# The Cat Stole Their Baby Name: Substitutes for Jack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Boy Names\ **Created:** [April 21, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535 "2021-04-21T13:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/1 "2021-04-21T13:36:19Z")
Hi Berries - [Today’s Name Sage question](https://nameberry.com/blog/name-sage-the-cat-stole-our-baby-name) is quite the dilemma! They’ve always planned to name their son John, called Jack. It’s a fifth generation family tradition. But now they’re actually expecting a baby boy VERY soon … and their parents just adopted a senior cat named, yup, Jack. Are there other John nicknames to consider? Or names like Jack that might satisfy instead? Read my answer here, but I’d love to know what you think, too. Best, Abby The Name Sage ---
**Author:** ![QuirkFlower](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/quirkflower/32/25325_2.png) [@QuirkFlower](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/QuirkFlower)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/2 "2021-04-21T13:58:28Z")
[name\_f]My[/name\_f] favorite option not mentioned by [name\_u]Abby[/name\_u] is JJ! So cute and spunky, and I don’t even think you need a J middle name to make it work. John-called-Jack is one of my very favorite names, so I hope you don’t lose it entirely. ---
**Author:** ![planetnames](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/planetnames/32/55783_2.png) [@planetnames](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/planetnames)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/3 "2021-04-21T14:14:39Z")
[name\_f]My[/name\_f] cousin grew up with a cat which had his name as well, so I actually agree with [name\_u]Abby[/name\_u] – [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] could still be worth considering! 🙂 Perhaps [name\_u]Joey[/name\_u], [name\_m]Jona[/name\_m] / [name\_u]Jonah[/name\_u], [name\_u]Jan[/name\_u], or [name\_m]Hannes[/name\_m] (stretch) would work too. ---
**Author:** ![hellobanjo](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/hellobanjo/32/84233_2.png) [@hellobanjo](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/hellobanjo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/4 "2021-04-21T14:21:51Z")
haha! I’d say stick with [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m]. That senior cat won’t be around forever… Lol sorry cat… ---
**Author:** ![anon10171685](https://forum.nameberry.com/letter_avatar/anon10171685/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@anon10171685](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/anon10171685)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/5 "2021-04-21T14:47:00Z")
I’m definitely in the [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] camp, or the initials camp if [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] really is impossible, but it would be remiss of me not to mention my favourite [name\_m]John[/name\_m] nickname: Jonjo! I’d also just say, as the owner of two well loved cats myself, they rarely actually get called their real names. I’d be mighty surprised if cat [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] doesn’t have his own nickname by the time kid [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] appears. ---
**Author:** ![mcinkat](https://forum.nameberry.com/letter_avatar/mcinkat/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@mcinkat](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/mcinkat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/6 "2021-04-21T15:14:13Z")
[name\_f]My[/name\_f] nephew is now the fifth consecutive generation to have the first name [name\_m]John[/name\_m] as well (and there are several others scattered throughout the family tree). In our family, many have gone by [name\_m]John[/name\_m] or a derivative nickname, but there are also many who have gone by their middle names instead. I think the latter option could be a good solution in this case–keeping the family tradition of [name\_m]John[/name\_m] in the first name slot with an entirely individual call name in the middle. (E.g. [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_u]Wyatt[/name\_u], goes by Wyatt.) This option also allows the baby to choose whether to use [name\_m]John[/name\_m] as they get older (my brother, who has exclusively gone by his middle name his whole life, now uses [name\_m]John[/name\_m] professionally). ---
**Author:** ![Babies123456](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/babies123456/32/80595_2.png) [@Babies123456](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Babies123456)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/7 "2021-04-21T15:38:42Z")
[name\_m]Jonathan[/name\_m] nn [name\_m]Jonny[/name\_m] or [name\_m]Nate[/name\_m] would be nice ---
**Author:** ![Greyblue](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/greyblue/32/120523_2.png) [@Greyblue](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Greyblue)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/8 "2021-04-21T16:19:11Z")
Jono, [name\_m]Jonny[/name\_m], [name\_m]Jonty[/name\_m], [name\_m]Joe[/name\_m], JJ, [name\_u]Jay[/name\_u]! ---
**Author:** ![MichelleM](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/michellem/32/16109_2.png) [@MichelleM](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/MichelleM)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/9 "2021-04-21T16:49:24Z")
[name\_m]Hi[/name\_m] there. Stick w/Jack! If it were their cat who lived in their household…that may too much. But if it’s grandma & grandpa’s cat? That’s fine! The little fella will probably find it fun to share his name w/the kitty. [name\_m]John[/name\_m] nn [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] is handsome & classic & completely worth keeping. [name\_f]Hope[/name\_f] this helps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LittleKingTrashMouth](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/littlekingtrashmouth/32/50824_2.png) [@LittleKingTrashMouth](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/LittleKingTrashMouth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/10 "2021-04-21T17:55:29Z")
