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HelpJoan
I'm looking for everyone's overall thoughts and opinions on the name. I really like the name - it's simple, easy to spell, well-known without being too common and their is always Pope Joan. I often see Jane & Jean on the boards but rarely Joan - I'm curious as to why. Thoughts?
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I don't like Joan at all. There is something about the sound that puts me off from the name. Also, I find it too boring and simplistic.
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A little OT but I feel like everybody has been reading my family tree for the last few posts...my Nana was Joan, my Pops middle name was Edwin (which I practically never hear) and one of my nephews is Spencer. Sorry to go off tangent but it seemed weird to me!
Anyway like I said, Joan was my Nanas name and so I always think of her first when I hear it. She was a very strong woman so I think of it as a very strong name, but I've never found it to be particularly attractive. I would love to hear of a little Joan though, and I may consider using it as a middle name to honor Nana if I have a daughter.
Her full name was Joan Ida, just out if interest, and she absolutely hated her middle name - she said it sounded like the name of a cow! Her mothers name was Margaret Elsie, which I think is quite sweet. Sorry, I couldn't help myself from going off on tangents here!
Anyway like I said, Joan was my Nanas name and so I always think of her first when I hear it. She was a very strong woman so I think of it as a very strong name, but I've never found it to be particularly attractive. I would love to hear of a little Joan though, and I may consider using it as a middle name to honor Nana if I have a daughter.
Her full name was Joan Ida, just out if interest, and she absolutely hated her middle name - she said it sounded like the name of a cow! Her mothers name was Margaret Elsie, which I think is quite sweet. Sorry, I couldn't help myself from going off on tangents here!
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You're right. We always discuss Jane, Jean and Joanne / Joanna but never Joan. I noticed that too and I don't know why. While those others bore me, I really like Joan NN "Joanie". I'd use it in an instant if my name wasn't Johanna.
I think Joan makes a great middle name too and it's much less of a filler than Jane.
How about:
Joan Amaryllis
Joan Constance
Joan Dorothy
Joan Florence
Joan Greta
Joan Harriet
Joan Marian
Joan Scarlet
Emily Joan
Harriet Joan
Laura Joan
Lydia Joan
Matilda Joan
One more thing: Joan NN Joanie is a blonde name to me, probably because of the movie Mona Lisa Smile.
I think Joan makes a great middle name too and it's much less of a filler than Jane.
How about:
Joan Amaryllis
Joan Constance
Joan Dorothy
Joan Florence
Joan Greta
Joan Harriet
Joan Marian
Joan Scarlet
Emily Joan
Harriet Joan
Laura Joan
Lydia Joan
Matilda Joan
One more thing: Joan NN Joanie is a blonde name to me, probably because of the movie Mona Lisa Smile.
This message was edited 1/15/2011, 12:08 AM
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My mom's name
I can't really picture it on anyone else but her and Joan of Arc, but that's just me.
I think it's nice, and rare. Not great, but not ugly in any way.
Not sure why Joan isn't more popular, but it really should be! It's a classic.
But for my taste, Jane and Jean are nicer.
I can't really picture it on anyone else but her and Joan of Arc, but that's just me.
I think it's nice, and rare. Not great, but not ugly in any way.
Not sure why Joan isn't more popular, but it really should be! It's a classic.
But for my taste, Jane and Jean are nicer.
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Growing on me
My favorite of the three (Joan, Jane, Jean) is still Jane, but Joan is growing on me, too. I think it has a quiet strength to it. It's a very solid name. I've never liked Jean, though.
My favorite of the three (Joan, Jane, Jean) is still Jane, but Joan is growing on me, too. I think it has a quiet strength to it. It's a very solid name. I've never liked Jean, though.
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I love it; it's so strong and direct. Not only does it have Pope Joan in its corner, but Joan of Arc and Joan Crawford as well. :)
Also, Joanie is a very cute NN for a little girl. I wish I heard it more often.
