So [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] has long been one of my favourite boy names. My mum has never liked it when I’ve mentioned it to her. However my husband likes it too, so it’s on the list, and I just haven’t mentioned it to mum as I didn’t want to feel negative about it this pregnancy. Unfortunately my sister told her it was one of my choices. And on the phone last night, she started on her old tirade: “He’ll get bullied. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and the whale. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] the Moaner. It’s an unlucky name anyway”. Etc etc. I was actually feeling really positive about having come up with name choicea we both like, and didn’t really need that negativity!!
But I just wanted to ask what you guys think, because having done some reading apparently a few generations above there are superstitious links. But as far as I’m concerned, boys are called [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]Malachi[/name_m], [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] and [name_u]Noah[/name_u] very commonly these days, and they don’t get bullied so why would [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]!!??
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t worry about what your mum thinks. It’s not her child, it’s not her choice - whatever you choose, she’ll get used to it.
I agree with you - there is no reason whatsoever a boy called [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] would be bullied about his name. I must admit my first thought when I hear [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is that song we used to sing in primary school (Come listen to my tale of [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and the Whale) but that’s just because I’ve never met anyone named [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]. Once you meet a [name_u]Noah[/name_u] or a [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] or whatever, you don’t think of the old Bible stories anymore, you just think of that person you know.
I think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a lovely name and your mother should mind her own business.
I do think of [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and the whale, but I fail to see how that could lend to teasing. Your mother is overreacting and I don’t think she has much pull in what your child is named. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a terrific name! It makes me think of a calming, pale blue color and a charming personality.
I too can’t think of a single teaseworthy thing about the name [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]. It’s a lovely soft, traditional yet not overused name for a boy, very on-trend but not too popular.
I think it’s very bad form of your mum to be so vocally against your name choice. If anything it would make me more inclined to pick [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] just to show her!
Thanks guys. It does put a dampener on things for me, which is why I think she does it, because historically that has always helped her shape my decisions. But my husband says it’s a great reason to call the baby [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] haha. I like that it means dove, and is a story of mercy. I also just think it’s a really handsome name! [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to know others here think it’s a nice name too.
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is one of my favourite names! If I had to think of a connection, I would think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and the whale, but I really don’t think that’s a problem. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a gorgeous name, and if it’s what you love, you should go for it
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is becoming really popular and I think in the next decade it will be very commonplace. Teasing potential is very small and he will likely go by [name_m]Joe[/name_m] as a teen/adult anyway. 30 years ago if you told someone you were naming your son [name_u]Noah[/name_u], I’m sure many would say “oh he’ll be teased! [name_u]Noah[/name_u]'s Ark! Hey [name_u]Noah[/name_u], where are your animals?” etc., etc. and now look at it!
I love [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]! It is so handsome, with a splash of fun thrown in. I love how it feels both classic and unique. But if associations are turning you off to the name, maybe you will love [name_m]Jonas[/name_m] or [name_u]Micah[/name_u]? Good luck
There is absolutely no reason why a boy would be bullied about the name [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] over any other name…!
I think it’s a lovely boys name, yes it has a biblical feel to it but it also sounds really modern and quite trendy.
I think of the little boy in Sleepless in Seattle when I hear the name [name_m]Jonah[/name_m].
It’s such a pain when parents don’t like name choices…on one hand, it’s not their child and chances are your tastes are more on point than hers now anyway as name popularities change with generations. But on the other hand, we named our son a name my mum hates and we still at 18 months comments are still being made which I wish I didn’t have to constantly hear
The two things I think of are a) my friend’s baby named [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and b) the whale story. However, I don’t think that he will get bullied for the whale story! It’s definitely common enough that most people already have an association aside from that, like I do.
I love [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]! I like it’s meaning and it’s sound…it’s an all round calm and friendly name
Because I’m not religious, I have no idea what ‘the whale story’ is, so obviously I don’t think of that when I hear the name, but I don’t think it’d be cause for bullies at all.
Being from [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand, my first thought when I hear the name [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is the late great All [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] Lomu, which is definitely a good association imo
I think of [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] [name_m]Hill[/name_m], which is a mixed association for me since some of his characters have been pretty offensive but he’s showing himself to be a pretty talented actor too. I didn’t even think of the whale. [name_m]Callum[/name_m] also means “dove” if you like the meaning.
I actually think of the song “My Name is [name_m]Jonas[/name_m]” by Weezer. I know it’s not the same name, but that’s what honestly comes to mind! I don’t think of the biblical story at all.
Please don’t listen to your mother. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a perfect name. If I had listened to my mother, I would have missed out on using my favorite name and certainly would have regretted it. In fact, I take a small amount of pleasure in how much my mother dislikes it, ha!
I think [name_u]Noah[/name_u]'s ark is a bigger contestant in the whole “Names with bible story baggage” competition.
Your mother is just afraid, but she has no reason to be.
Sounds fine to me, coming from someone with so little biblical knowledge I have no idea why he is connected to a whale! [name_m]Just[/name_m] sounds like another biblical name, of which many are very popular right now.
Tell your mother that just because she has those associations doesn’t mean that anyone your son actually meets or goes to school with will think the same way. It seems a lot of her objections are very out of date. At least I know I don’t have any superstitious associations with the name, nor have I heard of other people having any.
Of course I think of the Biblical story as will other people with Biblical knowledge. I think you probably know this, but just to make it clear to everyone, in the Bible [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is not an entirely positive figure. He was a prophet who refused to listen to God’s calling to go preach to the people of Nineveh and tried to run from God. [name_m]Even[/name_m] after he finally went to Nineveh, he was angry that the people listened to his message and repented because he hated the Ninevites so much. God rebukes him and teaches him a lesson in charity to others, even our enemies. However, most people see [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] as a picture of everyone’s natural human weakness and unwillingness and how God can use us even despite our short comings. It’s not at all like naming your kid [name_m]Lucifer[/name_m] or [name_m]Judas[/name_m]. Bible names are in right now and [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] won’t stand out in a bad way.
I love [name_m]Jonah[/name_m]! It makes me think of Sleepless in Seattle (one of my favourite movies).
[name_m]Jonah[/name_m] was on my shortlist for my first son but my dh vetoed it so we went with [name_m]Reuben[/name_m] instead (which according to my inlaws was too jewish!). So don’t listen to your mum he’s your baby so you get to choose
I may be the only one, but I actually think of the main character in the movie One Trick Pony & the song [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] that comes from it, although that does reference the Old Testament story, too. (They say [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], he was swallowed by a whale / But I say there’s no truth to that tale / I know [name_m]Jonah[/name_m], he was swallowed by a song…) The movie character may not be the greatest role model in the world, but it’s not a bad association either imo
That aside, I think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a beautiful name! I say go for it (:
Thank you all!!! You’ve made me feel a lot happier about things. Our top two boys names are definitely [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and [name_u]Finn[/name_u], regardless of mum’s negativity. Hooefully the baby looks like one of those if it is a boy! Thanks again.
If I had to think of a connection, I would think [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] and the whale, but I really don’t think that’s a problem. [name_m]Jonah[/name_m] is a gorgeous name, and if it’s what you love, you should go for it