Jack as a stand alone name?

CiCi1982

So we are pretty sure DS #2 is going to be Jack but ever since we announced it I've gotten a lot of questions/comments about the fact that Jack is a nickname for John. Do you think its ok to have Jack as a given first name or should we go John (which I'm not crazy about)? Also, any middle name suggestions? Thanks!

himymlover

Maybe it's just me but I think Jack is a pretty dumb nickname for John. In fact John seems like a nickname to me, but  for Johnathon. I think Jack is fine by itself.

Lolalipsy

I'd go for Jack. It's pretty much a name of its own these days. Here are some middle name suggestions:

Jack Ellis
Jack Samuel
Jack Thomas
Jack Finley

plunderb

I prefer Jack as a nickname, but I think it is so common to use it as a standalone name at the moment that it's fine. Just be prepared for everyone over 55 to assume it's a nn (they all remember Jack Kennedy).

RedCardinal

I love Jack as a stand alone name.

dobbysfavoritesock

I prefer Jack as a stand alone name.  go for it!

 Middle names:  Alexander, Everett, Henry, Thomas, Ryan, Christopher

aessary03

I have several friends who have recently named their sons Jack as a stand alone name. I really like the name and think it is fine as a stand alone name. I've never heard Jack as being a nickname for John. I guess it's like the nn *** for Richard .... I don't get it. 

 possible mns:

Jack Tyler

Jack Ryan (haha, maybe I'm around too many people who read Tom Clancy, but I think it goes well together!)

Jack Austin

Jack Peter

Jack Gordon

Jack William

Jack Benjamin

+ASH+

Jack is a perfectly good stand-alone name!

Personally, I've always thought nicknaming "Jack" for John is stupid. I've never understood it - they are each one-syllable, four-letter, start-with-J names. Just completely pointless and ridiculous - if you love one (and by themselves, they are each fabulous names!), go with it. It ranks right up there with Henry-Hank, Margaret-Peggy, Sarah-Sally. But John-Jack takes the cake since the only thing they have in common is one letter.

I think if Jack were going to be a nickname for any name it would be Jackson.  

g8trkim

I've always thought Jack was a silly NN for John. Jack is a perfectly acceptable stand alone name, and that's not a new thing... my grandfather was named Jack.

wcvsb3b5

I like Jack as a stand-alone name. I never understood why Jack was a nn for John and always thought John was a nn itself.

+ASH+

Joy2611:

There is a history and a story to why Jack is a nickname for John.  Read it if you don't understand why it exists.  My goodness.

Just because there's a history of it, doesn't make it any less ridiculous. I've known the history for years - I still think it's a stupid nickname for being so similar.  

For those who don't know, John in medieval times (in German) was Jankin or Jackin, which is wear the origins supposedly started. So basically Jack is the nickname of the German John and not the English John. 

firsttimeauntie

himymlover:

Maybe it's just me but I think Jack is a pretty dumb nickname for John. In fact John seems like a nickname to me, but  for Johnathon. I think Jack is fine by itself.

+1

snowybride08

I feel like Jack is a NN, albiet a silly one, for Jonathan.  I say silly because it doesn't make sense, not because it's a silly name.  I like Jack, but I wouldn't choose it, just because it feels like a nickname to me.

nlscroggins

i love jack as a stand alone name! 

be888

I love Jack as a stand alone name. If it wasn't my dog's name, I would totally use it for this baby.

MrsWindyCity

I think it's totally fine as a standalone name. Our friends have a boy named Jack.

tmrchi

I think more people use it as a stand alone name or a nn for Jackson now than there are people using it for a nn for John (unless the dad's name is also John so they are distinguishing between the two)

skio

My H's 84 year old grandpa is just Jack. And if we ever have a son, he will also be just Jack.

Jack is often a nn for John, but can also be a standalone name. It wasn't common in past generations, but in the last decade, Jack has certainly become a legitimate standalone name.

If it's what you like, do it and ignore the opinions.

queenbone

I would use John NN Jack.

ETA: And I'm cringing to know that so many people don't know that Jack is a NN for John... we have some serious problems with our education system if people are this clueless about recent presidents. 

trish3905

Here's another vote for Jack as a standalone name.  

I think you need a 2 or 3 syllable name for the MN, to balance out the short first name.

kplaxco85

himymlover:

Maybe it's just me but I think Jack is a pretty dumb nickname for John. In fact John seems like a nickname to me, butnbsp; for Johnathon. I think Jack is fine by itself.

This

Aprilmek

himymlover:

Maybe it's just me but I think Jack is a pretty dumb nickname for John. In fact John seems like a nickname to me, but  for Johnathon. I think Jack is fine by itself.

 

This!  

Peepp79

I think Jack is a very strong name and my nephew is a Jack Thomas...love it!

sweetpea2003

Personally, I prefer it as a nickname for John.  That being said, it is fine stand alone too.

ETA:  The idea that John is a nickname for Jonathan is really odd.  John has historically been MUCH more common than Jonathan (which wasn't used regularly until the 1970s.  John was one of the most popular men's names from the 1800s on). 

swimiz500

I think Jack is just fine by itself! 

ChristyML

I personally think Jack as a stand alone name is fine. I feel like it's a name that someone usually uses to name after someone, and I wish I could use it in that way, but I don't have anyone that goes by Jack in my or DH's family.