Husband took me by surprise last night and suggested the biblical [name]Joab[/name] to add to our boys list!
Pronounced [name]Jo[/name]-ab, but hubby says the second syllable quickly, more like [name]Jo[/name]-ub.
I am undecided, what do you think of it?
My only major concern, is I hate the unisex nn [name]Jo[/name], is this inevitable?
Thanks for your opinions- good or bad!
It sounds like a combination of [name]Joe[/name] and [name]Jacob[/name]. I’m undecided as to how to feel about it…
I think even if you only called him [name]Joab[/name] at home, the nn [name]Jo[/name] would probably catch on outside of the house, at school and stuff.
I actually like it! It sounds laid back and cool. I don’t think you have to shorten it, it’s a pretty short, easy name on its own. If you do shorten it to [name]Joe[/name].
I think it’s interesting, but I prefer [name]Job[/name]–I think [name]Joab[/name] would often be mistaken for the more familiar [name]Job[/name].
I have a soft spot for boys’ names that end in B. I like it, though I agree with the previous poster that it [name]MAY[/name] be mistaken for [name]Job[/name] by people who aren’t familiar with the more obscure Biblical names. Your husband may also like [name]Jeb[/name], which eliminates the possibility of the nickname [name]Jo[/name].
I prefer [name]Job[/name] over [name]Joab[/name]. Nickname [name]Jo[/name] should be avoidable since the name is only two syllables. You might also like [name]Jotham[/name].
I know someone named [name]Joab[/name] and nobody ever called him [name]Jo[/name] or [name]Joe[/name]. I think that the name [name]Joab[/name] is great. I would go for it. I don’t see a problem with people saying it correctly, it seems pretty basic, but, people tend to butcher plenty of easy to say names.
I really like it and I don’t think people would need to shorten it to [name]Jo[/name]
I also know a [name]Joab[/name] who, to my knowledge, has never been called [name]Jo[/name]/[name]Joe[/name]. Pronunciation has never been an issue as far as I know, either. The more I say it, the more I really like it. It has a strong but sensitive sound to it that I love.
I’ve thought [name]Joab[/name] ought to be usable, along with other obscure Biblical J-names [name]Jotham[/name] (as southern.maple suggested), Joash and maybe even Jezreel. In spite of my love for [name]James[/name], I’m ready for some more unusual Biblical J’s than [name]James[/name], [name]Jacob[/name] and [name]Joseph[/name].
The downside to this name is also involved in its obscurity. The Biblical [name]Joab[/name], the captain of [name]King[/name] [name]David[/name]'s army (and [name]David[/name]'s nephew), is the only moderately well-known bearer. While he was certainly a brilliant and intrepid general, he was also a murderer who killed [name]Abner[/name], the former captain of [name]Israel[/name]'s army, and [name]David[/name]'s rebel son [name]Absalom[/name] (against [name]David[/name]'s express orders.) [name]Both[/name] murders can be explained–[name]Abner[/name] had killed [name]Joab[/name]'s brother, and [name]Absalom[/name] was leading a rebel army against [name]David[/name], his father and rightful king–but [name]Joab[/name] was a merciless man who was finally executed by order of [name]Solomon[/name], according to [name]David[/name]'s wishes.
Whether you want to extenuate [name]Joab[/name] or not, based on your reading of the stories, in my opinion he’s a dubious namesake. But if you don’t have a problem with the association, or if your friends and family aren’t likely to think of the Biblical [name]Joab[/name], then I think it’s a pretty cool choice. And I agree, [name]Jo[/name] shouldn’t have to be inevitable.
Best wishes!