Jack?

[lilmizmombassa.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I were discussing baby names this past weekend. We both decided we really love the name Jack, but have some reservations about Jack by itself as a first name. Neither of us are cazy about Jonathan, either, but feel that we would have to give him something a bit longer. Do any of you have any names that Jack could be a nickname for other than Jonathan or Jacques? Also, is Jack OK by itself as a first name?

Comments

[penguiny7.livejournal.com]

John, of course! That's what it originally is a nickname for. I feel your dilemma though. I have the same one. I really like Jack, but I really don't think I could use it as a name on its own. I do like John, though. No problem anyway... my DH doesn't like either! Another name it could be a nn for is Jacob.

[beepandetch.livejournal.com]

I think Jack itself is fine for a first name. However, I know about 5 Jacks (not exaggerating) born in the past two years. It's becoming very popular and trendy.

[peke.livejournal.com]

I think Jack is fine on it's own, but I think short names like that need a longer middle name to balance them out a little.

[cielsong.livejournal.com]

Jacob maybe? Also, friends of my husband have a son whose name is Jackson, if you don't mind surname-y names. Jack is fine as a first name IMO.

[waitingonsunday.livejournal.com]

I think Jack is fine on its own. I also like it as a nickname for Jacob.

[kort-ni.livejournal.com]

We have Jack as a nickname for Jackson on our list (Jackson is a family name, but it's also quite trendy right now)

[catean.livejournal.com]

My friend named her kid James, nickname Jack.

[bloomingtulip.livejournal.com]

I think Jack is strong enough (and adult enough for later) to stand on its own. It could also be short for Jackson. I've never understood why it's a nickname for John/Jonathan anyway, and definitely not Jacob.

[penguiny7.livejournal.com]

Jack is a nn for John because during the Middle Ages a common way to make a diminuative was by adding "kin" to the end. Jack comes from Jakin, which comes from Jenkin, which comes from John + kin. Same reason why Hank is a nn for Henry.

[awoodnymph.livejournal.com]

I never even knew that it was a nickname for John/Jonathan!

[ladyjbug.livejournal.com]

We just named our little guy Jack. His middle names are longer to balance it out and honour the grandparents. His full name is Jack Joseph Alexander. I think the middle names would sound funny with a longer first name. Good luck!

[mrssubee.livejournal.com]

there's a little boy in my school named Giacomo they call "Jack"
also Jackson

[unmowngrass.livejournal.com]

I think it's fine by itself as a first name (having a cousin with that first name) but I personally would check out the popularity in your area if you don't want to be just one of the crowd, as it has been very popular in recent years. I do take the points about longer middle names balancing it out, but I think more important is your surname. For example my cousin has a surname with 7 letters/2 syllables, so his name sounds fine. But tbh, I don't even know if he's GOT a middle name.

[pianokitten.livejournal.com]

my friend named her son Derek Jack, and my husband's step mom's step father is named Orion Jack, but he actually goes by Jack... haha, that's all i've ever heard it used, i'm sorry I can't be of more help!

[ifancylust.livejournal.com]

jack is becoming increasingly more acceptable as a first name (rather than a nickname). i think you'd be fine, but your son would be one of many, many jack's i'm sure.

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

My grandfather is Jack (not a nn for anything) middle name Karl. Actually now that I think of it all of his names are 4 letters, Jack, Karl, and his last name. Weird.

I LOVE the name, and definitely plan on using it to honor him when I have kids. I am a little annoyed at how popular it is becoming now though.

So yes - it is fine to stand on its own. And it may have been weird when my grandpa was named (1919) but it wasn't too far out there.

[sarahness.livejournal.com]

I love the name Jack and I absolutely think it's a stand-alone name. If I had a boy, his name would have been James Andrew Clark (initials JAC) and we would have called him Jack.

Aside from initials spelling Jack (JC or JK would work, too, imo) Jackson & John are the only other names I can think of.

[ringsandcoffee.livejournal.com]

A coworker had a baby in May and named him Jack Everett. I think Jack is fine on it's own.

[arbus.livejournal.com]

i think these days jack is fine as its own name, it doesnt need to be short for anything. my husbands name is john, jr. (not jonathan) but has gone by jack his entire life.

the only other longer version i can think of is jackson, and i really dislike it, so am not promoting it! :)

[monkey-fruit.livejournal.com]

I like Jack too, and think it's perfectly fine on its own.

[aquilinum.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure Jack isn't traditionally a nickname for Jonathan, only John (John and Jonathan are different names with different Biblical origins).

But Jack is so trendy these days, both on its own and as a nickname for anything vaguely beginning with J, that you're pretty much okay to do whatever you like without anybody much blinking.

[falls2climb.livejournal.com]

I have two students who go by Jack, and their real names are William and Robert. I figure it can be a nickname for pretty much anything.

[googlebee-ohmi.livejournal.com]

my parents went through the same thing with my little brother. they wanted to call him Jack but didnt like Jackson or anything similar. they were not going to call him John because my mom did want him to be called Johnny - so they eventually went with Jonathan.

The only hard part with that name is that people immediately call him John and he has to correct them.

my mom justifies the nickname because John is a nickname for Jonathan and then Jack is a nickname for John. ha.

[amstorrs.livejournal.com]

I think Jack is just fine on it's own. But what about Jackson?

[jintana.livejournal.com]

Jack is fine as a first name. Things evolve, and that one's not too obnoxious.

You seem like too much of a purist to go with Jackson if your bf isn't Jack. I wouldn't, personally - not that I'm a purist. Plus, it really makes me think of Michael Jackson and a lot of people don't remember him fondly.

Now, if I had to work Jack in somewhere, I might be tempted to go with Jackie for a male only, because it makes me think of Jackie Chan who so far mostly kicks ass.

[melinda-renee.livejournal.com]

I have a friend named Jackary, goes by Jack.