Is Johnny still too associated with condoms as a baby nickname?

[DannY97]

Hi all. We are currently expecting baby #2, a little boy after our girl. My husband’s late grandfather was called Johnathan and we think we are likely to name him Johnathan James. I love the name James but my husband doesn’t like it as a first name.

I like the idea of him having a ‘cooler’ nickname, as Johnathan is quite formal. I’ve always liked Johnny.

My mum is really against this as says it’s the name of a condom, and my brother in his early 20s agrees. My husband and I are aware that it is an older slang term for one, but not something we’ve ever heard used. I went to school with a Johnny and it was never a concern.

What are everyone’s thoughts? And would you mind saying your age too? I’m wondering if this is an older term that’s maybe come back around, as it’s definitely not been used by any of my friends or my husband’s, although all are vaguely aware of it.

Thank you!

I wouldn’t automatically think condoms tbh! Theres also lots of variants for Jonathan, you could go with Nate, Nathan, Jono, or tbh once he’s old enough or has mates to decide what to call him you’ll lose control of that anyway :)

I have a 5 year old Johnny (Jonathan). Never had the condom association brought up in real life and lots of compliments on his name. Obviously I’m biased but I think it’s great name 🙂

Mid thirties here.

It’s fine nowdays. I prefer Jonty as a shortening but Jonathan is a lovely name. It’s unusual to have an h in it though.

I think the full name of Jonathan with the option to shorten

i like it . Makes me think of Dirty Dancing 🕺🏻 .. late 40’s

No. I’ve just finished watching Friday Night Dinner not once did condoms come to mind

I was talking to someone last week who referred to her husband as Johnny, I honestly didn't think anything when she said it and wouldn't ever have got to a condom association.

LOVE this reference. It’s just made me like it more as I hadn’t even thought of Johnny Castle… hoping we get lots of replies in so I can take them to family dinner and say here look 😂

This did make me laugh! 😆 I’m in my 50s now and certainly no longer form the association of condoms when I hear the name Johnny.

I don’t think of condoms but do think of ‘heeeere’s Johnny’ line from The Shining.

Agree with all of this.

I do associate it with a slang word for condoms but also if I met someone called Johnny I wouldn’t think “haha your name means condom” either!
I think it’s fine, although prefer Jon as a nickname

I prefer without the h, but definitely don’t think of condoms really.

I like it. I don’t think anyone under the age of 50 would make the condom association.

My brother (early 40s) is a Jonathan who is called Johnny by everyone. I don’t think anyone has ever made the condom association

So I’ve just been looking it up, and apparently Jonathan is traditionally spelt without a h, but Johnathan has become more popular due to the separate names John and Johnny being spelt with a h.

personally I think I prefer Jonathan, with a nickname of Johnny. My husband is 90% sure his grandad was a Johnathan, but we’re now trying to find some documentation to make sure.

I’d had my daughter’s name picked out since I was about 15 and my husband happened to love it, so we didn’t have this problem!

DS’s life long friend is called Jonathan, he has been forever known as Jonny, with everyone except his mother, condom reference has never been mentioned. They are currently early 30s.

Thank you for all these opinions, they’re so helpful in reassuring me. Please keep them coming as the more mumsnet backing I have, the more I can prove to my family 😂

Just to say I do also know that we don’t need their approval or permission, but it’s a real worry for my mum and she’s not known for keeping her opinions to herself… so it will all just be a lot easier if I can prove that people aren’t making that association!

We have a fourth child (third boy) called Johnny. He is christened John. I was stuck for boys names as we used 6 up on the first two boys! ... but, am now so glad we went with it; it feels just right (weirdly enough it's super unusual now!) If you like it, go with your gut. Names are so personal and so important. Congratulations btw.

I’m 57, so peak age for the condom association, but… despite using ‘Johnny’ to mean condom, folk my age didn’t blink at actual people called John or Johnny.
Johnny Ball, Johnny Morris, Johnny Marr… there were no jokes or teasing.

Just asked my teen and it makes him think of Depp then The Shining which is fine. Pirates of The Caribbean is still popular

I don’t think the condom association would immediately occur to most people - certainly not to the point it would colour their view of the name!

Being pedantic, though, I would say that Johnny is ‘short’ for John and Jonny or Jonty is short for Jonathan.

I’m not keen on Johnathan as it feels like a bastardisation. The two names have different etymologies: Jonathan means ‘God has given’ in Hebrew, whereas John comes from Jochanan, meaning ‘God is gracious’.

Best name in the world. I have a brilliant John who is often Johnny

This is how I feel about Johnathan, it feels a bit…awkward I suppose? But I’m not awfully offended by it, which is unusual for me as I normally am big on keeping things the traditional way. It will all come down to how my husband’s grandfather had it spelt I think. But I’m pretty determined for it to be Johnny rather than Jonny, as it suits our surname better in my opinion.