(no subject)

[indyselsa.livejournal.com]

Okay, so we're having a boy, due April 8. With our daughter we had her name chosen before I even knew she was a girl, but this time around we've got NOTHING.

His dad's name is John Herman (he's the fourth boy, they were sort of out of good name ideas by that point, I think), and we want to honor his side of the family, since our daughter (Eleanor Jane, Nora for short) is named for my mom (Jane). However, John is a little common for my taste, and Herman is ugly. SO.

My husband is pushing for John Henry, and thinks we should call him Jack. I think there will be a million Jacks by the time this kid goes to school, and as a Jessica born in the 80s I'm not crazy about dooming my son to be Jack B for all of his education. I could tolerate Henry John, because I like the British sound of the name, but I fear him being shortened to Hank.

[Poll #1362399]

Comments

[arbus.livejournal.com]

we are pondering john jude for a boy, because my guy is john jude, jr., but goes strictly by jack. his dad goes by john. so i brought up calling a little one johnny. i dont know if we will wind up using it, but its really grown on me.

i tagged john henry, called jack, but i love henry john too. i know a teenager named henry and he has never been called hank. i think its easy to avoid.

[indyselsa.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think you're right on Henry, too, it's not like Christopher or Matthew, where they're just GOING to be shortened, no matter how hard you fight.

I think Jude sounds great, too. Good luck choosing!

[arbus.livejournal.com]

yes, i agree. its not like christopher or matthew where shortening is pretty much a given.

i suggested jude because i absolutely love it only to be shot down before the whole sentence could even get out of my mouth practically. he hates jude. he has always hated it, apparently. boo. :(

[blosmbee.livejournal.com]

I voted for Henry John because I like the nickname Harry.
I like the name Jack, but I see your point on the overuse issue these days. At my daughter's daycare holiday show there were 3 Jack/Jackson/Jaxon's listed on the program out of a total of *maybe* 50 boys.

[erinleighralph.livejournal.com]

Jack Henry is my favorite boy's name - and I really sort of Like the nickname Hank. It reminds me of Henry Rollins;)

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

If you name him Henry, I seriously doubt that anyone will shorten it to 'Hank.' Kids especially won't. I think the only way people will automatically shorten it to 'Hank' is if you tell them to.

I agree with you about Jack. Personally I would avoid it if you don't want a popular name. Jack itself is becoming very popular, but so is Jackson/Jaxon, so added together...

[0o-faerie.livejournal.com]

I'm personally not a fan of Henry at all, but if you like the name so much I'd say go for it and just called him Henry John. It's a good name.

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

This post made me laugh because I know a whole family of John Herman's (but its their last name not middle). The one close to my age is Johnny (he's a 3rd)

I love the name Jack, always have - and it's my Grandpa's name so I want to use it to honor him. Unfortunately it's super popular now...

[ditzyfish.livejournal.com]

I like John Henry, and calling him John. John is a strong name.

As you said there are too many Jacks.

[tunknut.livejournal.com]

I've known a few Henrys, none of whom have been called Hank. I don't think he'd be called Hank unless you wanted to call him that.

That said, why not pick a first name you really like and just use John as the middle name to honor family? That seems to be what you did for your daughter.

[jmomonique.livejournal.com]

I love the name henry. <3

I say henry john and just don't allow people to call him hank (though I don't think anyone younger would try to shorten it so it should be easier to make sure no one calls him that).

my second favorite would be to just call him john and go with john henry. :)

[snailrevolution.livejournal.com]

I voted Henry John. I rather like it. Honestly, I never think to shorten already-short names like Henry. :)

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

John Henry? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)).

I think if you want to use John there are millions of possibilities.
A list of names related to Herman: http://www.behindthename.com/php/related.php?name=herman

John: http://www.behindthename.com/php/related.php?name=john

[indyselsa.livejournal.com]

Excellent links, thank you!

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

I voted for Henry John, although I really like John Henry too. (Except I can say it without the tune of "John Henry was a steel drivin' maaaaaan!" running through my head. :\ )

My grandfather was a John but was always called Jack. I've always loved Jack, but I *hate* Jackson/Jacksen/Jaxxon/etc and it does seem to be incredibly popular these days.

If you hate Hank, do you like Huck or Harry or Henno? I like just plain Henry, but there are a lot of great nicknames too. :)

[plaidpineapple.livejournal.com]

John Henry called Jack or something else entirely. If you find he's one of many Jacks in the class, he can go by John. Or something else.

If you don't want Hank, I wouldn't use Henry. I'm pregnant with a baby boy, we've chosen Henry, and BOTH sides of the family are already calling him Hank. We didn't mention the nickname Hank once, btw.

[plaidpineapple.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Henry John just doesn't flow as nicely as John Henry. IMO, of course.

[indyselsa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the flow is something I'm concerned with, too, and I agree. Our last name is Ballinger, so we've been trying to stick with shorter names just to balance out all that length.

[tiphanism.livejournal.com]

I like Henry John - and you can pick Harry or something for the short name, or insist on using Henry. It's not such a long or cumbersome name that it ever NEEDS shortening, really.

[sdjma.livejournal.com]

John Henry, like the man who died racing the steam engine? Isn't that kind of... weird? I dunno, I wouldn't do it.

[indyselsa.livejournal.com]

It would seem I'm the only person in the world that didn't know about this folklore tale. Knowing that now I won't go for that name, either.

I did my research on Jack Henry, because that sounded vaguely familiar, and found out he was some kind of crazy murderer cum author cum murderer, so that's out, too.