Coming up with a first name for our second child has proven difficult. [name_m]John[/name_m] fits a lot of our criteria, and we both really like it, but part of me wants to use something interesting. What do you think?
[name_m]John[/name_m]
Definitely classic
Biblical in nature without being over-the-top and/or an indicator of ones religion
We are still working on a middle name, but something like [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] or [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] are likely. Ideas welcome.
I love [name_m]John[/name_m] it makes me so sad that people write it off as boring, because I think this is a great name for all of the reasons you listed.
I think that a good solution for you guys would be to use [name_m]John[/name_m] as a first name, since you like it so much, and pick a more “interesting” middle name. However, I do like [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m], too
I think it’s a nice, solid name. I can see it on a little boy just as easily as I can a grown man.
This is what I was going to say. You could spice up [name_m]John[/name_m] by using a more adventurous middle. For some reason [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Apollo[/name_m] keeps popping into mind. [name_m]Just[/name_m] off of the top of my head, some unique middles for [name_m]John[/name_m] might be [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Raphael[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_u]Emerson[/name_u], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Casper[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_u]Orion[/name_u]…
I like [name_m]John[/name_m]. It’s very unpretentious. It’s also considerably less commonly heard on boys than some names people are likelier to describe is “creative.” Like, I feel like I meet more Zaydens.
I don’t mind [name_m]Jack[/name_m] as a nickname, but [name_m]Johnny[/name_m] feels much more rarely heard on young boys, and I’m fond of [name_m]Johnny[/name_m] [name_m]Cash[/name_m].
However, unless I had a family reason to use a middle name like [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]/[name_m]William[/name_m], I would be inclined to find a much more “interesting” i.e. uncommon middle name. If I had to go common, I would go for one that gave me initials I could use as a nickname, like J.J. or J.P. or whatever.
[name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Nicodemus[/name_m], [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Llewelyn[/name_m] - basically no quirky middle name is too odd for solid, classic [name_m]John[/name_m] to handle. Maybe another form of [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], like [name_m]Alasdair[/name_m]?
I have [name_m]John[/name_m] on my list, mostly because there are quite a few characters I love with the name, who helped add some personality to (I once thought) a not so inspiring choice. I probably wouldn’t actually use it, but I wouldn’t mind meeting a little [name_m]John[/name_m]. I’d personally go for a more out there middle for [name_m]John[/name_m] (I have [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Ephraim[/name_m] [name_m]Atticus[/name_m]), but [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] are very handsome.
I love [name_m]John[/name_m]. It’s my older brother’s name. To family he is [name_m]Jed[/name_m] (as his name is [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Edward[/name_m]), but to everyone else, he is ‘just’ [name_m]John[/name_m].
I know my sister is keen to use it, should she have a son, it’s her absolutely favorite boy’s name. Therefore I now keep it as a middle name.
[name_m]John[/name_m] is a name that’s built to last.
Thanks everyone. It’s nice to know John hasn’t lost its wonder on everyone. When I mention it IRL, I usually get, “Oh, make that a middle name” or “Why not Jackson or Jonathan? John is dull.” :-?
My oldest is Matilda, but basically only goes by Tilly or Tilda. Is that too interesting to be paired up with a little brother John? Personally, I think Tilly & Johnny are sweet together, but I can see how some might think Matilda June and John William (for example) would be mismatched. Thoughts?
I’m working on a middle name list. I love all the suggestions for middle names. My favorite boy names tend to be really traditional, so I am working on finding a compromise between less-heard of names that are familiar and classic.
I like [name_m]John[/name_m] a lot actually, I went to school with a couple and currently work with one my age, so it feels pretty fresh/current to me. I would definitely find it interesting to meet a baby with the name, as everyone I know named [name_m]John[/name_m] is 25+.
I really like [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] actually, and it pairs wonderfully with [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u].
Also, I like the idea of [name_m]John[/name_m] with an interesting middle, if you feel that it’s too safe for you.
I always find it refreshing to meet a child with an absolutely classic, timeless name like [name_m]John[/name_m]. In a class of children with more modern/inventive names, he’ll stand out. Plus, [name_m]John[/name_m] pairs beautifully with your daughter’s name.
I agree with the suggestion of perhaps considering an unexpected middle, to give [name_m]John[/name_m] the excitement you might want.
Personally, I find it a tad bland, there’s nothing that excites me about it, I have always felt that way. Usually a great book or movie character makes me warm up to a name but with [name_m]John[/name_m] that never worked. I think it may be the name I will always feel indifferent about, to me it’s like a food that I don’t hate but with so many others options, why choose it?
I prefer [name_m]Jack[/name_m] to [name_m]John[/name_m], but [name_m]John[/name_m] is very nice. There is nothing wrong with it, really. I like [name_m]John[/name_m] and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] together.
I appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is just too much of a nickname for us to use on its own. It’s a personal preference; I tend to prefer a more traditional route and use various nicknames then to be beholden to just [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. We are the same way with names like [name_f]Molly[/name_f] and [name_m]Liam[/name_m], they’re lovely on their own but we’d never use them as anything but nicknames for [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_m]William[/name_m].
I would love to meet a little [name_m]John[/name_m]. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_m]Jackson[/name_m] feel dull to me, whereas [name_m]John[/name_m] is quite refreshing.
I adore [name_m]John[/name_m]. I also really like [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. I knew a guy named [name_m]John[/name_m] and was the 3rd or 4th generation of [name_m]John[/name_m]. They all had different middle names - my friend was [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Caspar[/name_m]. Anyway, he and his wife had a son and went with [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. I had expected them to pick a more unusual middle name to pair with [name_m]John[/name_m] and was surprised they went with [name_m]William[/name_m]. Pleasantly surprised. It was just such a solid name overall.
My brother is [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]. I’ve always thought it was a solid, traditional name and I’ve never heard him say he dislikes it.
it makes me so sad that people write it off as boring, because I think this is a great name for all of the reasons you listed.