Jan or John

olii1 · April 2014

I'm polish my husband was born in USA but his parents are polish. His grandfather died couple months ago so we wanted to name our baby boy after him. Polish spelling of the name is Jan which is John in English. We both thought that this is nice name and we wanted to keep original polish spelling. My in-laws started discussion/fight with us that kids may make fun of him when he is in school and this is America and we should name him John.

I was pretty annoyed at first because they were very pushy but now I'm thinking that maybe it should be John or some other name that wouldn't cause any trouble for the baby?

What do you guys think?

olii1 · April 2014

Joy2611 said:

Is Jan pronounced as John or more like 'Yon'?

I think the choice is yours. I personally like Jan more for family and culture reasons.

It's pronounced more with "a" in the middle "Yan" I guess

Nuclearcupcake · April 2014

I would personally look into it for a middle name. As much as I like it, kids can be mean

Harveys11 · April 2014

I would spell it John and use the Polish pronunciation. We have friends that named their son Alexander but they call him "Aleksander".

MandMLeona · April 2014

I'm not sure what I'd do, but I'd consider that every time he walks into any classroom or interview or appointment the person he's meeting for the first time is going to be expecting a girl/woman. Depending on which field he goes into later in life this could help or hurt him. Once they see him and his obvious European heritage, it should become clear what's going on, but the initial shock will be there each time. It could get pretty old. Is your last name something he could easily use for ordering things? Otherwise, it's spell it for the person on the phone, get there and be called Jan (American pronunciation)...he'll be making up a name to use. Just food for thought since he'll be an adult much longer than a child.

olii1 · April 2014

MandMLeona said:

I'm not sure what I'd do, but I'd consider that every time he walks into any classroom or interview or appointment the person he's meeting for the first time is going to be expecting a girl/woman. Depending on which field he goes into later in life this could help or hurt him. Once they see him and his obvious European heritage, it should become clear what's going on, but the initial shock will be there each time. It could get pretty old. Is your last name something he could easily use for ordering things? Otherwise, it's spell it for the person on the phone, get there and be called Jan (American pronunciation)...he'll be making up a name to use. Just food for thought since he'll be an adult much longer than a child.

He would probably introduce himself as John or give the right pronunciation of the name... I guess in school it would be only first few days that he would have to explain how to pronounce his name... I have to explain my name to every new person ( it's Ola) and it does not causes any problems but I'm an adult ...

queenbone · April 2014

DH has a fraternity brother named Jan, who is German, but they went to an American university. He didn't seem to have any trouble with it. And he didn't have to go by another name to make things easier for ignorant Americans.

I think Jan would be fine for your son. Jan for a girl isn't even ranked in the top 1000, it dropped off the chart in '84

audreylaine510 · April 2014

I would use Jan, it's a great name and celebrates your culture and heritage.

RebeccaS6627 · April 2014

I'm Polish-American, and I prefer Jan. You're honoring someone with that name, and it has cultural meaning. If your son doesn't want to use the name for professional reasons later in life, he can always go by first initial then MN.

ObLaDi · April 2014

I knew an (American-born) Jan as a kid. Sure, some people will be unfamiliar with it, but then he says how it's pronounced and everyone moves on. I think it's a great name and love that you are honoring family!

What would be weird is to spell it John but pronounce it Jan, or vice versa.

maelic · April 2014

If you're naming the kid after grandpa, name the kid after grandpa. Jan is a great name, kid will be just fine.

Spin313 · April 2014

There is a little boy named Jan in DD's mom and tot class. The dad is Polish and the mom is Latina. He is such a cutie and the name totally fits him.

DIY7 · April 2014

I was born and raised in Poland but I would tread carefully with Jan. It's not like the names Konrad, Krystian, Leopold, or Aleksander, where it can be universal. It's a classic Polish name but I would use it as a mn.

Cricket Bug · April 2014

A good friend of mine is named Jan (also family reasons). The only place he uses that spelling is on legal documents. He chose to go exclusively by John.

I really have no opinion either way, but that is my only experience with the name...

saham07 · April 2014

olii1 said:

I'm polish my husband was born in USA but his parents are polish. His grandfather died couple months ago so we wanted to name our baby boy after him. Polish spelling of the name is Jan which is John in English. We both thought that this is nice name and we wanted to keep original polish spelling. My in-laws started discussion/fight with us that kids may make fun of him when he is in school and this is America and we should name him John.
I was pretty annoyed at first because they were very pushy but now I'm thinking that maybe it should be John or some other name that wouldn't cause any trouble for the baby?

What do you guys think?

is it pronounced like Yawn? Or Yan (like can)?

Kitty Holland · April 2014

I am in Holland and it's one of the most popular names here. It's a pan-European name.

olii1 · April 2014

saham07 said:

Like Yan
olii1 said:

I'm polish my husband was born in USA but his parents are polish. His grandfather died couple months ago so we wanted to name our baby boy after him. Polish spelling of the name is Jan which is John in English. We both thought that this is nice name and we wanted to keep original polish spelling. My in-laws started discussion/fight with us that kids may make fun of him when he is in school and this is America and we should name him John.
I was pretty annoyed at first because they were very pushy but now I'm thinking that maybe it should be John or some other name that wouldn't cause any trouble for the baby?

What do you guys think?

is it pronounced like Yawn? Or Yan (like can)?

blu-eyedwife · April 2014

I grew up with a Jan, who didn't even pronounce it like "Yan." He went by Jan and never had any issues.

olii1 · April 2014

Pronounced like Yan

JM1977 · April 2014

How about John nn Jasiu?

I would be hesitant with Jan even though I like the connection with your heritage. Maybe going with John but having a Polish nickname would be a nice compromise?

brooklynesque · April 2014

I've met an American Jan who seems to have come through life okay. You can use either version or the name to honor your family member but I wouldn't be out off of using Jan just because it's more unusual.

His resume can always say Jan Michael Smith (or whatever clearly male mn you choose).

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