I recently posted about using [name\_u]Jay[/name\_u] as a nickname for [name\_m]John[/name\_m] and received lots of positive feedback for it so that’s my suggestion: [name\_u]Jay[/name\_u]! It’s so underused and such a handsome, cool name ---
**Author:** ![Selkit](https://forum.nameberry.com/letter_avatar/selkit/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@Selkit](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Selkit)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/11 "2021-04-21T18:01:58Z")
I think they should keep [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m]! They can just call the kitty “Jack the cat” or something so it’s clear which [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] is being referred to. I’m also surprised no one has brought up potentially renaming the cat. If it were a dog who was used to answering to a specific name, that would be understandable, but I don’t think a cat is likely to care too much about getting a new name. I also echo blueylit’s comment above about how cats often aren’t even called by their “real” names! I’m a certified cat lady myself (I have, uh, six), and I usually end up calling them things like [name\_u]Baby[/name\_u] [name\_u]Boo[/name\_u], You Scruffy Boy, [name\_f]Precious[/name\_f] [name\_f]Princess[/name\_f], [name\_m]Little[/name\_m] Goober…the list goes on. …That may just be me, though. 😛 Alternatively, since [name\_u]Bennett[/name\_u] is unisex, they could potentially use that for a boy, too. I think [name\_u]Bennett[/name\_u] [name\_m]John[/name\_m] sounds nice. ---
**Author:** ![LittleKingTrashMouth](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/littlekingtrashmouth/32/50824_2.png) [@LittleKingTrashMouth](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/LittleKingTrashMouth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/13 "2021-04-21T21:58:39Z")
Also wanted to add that [name\_m]John[/name\_m] is one of those names that has a million variations so perhaps another version of it would work? [name\_u]Evan[/name\_u], [name\_u]Shane[/name\_u], [name\_u]Sean[/name\_u], [name\_m]Zane[/name\_m], [name\_u]Jackson[/name\_u] all come to mind. [name\_u]Or[/name\_u] something like [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]Patrick[/name\_m], [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]Thomas[/name\_m], [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_u]Daniel[/name\_u] called JP, JT, JD are all nice choices too. [name\_u]Or[/name\_u] what about [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]Cormac[/name\_m] “Mack” or [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]Zachary[/name\_m] “Zack” instead? ---
**Author:** ![baffled\_jessica](https://forum.nameberry.com/letter_avatar/baffled_jessica/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@baffled\_jessica](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/baffled_jessica)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/14 "2021-04-21T22:27:02Z")
I agree with the majority, keep with John-called-Jack. The family tradition is clearly very important to them, and I wouldn’t give up on it. I might change my middle choice to something I would use as a nickname. I’m all down for many different nicknames as you grow up, and I don’t think it would be weird for say [name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]David[/name\_m] to be [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m] at home with mom and dad, JD with family to cut down on confusion, and [name\_m]Dave[/name\_m] or [name\_u]Davie[/name\_u] at school. ---
**Author:** ![almostactually](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/almostactually/32/62788_2.png) [@almostactually](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/almostactually)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/15 "2021-04-21T22:42:50Z")
I would keep [name\_m]John[/name\_m] nn [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m]! It seems as if they have their heart set on it and the tradition is important, so I don’t think the cat is a good enough reason to give that up. I don’t see that as being confusing or awkward in the long term. ---
**Author:** ![yogi.kiki](https://forum.nameberry.com/letter_avatar/yogi.kiki/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@yogi.kiki](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/yogi.kiki)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/16 "2021-04-21T23:42:30Z")
Maybe [name\_m]John[/name\_m] nn [name\_m]Jax[/name\_m] would work for them. I also have a family line of Johns nn’d [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m], and when we chose [name\_u]Jasper[/name\_u] for our youngest I thought [name\_m]Jax[/name\_m] could work as a nickname that nodded to my grandfather (John/Jack) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/17 "2021-04-22T01:21:45Z")
Good point, blueylit! It’s a little embarrassing how many silly nicknames we have for our dog … ---
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/18 "2021-04-22T01:22:05Z")
Oh, [name\_m]Jax[/name\_m] is a really good idea! ---
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/19 "2021-04-22T01:23:06Z")
Good point RE: long term. It might be a little awkward in the immediate now. Like the new grandmother is talking to her sister, “Wait, what - didn’t you just adopt a cat named [name\_m]Jack[/name\_m]? And now your daughter named her son Jack?” But those moments are fleeting. ---
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/20 "2021-04-22T01:24:03Z")
[name\_m]John[/name\_m] [name\_m]Cormac[/name\_m] called [name\_u]Mack[/name\_u] is brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/user_avatar/forum.nameberry.com/abby/32/38904_2.png) [@Abby](https://forum.nameberry.com/u/Abby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 1:24am UTC](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535/21 "2021-04-22T01:24:56Z")
Good suggestion! [Next page](https://forum.nameberry.com/t/the-cat-stole-their-baby-name-substitutes-for-jack/376535.md?page=2)