I’ve been crushing on the name [name_m]Jack[/name_m] recently. I know it’s trendy, but it’s so spunky to me and in my area, not all that common. My state is more fixated on [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] and its progeny. However, I am not too keen on giving a child what is essentially a nickname as a given name.
I know that [name_m]John[/name_m] is the logical choice as a full name, and although I like the name [name_m]John[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m] in theory (especially names like [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Edmund[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_u]Francis[/name_u], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], etc.), it is my father’s name and we have a very strained relationship. I wouldn’t want him or anyone in our family to think that I’ve name a son after him. Also, I have a cousin named [name_m]Jackson[/name_m], so that’s out. If it helps, my middle name is [name_u]Jean[/name_u], a diminutive of [name_m]John[/name_m] and my favorite grandfather’s name is also a version of [name_m]John[/name_m] ([name_u]Jan[/name_u]). So there are possibly other versions of [name_m]John[/name_m] in my family that I could say this [name_m]John[/name_m] is honoring instead of my father.
Any other full names that have [name_m]Jack[/name_m] as a logical nickname?
What about [name_m]Johannes[/name_m], [name_m]Jacoby[/name_m], [name_m]Jacob[/name_m] or [name_m]Giacomo[/name_m]? There is also [name_f]Jacqueline[/name_f] for a girl.
[name_m]Giacomo[/name_m]? It’s the Italian version of [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], though, not [name_m]John[/name_m]. If we want to go international, [name_m]John[/name_m] in Italian is [name_m]Giovanni[/name_m], so the nickname for that is out, just like [name_m]Jos[/name_m]é for the Spanish version. Other [name_m]John[/name_m] variations such as [name_m]Ian[/name_m] or [name_m]Yann[/name_m] are pretty nickname-like in themselves, so I guess they’re out too. Maybe you can come up with something that has -jack at the end and go with that? I’m out of more options that aren’t [name_m]Jackson[/name_m] or [name_m]Jacob[/name_m] here, sorry for not being more helpful!
All things considered though, even if it sounds like a nickname, these days [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is so common it doesn’t quite feel like a nickname. You’re right, it has spunk, and it’s good if it’s not all that common in your area, but I agree that you need to be 100% on board with it before giving it to your child.
I like the idea of using [name_u]Jan[/name_u] nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m] to honor my grandfather. My only concern is that my grandfather does not pronounce his name like Yahn, but like [name_u]Jan[/name_u] [name_u]Brady[/name_u]. Not sure why lol. It’s a family mystery!
What about [name_m]Jasper[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m] or even [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jack[/name_m]? Too much of a stretch for those?
Personally I think [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is a perfectly fine name all on its own. It has been an established stand-alone name for a long while (more then are lifetime). [name_f]Do[/name_f] you plan to call him by both names or just [name_m]Jack[/name_m]? If mostly [name_m]Jack[/name_m], there is no reason to try to come up with some other name to use.
I remember agonising over the whole nickname vs real name issue as well, when I really wanted the name [name_m]Jack[/name_m] but felt I ought to go with [name_m]John[/name_m] for formality’s sake despite not being very keen on [name_m]John[/name_m]. I agree with other posters that if it’s [name_m]Jack[/name_m] you really like then choose that. It’s a perfectly acceptable name in its own right.
Otherwise an international version of [name_m]John[/name_m], or even [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. Not really feeling [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m] though.
