the same 3 letters!

Jack was a top hundred name from 1904-1944 in England and Wales. It’s far from unlikely it was used as a given name for the grandparent of an adult.

peaceinourtime · 21/12/2023 15:48

It’s fine, in day to day life a middle name/s rarely get a mention.

GraceFairbrother · 21/12/2023 17:24

I know a Mr Jack, his first name is Jonathan

CrapBucket · 21/12/2023 17:27

I know a few men with names like Jonathan Jack, Jonathan James, Jonathan Jackman, it’s a great combination.

so you are talking about e.g.

Brad Jonathan Jack Smith

sounds lovely

Aparecium · 21/12/2023 18:19

One of mine was very nearly Jonathan Jack. But dh decided there was another name he wanted more than Jack, and I liked both Jack and the name dh wanted, so Jack was dropped.

Ironically, dh called our ds Jonathan Jack for many years - even though Jack was not his name!

theduchessofspork · 22/12/2023 00:00

It’s quite weird as Jonathan (as well as John) is shortened to Jack, I can think of two I know.

Plus it reminds me of Gentleman Jack..

theduchessofspork · 22/12/2023 00:02

AmyandPhilipfan · 21/12/2023 15:21

A man of an adult's grandparent's age is unlikely to have been Jack on his birth certificate. He almost certainly will have been John 'officially.' So you could have just Jonathan to honour them both. Or you could have Jonathan Jacob - technically Jacob comes from James but it and Jack do start with the same 3 letters!

Short forms as full names (like Harry, Jack and Annie) were quite common in the late 19th / early 20th century, mainly for working class kids.

roshi42 · 22/12/2023 00:09

It's super cute! No one uses middle names, but sometimes initials. He'll be Firstname JJ Lastname. JJ could even end up being a nickname he uses.

Coffeeandcakemum · 22/12/2023 01:08

It's absolutely fine, I think they flow nicely together 😊

whatausername · 22/12/2023 02:03

My first thought was that they're the same name. A bit like saying "Harry Henry".

HorseyMum346 · 22/12/2023 03:55

Far too much of the same sound.. not a good idea OP. DH is called John but goes by Jack, it’s very common. Basically sounds like you’re naming your child Johnathan John

user1492757084 · 25/12/2023 14:52

Look on your grandfather's birth certificate.

BoohooWoohoo · 25/12/2023 14:56

Does the first name start with a J too? If not I think it’s fine and the nickname JJ could be used.?

APurpleSquirrel · 25/12/2023 15:02

It's fine - my DS has Jeffrey Jack as his middle names - DHs grandfather & my grandfathers names. My grandfather was actually John but known as Jack to all his friends/family - it would have been odd to use John when no-one knew him as such.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 25/12/2023 15:08

Jack is a nn for Johnathan. It’s a bit weird for that reason.