"Jack" for a boy?

[Qbear'smama]

DH and DD both love the name Jack and I am getting positive feedback from others, but I am not so sure. Isn't Jack really a nickname for John? Wouldn't that be like naming my kid "Bobby"? (not that there's anything wrong with that, just not my thing). Also, I am concerned it is pretty popular. Lastly, our last name is a fairly common two syllable name that ends in "er" (like Baker)and it just sounds so common. My daughter's name (Quinn) is getting popular but not in the top 50. Would it be classic or boring? Any opinions would be so appreciated.

[sunwillshine]

Personally, I really like the name Jack. I have a good friend named Jack, and it's not short for anything. He's just Jack (and for the record, the only Jack I know).

[busymama77]

My oldest is Jack and it's just Jack - not after John, Jonathan or Jackson. Besides him, I only know two other Jack's that he's gone to school with or had playdates with.
We love it because it's a strong name and a simple name. Easy for him to spell and write. Looking at him and knowing his personality, the name Jack certainly fits him!

[colorbywords]

My step-nephew is named Jackson, who we call Jack. I've never heard it short for John though.

Good luck!

[2xy]

Jack was a nickname for John in the OOOOOLLLLLLLDDDDD days. Kind of how like Molly used to be a nickname for Mary. Neat little blurb about that here.

I think most people nowadays don't think of Jack as a nickname. I know one little-kid Jack and one teenage Jack. The teenage Jack goes by Trey, because he's Jack the III.

I like the name Jack. Jackson is cool, too. Maybe Jackson with your last name would sound less common, and you could still call him Jack...?

[RedOakMomma]

I know a few boys just named "Jack." It's a real name now, not a nickname....much like someone mentioned with "Molly."

[mediumcrunch]

My Jack is Jackson. He is the only Jack or Jackson we know-he's almost 16. Jaxon is up and coming but Jack really isn't.

[4Blessings]

Lots of kids named Jack/Jackson/Jaxon, etc. around here. LOVE the name Jack. Hate the name Jackson.

[paintedfire]

Another "I love it" vote.

It used to be a nickname for John, but I feel it works perfectly on it's own.

Originally Posted by colorbywords

I've never heard it short for John though.

John F. Kennedy ring any bells?

[LightForest]

Yeah, technically it's short for John, the same way "Hank" is short for "Henry." But I agree that Jack has enough popularity to stand on its own as a name these days.

While I like the name, it's much too popular/trendy for my tastes. (Currently ranked at #39, almost as popular as when it reached it's popularity peak of #18 in the 1930's.)

Then again, if you like the name and it suits your babe, that's what really matters, right?

[Qbear'smama]

Originally Posted by LightForest

Yeah, technically it's short for John, the same way "Hank" is short for "Henry." But I agree that Jack has enough popularity to stand on its own as a name these days.

While I like the name, it's much too popular/trendy for my tastes. (Currently ranked at #39, almost as popular as when it reached it's popularity peak of #18 in the 1930's.)

Then again, if you like the name and it suits your babe, that's what really matters, right?

Yeah, except it would annoy me a lot if he were one of 3 Jacks in his class, that's where the trendiness gets me. I really appreciate the opinions, everyone I have consulted IRL has positive associations with the name. And JFK was what made me think it was more of a nickname for John than a real name itself, so thanks for the opinions on that front, too.

[jeminijad]

Maybe I'm "ooooolllllddd" school, but I think Jack is a nickname. I also think Molly and Hank are nicknames.

I like traditional names that have been used for hundreds of years- John, Mary and Henry would certainly qualify. I feel connected to the past that way. Just one opinion, though.

[Joyster]

I love the name Jack. All Jacks I've known/know are great spirits, it's like nothing can keep them down. I guess I just have a good name association with it. It is pretty popular though. That didn't stop me from naming my second Alexander though, which is supposed to be pretty popular.

[CherryBomb]

I like Jack.

[LightForest]

Originally Posted by Qbear'smama

Yeah, except it would annoy me a lot if he were one of 3 Jacks in his class, that's where the trendiness gets me.

Oh I TOTALLY hear ya - and I agree completely! But name popularity can be hard to predict - it's like, once you notice that something is trendy, then chances are high that it is already decreasing in trendiness. The trends are easy to see in retrospect, of course...

[lunarlady]

I like Jack, but I would name the kid John and use Jack for a nickname, or name the child Jackson or something similar that can be shortened to Jack. But that is just me. Don't worry about it being too common, I think if you stay out of the top 20 you are pretty safe these days.

[JessieBird]

I love it and I think it is officially a name in it's own right, no longer only a nick name for John.

However... it is SUPER popular here. I'd even guess that it is the most popular boy's name (age 5 and under) in my immediate area. Honestly, I think I know more than 10 - no exaggeration. More keep popping up including my cousin's newborn. As far as I know, they are all simply Jack (not Jackson or John).

I think it has something to do with John having been so common for the last century - so many people have a dad or grandpa named John that they want to pay tribute to.

[listipton]

I like it...but....we had a dog named Jack when I was growing up. We have a 'no naming children after dead animals' rule in our house (at least that was dh's excuse....).

[liberal_chick]

My middle ds is Jack, but it is Jack for Jon (he's named after my grandfather).

[Ruthla]

I've heard of Jack as a name in its own right. I know of at least two family members with the name (a little boy named after his late grandfather), plus an "Uncle Jack" (which might have been short for Jacob.)