Thoughts on Joan?

[WhiskyCollins]

Stuggling to decide on a name for my week old baby girl!

Nothing on the pre-birth shortlist quite works.

Looking for something short - frilly or overly feminine girls names aren’t my taste and her surname will be double barrelled.

I like Niamh, Tess, Erin and Joan but there’s just something about Joan that is drawing me in. Interested to hear other thoughts and if people are seeing/meeting many baby Joans these days?

I like Joan. It is in the “cool names” realm.

I like it! Classic, strong, you could be anyone you wanted as a Joan.

I disagree. I think Buffy subconsciously knew she was a warrior like Joan of Arc.

Really like it. Due a come back

I know two young Joan’s under 10. One goes by Joanne and the other is just Joan. It was also my nan’s name (born late 1920s), so it holds a place in my heart. I think it’s due a resurgence. Go for it!

Love it. Also love Ruth which I consider similar

Lots of names from previous generations have resurfaced so that is not a negative at all.
Joan is a nice name ... I like it, in spite of the fact that it was my mad MIL's name!
Go for it! You will probably start a trend !

It’s hideous. Why would you want to saddle your beautiful newborn with a name that screams “retired civil servant with a sensible bob”?

God no

I know two Jonis who are in their early twenties. Beautiful name.

I love it and think of it as a classic. It went out of favour but has a long history. It makes me think of medieval queens and warriors, a lovely auntie and fabulous Joan in Madmen!

I like it a lot, and I also like Margaret. You have to remember that many MNers will be only one generation removed from the mid-century popularity of those names, so they will recoil from them. Once a name is two generations removed it starts to feel fresh again. It happened about ten-fifteen years ago with Ivy / Dottie / Elsie etc and the next names in the cycle will be Joan / Barbara / Margaret etc.

I know a 10 year old Joan. She is called Joanie and I think its lovely. Due a revival!

Oh interesting, I hadn’t thought of it that way. I don’t agree as I think the way she says it, she says it in such nonchalant meh way, it’s the antitheses of the name Buffy. But can see the flip argument. I just asked AI out of interest and it says the writer has mentioned both the significance of Joan of Arc and the ‘normalcy’ of the name (more polite than my interpretation ha) without me mentioning either, I literally just asked why Buffy picked Joan. So I suppose both can be true.

I don’t like Joan - partly the sound and partly because it’s a feminine version of John (can’t explain that as I don’t particularly dislike the name John, although don’t love it). The assonance makes me think of ‘moan’. I
like Joanie/Joni much more. This is your baby though, so if you like it, that’s what matters!

For me Joan is older than Margaret and Barbara, who run the jumble sale, but not as old as Elsie and Ivy. Joan might however be visiting Elsie and Ivy and doing their shopping because she is very helpful and resourceful.

But I know a very sweet baby Joanie and her younger than me mum doesn’t have this association!

I like it. We have a newborn Jane at our church, so many comments from all ages about her name - all positive. Lois is also a nice short name.

I think it’s a marmite name, personally I find it plain, boring, and don’t like that it rhymes with moan. I much prefer your other options!

It makes me think moany Joanie. I couldn't imagine a happy Joan.

I much prefer Tess and Erin.

It is just a not very attractice, dreary name.

I like Joan, it's a lovely strong name. All the Joans listed on here are great!
It makes such a change from the current ditsy names for girls; Missy, Lottie, Dottie, Minnie, Daisy etc which I dislike.

Yes dreary is a word I would use for it, I wonder if it’s because it rhymes with moan and groan.

Joni Mitchell not to be pedantic - I think Joni is actually really pretty

I've definitely seen Margaret having a bit of a comeback for those who've compared it. I teach secondary girls and there's been quite a few Dorothys and Marthas, I've seen a Doris as well. Joan is really underrated I think, though I also have a real soft spot for Jane. Joni extremely cool.

Joan is very old fashioned and just not very nice. From you list I like Niamh and Erin, with a preference for Niamh.