So… I came across the name [name_m]Jock[/name_m] when I was looking up names of Celtic/Gaelic/Irish/Scottish/Welsh origin, since I wanted the name of DS to match that of DDs. She has a unisex name, so I wanted something clearly masculine, but nothing too common. I liked the name right away because it met all my criteria:
Similar origin as DDs name
It doesn’t begin or end with the same letters at DDs name (I don’t want anything that sounds too matchy)
Begins with a ‘J’ like DHs name
The only negative thing I could think of was he could get called ‘dumb jock,’ but surely if he kept his grades up the reference wouldn’t be that hurtful, probably just more annoying. Excitedly, I brought the name up to DH and he brought up ‘jock strap’ and ‘jock itch.’ I was and still am so disappointed about the negative connotations to the name… That didn’t even come to my mind, but now I can’t get over how hard that could be for a kid to get called that in school.
So here is my question to you:
Should I give up on the name completely or do you think (with the rise in popularity of [name_m]Major[/name_m] League Baseball player Joc Pederson on the Los [name_f]Angeles[/name_f] Dodgers) the name could rise above its negative associations?
Side note: I have been exploring my baby boy name options as an attempt to get over [name_m]Jock[/name_m]. DH likes [name_u]Jace[/name_u], but it doesn’t have the hard k sound that I like so much in [name_m]Jock[/name_m]. And DH doesn’t like [name_m]Jack[/name_m] or [name_m]Jake[/name_m]… But please leave other baby name suggestions!
It’s a difficult one, for sure. It will always be a “clique” name like nerd or prep. And the negative connotations… I’m not sure I would do it. I immediately thought of [name_m]Jacques[/name_m], though. It’s a different origin, obviously, but it has the same sound. I suppose it could be difficult to wear if you don’t have [name_m]French[/name_m] connections, but I still think it’s less difficult than [name_m]Jock[/name_m]. [name_m]Joaquin[/name_m] might be another option.
DDs middle name is [name_m]French[/name_m], so [name_m]Jacques[/name_m] could work, maybe as more of a middle name since DH and I aren’t [name_m]French[/name_m]. And [name_m]Juaquin[/name_m] is also another good name, it just has a different feel because of the difference in origin… Thank you for your suggestions, dovah!
I would shy away from [name_m]Jock[/name_m] personally - because of the clique association. What if the boy named [name_m]Jock[/name_m] is not athletic? That would be a little ironic.
Have you considered [name_m]Jacek[/name_m] or [name_m]Janek[/name_m]? (and obligatory mention of [name_m]Jackson[/name_m])
[name_u]Jensen[/name_u] or [name_m]Jenkins[/name_m]? [name_u]Jericho[/name_u]? [name_m]Jared[/name_m]?
Yeah, I don’t think [name_m]Jock[/name_m] is usable. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like Judoc? It’s a [name_m]Breton[/name_m] name that’s been in use since the 8th century at least, so it has quite a bit of history, although it’s unheard of in the US. There’s also Judicael, but I don’t think that would appeal to you.
I personally wouldn’t use it. I know you say if the child keeps their grades up it won’t be a problem - but you can’t guarantee that they will? What if they end up having a learning disability and the association with their name is too much? Or they struggle in a class or subject and doubt themselves and the “dumb jock” thing is just another kick in the stomach? My first reaction when I read the name was “itch” like [name_m]Jock[/name_m] Itch. I feel like there are probably other names that would fit wonderfully with what you want without so many obvious negative associations for the child.
justbrowsing, I do [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_m]Jacek[/name_m]!! I came across it earlier in my search when DH would not stray from naming DS [name_u]Jace[/name_u] (which is too a bit too much of a trendy for my taste ). My only 2 concerns with [name_m]Jacek[/name_m] are that we are not Polish, so a Polish name kind of comes out of left field. And even if no one knew it was Polish, because, lets be honest, when you meet someone you don’t rush to Google their name origin (:D), it would get mispronounced. Because DH loves [name_u]Jace[/name_u] so much, he would want to pronounce it J ai s - ek. But the true pronunciation is: Y AA t - z eh k.
what do you all think?
[name_u]Jensen[/name_u], [name_u]Jericho[/name_u], [name_m]Jared[/name_m], [name_m]Jacoby[/name_m] and [name_m]Jenkins[/name_m] all vetoed by DH… and we already have a [name_m]Jackson[/name_m] in the family (what a shame, its a great name! )
southern.maple, thank you for the two new name suggestions! I will be bringing Judoc and Judicael up to DH tonight!
And I appreciate everyone’s opinion on Jock… you’re helping solidify its impracticality. I needed that.
I don’t think it’s very usable. What if the kid wasn’t athletic, or if he struggled in school? I can just see a lot of teasing potential and it seems like one of those names that there is a lot of pressure to live up to. An unathletic boy named [name_m]Jock[/name_m] would be pretty ironic.
I would very much stay away from [name_m]Jock[/name_m]… If he isnt athletic or if he is, itll be a pun (either iornic or not). Also, if he could very well be “Jockstrap [lastname]”.
For that hard k sound that you like (and I agree, I prefer it for boys), maybe consider:
[name_m]Maddox[/name_m]
[name_m]Jackson[/name_m] (maybe the husb would go for this version?)
[name_u]Max[/name_u]
[name_m]Mack[/name_m]
[name_m]Frank[/name_m]
[name_m]Zach[/name_m]