Also, Joanie is a very cute NN for a little girl. I wish I heard it more often.
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I love it. My second cousin has a daughter who is now 5 or 6 named Joan Elizabeth but who has gone by Joanie since she was born. She is adorable- when they named her I thought it was horrible to name a baby such an old fashioned name but I could see myself considering it for a daughter of my own now.
Maybe you could pair it with a frillier mn to convince X? Joan Cecilia or Joan Katarina both would be gorgeous combos. And Joanie definitely softens it.
Maybe you could pair it with a frillier mn to convince X? Joan Cecilia or Joan Katarina both would be gorgeous combos. And Joanie definitely softens it.
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Joan Cecilia is breath-taking.
I love it, thank you so much!
I love it, thank you so much!
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I feel a great deal of ambivalence toward Joan. I consider it handsome, and I like seeing it used to some extent. I want to like it -- I like other names with a similar feel (like Judith and Susan) -- but I just can't get excited about it. I like Jean and Jane moderately, but only as first names. Joan I would like as a middle name -- it doesn't seem like a filler. I find Joanie annoying.
My office has a young male patient named Joan, which is maybe part of my issue. His parents' first language is Spanish or maybe Portuguese, and his name is supposed to be pronounced more like Juan, but they pronounce it like the English girls' name Joan (JONE) when they talk to English-speakers. I think it's so weird.
My office has a young male patient named Joan, which is maybe part of my issue. His parents' first language is Spanish or maybe Portuguese, and his name is supposed to be pronounced more like Juan, but they pronounce it like the English girls' name Joan (JONE) when they talk to English-speakers. I think it's so weird.
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Pronouncing Joan like the girls' first name? That's like they're setting him up to be gay.
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My dad is Lynn.
And he's as straight as you get. My brother is Ben, and he's as gay as you get.
And he's as straight as you get. My brother is Ben, and he's as gay as you get.
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o_0
Well, that was an ignorant comment.
Well, that was an ignorant comment.
This message was edited 1/14/2011, 6:18 PM
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Wow.
You really think a name will make someone gay?
You really think a name will make someone gay?
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I just feel that a boy named Joan pronounced like the girls' name might get beaten up.
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getting beat up = gay?
don't think so.
don't think so.
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Okay, that is a fairer comment- but that isn't the same as "setting them up to be gay"
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Pope Joan didn't exist. I was thinking more along the lines of Joan of Arc, which is a good namesake. However, there's the less fortunate namesake of actress Joan Crawford.
This message was edited 1/14/2011, 5:11 PM
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I think it is uncertain whether she existed or not. Historians still argue about it. However, if you're Catholic you kinda have to believe she didn't exist because today's popes deny her existance completely if I'm not mistaken.
Joan of Arc is a great namesake! She is mine actually. In German she is called "Johanna von Orléans", so I was named Johanna :)
Joan of Arc is a great namesake! She is mine actually. In German she is called "Johanna von Orléans", so I was named Johanna :)
This message was edited 1/15/2011, 12:19 AM
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There is an argument about Pope Joan
And whether or not she existed. Even if she didn't her story is well worth the namesake.
As for Joan Crawford: Fantastic actress and who knows how much of Mommy Dearest was actually true? I could tell you my mom beat me with a stick everyday until I was 16, publish it in a book and have them make a movie out of it. And it would still be a lie.
And whether or not she existed. Even if she didn't her story is well worth the namesake.
As for Joan Crawford: Fantastic actress and who knows how much of Mommy Dearest was actually true? I could tell you my mom beat me with a stick everyday until I was 16, publish it in a book and have them make a movie out of it. And it would still be a lie.
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I really dislike Joan. It's so short, plain, and dumpy-sounding to me. But I know that you like short, plain girls' names, which is the opposite of my taste. I doubt there are many girls' names we'd both like.
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Lovely!
I've always liked this. Elegant, simple, and Joanie, Joey, or Jojo are very cute nicknames.
