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I find it classic, handsome, and strong as well. The only reason I would never use it is I hate how common it is. Otherwise I love everything about it (other than the overly used nn Jon / John)

Where I live, it spontaneously generates Jonty as a nn, which is enough to put any thinking parent off it for life.

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Apart from that, it also attracts bizarre spelling mistakes: I had a Jonathan colleague once who collected them. He'd been Jonathen, Johnathan, Jonathin (when he was a dancer and anorexic!) and Jonathon - like a road race, he said glumly. Oh, and Johnnythan!

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I always see Jonathans as weak and weedy and lacking initiative, which is no doubt unfair. But I vastly prefer John.

I really love Jonathan, and it took me a long time to come around to it. I remember I used to think it was dull and uninspired and common. But now I really do think it's got an understated handsome feeling to it. I would consider it for my own child. I don't get a pretentious or weak vibe from it at all.

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However, I don't like John or Johnny, and it would be hard to avoid those as nicknames. Since it's a somewhat long name, I would probably resort to Nat, Nate, or Nathan if I had to. Maybe even Jono. Because I think people would naturally shorten it, and I would want to avoid John/Johnny as much as possible.

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I do think Jon is better than John, though. Strange.

I like it, but partially only because I'd like to have a full name to go with Jon. It's nice enough, but it's not one of the names I'm crazy for.

You can never go wrong with Jonathan, that's for sure, but it's almost too "safe" for me to care about or use.

Ha, I sort of have the same problem with it. Or used to, more. Then one day I started seeing it as super cuddly and really have been able to like it ever since. Especially after I paired it with Sallah. Jonathan Sallah, I want to hug him.

This message was edited 8/10/2011, 8:42 AM

I really like Jonathan but I ahve to say I have never liked a single one I have met. Though they have all gone by the nn Johnny so maybe one who went by just Jonathan might be different lol or i'm just unlucky

I'm lukewarm on it too. It used to be one of my favorites and I still like it but I don't love it anymore. I don't even think I like it enough to use it.
On the one hand, it feels literary, and common but not overly popular. On the other, it feels a bit dull.

I think it's alright, but it sort of bugs me. I think that it is sometimes considered pretentious because the nn Jon is often used, but John is already a name. Personally, I like John better than Jonathan.