Variations on Joan? Celtic or otherwise!

[pixiestix]

I would love to use a version of Joan if my LO, due in September, is a girl - after my beautiful grandmother who is no longer with us. I'm not sure about the name Joan itself - I know there is an "old lady name" revival going on but is Joan going a bit too far? Also not keen on Joanne/Joanna.

Just to make things really interesting, DH is an Irish/Scottish mix and would really like a Gaelic name!

Anyone out there know the perfect name for us?

DP wanted Joni or Joanie, they any good?

Jean is a variant of Jane, and Siân is the Welsh version of it, do you like Siân?

Janet and Sioned would follow in the same vein

Joan (my MILs name - we didn't use it, we went a generation back from that! - just like you and your grandmother)

Scottish Gaelic/Irish versions of Joan are

Siobhan (irish)
Siubhan (scottish)

These 2 pronounced the same (I think) - Shee-von (obv).

Seonaidh/Seonaig (pronounced "shonnaig" or "shonnay". I know a few of these (in my Scots Gaelic speaking circle. Some are actually Joan but choose to be called Seonaig!)

Joan means "God is Gracious". You could also use Jane as a version of it, or Grace, given that the meaning is Grace.

Siwan is another Welsh variant

Sorry, also meant to add Janet or Jessie (but not Jessica, I think) have the same meaning.

Dd2 has Jessie as her middle name - pleased my Gran (her name was Jessie), my Dad's family (my grandmother on that side is very much alive though has dementia - she is Janet) and of course MIL (Joan)!!

Wow, thank you - I am absolutely loving Siun, Seonaidh and Seonaig!!

I would need to make sure my pronouncation is up to scratch though - I don't want to be one of those mums who calls their baby Sigh-o-ban instead of Siobhan!

I actually think Joan is lovely as it is and would be fab with a celtic middle name.

Joanie or Jojo etc would be lovely nicknames while she is little.

Siobhan is the Irish version (pronounced shu-vaun).

"Seonaidh and Seonaig"

Seonaidh is usually (as far as I know) pronounced Shonn-ay.

Seonaig - can be pronounced Shonn-ay or shonn-ack.

Both would, I think on reflection, also be versions of Shona, which I love!!

(please don't tell MIL (joan) about this thread!!. She was happy we named dd2 (Rachel) after her Mother. I don't want her thinking that Jessie was after her - too "much" on the connection stakes!!!!!)