I've always liked this. Elegant, simple, and Joanie, Joey, or Jojo are very cute nicknames.
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Joan was my favorite aunt's name. So I'm very biased. But I find Joan strong and beautiful. I think it's her strength that makes her less appealing than softer Jane and Jean (which I also love, by the way). The nn Joanie is adorable.
My aunt was Joan Valentine. My stock combos are Joan Frederica ("freh-DREE-cuh") and Joan Imelda.
My aunt was Joan Valentine. My stock combos are Joan Frederica ("freh-DREE-cuh") and Joan Imelda.
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:-D
Glad you like Joanie-Fred.
I forgot to add that my aunt was named after her grandmother, Johanna. Johanna was considered too old-fashioned and frilly to use in the 1920's. Stream-lined, art-deco names like Joan were "it." It's just the opposite today. It's funny how these things go around in a big circle. You'd be ten to twenty years ahead of the curve if you used Joan now. (I'm shameless in my promotion of Joan.)
Glad you like Joanie-Fred.
I forgot to add that my aunt was named after her grandmother, Johanna. Johanna was considered too old-fashioned and frilly to use in the 1920's. Stream-lined, art-deco names like Joan were "it." It's just the opposite today. It's funny how these things go around in a big circle. You'd be ten to twenty years ahead of the curve if you used Joan now. (I'm shameless in my promotion of Joan.)
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I love Joan and it is a steadfast love. I would love to see the name getting more attention. It doesn't sound good with my last name, otherwise I am sure it would be on my list.
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It sounds really good with our last name
The only problem is my husband is iffy on it. It's too 'common' for him - I think it's just frilly enough. (He's a lover of Lily, Katarina & Cecilia. Thankfully, though, he does like Judith - quite a relief.)
The only problem is my husband is iffy on it. It's too 'common' for him - I think it's just frilly enough. (He's a lover of Lily, Katarina & Cecilia. Thankfully, though, he does like Judith - quite a relief.)
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"don't think it's frilly enough."
Didn't realize I wasn't signed in, gah.
Didn't realize I wasn't signed in, gah.
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But, you never sign in.
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I love Joan! It's short, simple, and strong, and it has some pretty awesome namesakes (Pope Joan, Joan of Arc, etc,. as well as a person I know).
I also like Jane, because it's also short and simple, but I don't like Jean. Jane and Jean seem more sweet and feminine than Joan, which is why I like Joan best, but that also might be why the other two are more popular.
I also like Jane, because it's also short and simple, but I don't like Jean. Jane and Jean seem more sweet and feminine than Joan, which is why I like Joan best, but that also might be why the other two are more popular.
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Joanie
This has become popular in my area (French-speaking, for new posters).However, it's pronounced in 3 syllables..Zho-ann-ee, rather than the English-speaking Joanie.
You may remember the Canadian figure-skater, Joanie Rochette, from last year's winter Olympics, her name is pronounced in the French way.(logically, as she is French-speaking.)
This has become popular in my area (French-speaking, for new posters).However, it's pronounced in 3 syllables..Zho-ann-ee, rather than the English-speaking Joanie.
You may remember the Canadian figure-skater, Joanie Rochette, from last year's winter Olympics, her name is pronounced in the French way.(logically, as she is French-speaking.)
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Oooh, Zho-ann-ee is lovely!
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Good point.
Joan really seems stronger and more abrasive than either Jean or Jane. Oddly enough Jean is also off the popularity charts completely (save for boys) but Jane has held on. And Jane bugs me for some reason - not quite sure. It's so sickly sweet - 1950s Dick & Jane sweet.
Joan really seems stronger and more abrasive than either Jean or Jane. Oddly enough Jean is also off the popularity charts completely (save for boys) but Jane has held on. And Jane bugs me for some reason - not quite sure. It's so sickly sweet - 1950s Dick & Jane sweet.
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It's beautiful.
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