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HelpJohnny
The post about Charlie got me thinking about this.
My brother's name is John and from babyhood on he was always called Johnny. Once he reached adulthood, he decided that Johnny was too juvenile and he wanted to called John. Except that we members of his family could never adjust ourselves to that and we continue to call him Johnny, but everyone else, including his wife, calls him John.
Is Johnny inherently juvenile, do you think? Is there something more juvenile about it than Charlie, or say, Danny? Do you think it works on a grown man? Do you think it's okay to put Johnny on a birth certificate rather than John?
My brother's name is John and from babyhood on he was always called Johnny. Once he reached adulthood, he decided that Johnny was too juvenile and he wanted to called John. Except that we members of his family could never adjust ourselves to that and we continue to call him Johnny, but everyone else, including his wife, calls him John.
Is Johnny inherently juvenile, do you think? Is there something more juvenile about it than Charlie, or say, Danny? Do you think it works on a grown man? Do you think it's okay to put Johnny on a birth certificate rather than John?
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That being said, I woul never endorse the use of a diminutive (Johnny, Billy, Frank, Ben, etc) as a legal firstname... the handsome charm that was originally held will no longer be present; juvenile and unprofessional are two traits that will be acquired instead.
- Francesca
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I think Johnny is a bit juvenile, but I also know adults called Johnny and it sounds fine, so I think it can depend on the person. I don't think it's more juvenile than Charlie, or any other -ie/-y nickname name.
I would personally always go for a full name (John) on the birth certificate, just in case. For example, my cousin Alfie is just Alfie, but I personally would've gone for Alfred with Alfie as a nickname just so he has the option when he's older. But that's just personal perference
I would personally always go for a full name (John) on the birth certificate, just in case. For example, my cousin Alfie is just Alfie, but I personally would've gone for Alfred with Alfie as a nickname just so he has the option when he's older. But that's just personal perference
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I don't think it is, it sounds pretty baseball player-y to me. I definitely think Johnny really neads to be John though.
I'd consider using John, and used to like Jack for the nn. Now I think I like just John at all times, but would probably call him Johnny some too.
I'd consider using John, and used to like Jack for the nn. Now I think I like just John at all times, but would probably call him Johnny some too.
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Johnny > Jack ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
This message was edited 4/26/2012, 3:11 PM
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I tend to agree these days
Jack has sort of gotten a whiny trendy kid thing going on.
Jack has sort of gotten a whiny trendy kid thing going on.
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To me, Johnny is no more juvenile than Charlie, Danny, Billy or Bobby. It's not something I prefer for a grown man and certainly not something I'd name my son for that very reason (a nn is a different story). Is it ok? I think it would depend on the individual. Some mind and some don't. That's why I prefer the option of a formal name for children.
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For some reason, yes, I think it's more juvenile than Charlie. I can see Charlie working on its own for both genders but not Johnny. I can't really say why. I don't think Danny works on its own either. I know a grown man named Johnny but I don't really like it on him. He goes by Johnny all of the time. I always thought it was a little silly. I mean it would have been ok had he been called Johnny by his friends but he introduces himself as Johnny and uses it on his website (a website for his business). No, I don't think it's ok to put it on a birth certificate. I mean to each their own. I wouldn't. Charlie would be ok but not Danny or Johnny. I can't say why, just my opinion.
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Johnny might be juvenile on someone who is striving to come across a certain way, but not in general. I worked with a man who went by Johnny socially, John professionally. He was Johnny because it suited him - he was just too cool to be plain old John.
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It's even more juvenile than Danny or Charlie. It's very stereotypical, so much so that there is a genre of jokes, "Little Johnny jokes." Featuring a smart-alecky little kid named Johnny. It's kind of like the old Mutt and Jeff genre.
Johnny on a grown man seems childish as a nn, and very redneck if it's the name on his birth certificate, as if his parents couldn't even be bothered. It's almost as bad as Junior or Buddy or Buster as the full name.
Johnny on a grown man seems childish as a nn, and very redneck if it's the name on his birth certificate, as if his parents couldn't even be bothered. It's almost as bad as Junior or Buddy or Buster as the full name.
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Haha, well, my brother was Johnny and still is to his sisters, my father was called Buddy as a child (Bud as an adult), and my ex is called Buster, but that's not on any of their birth certificates. Full names are, respectively, John, Joseph, and Kenneth. So I guess none of us are rednecks!
Just made this comment because of the coincidence of knowing three different men with the nicknames you mention.
Just made this comment because of the coincidence of knowing three different men with the nicknames you mention.
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our cat is named Buddy...
Because he came from Best Buds. Plant nursery.
My stepfather has friends named Too short, Corky Buckwheat, and Third Thumb. They are all nicknames. Too Short is William and he is very short, even shorter than my stepfather who is about five foot four. Thurd Thumb is also William or Bill, called that because he has torn up so much equipment. Corky is Kenneth and nobody knows or remembers how he came to be Corky. And Buckwheat is Robert, and he came to be Buckwheat because when he was little and living with his grandma, the other kids would come by the house in the morning and ask if Bobby could play. His grandma would say "Yes, as soon as he finishes his buckwheat." And the name stuck like glue.
These are all truck drivers, and some of them are what you might call red, more or less, and I am sure they would not be so widely known by those nicknames if they had taken up other professions, like doctor or teacher or furniture salesman.
Because he came from Best Buds. Plant nursery.
My stepfather has friends named Too short, Corky Buckwheat, and Third Thumb. They are all nicknames. Too Short is William and he is very short, even shorter than my stepfather who is about five foot four. Thurd Thumb is also William or Bill, called that because he has torn up so much equipment. Corky is Kenneth and nobody knows or remembers how he came to be Corky. And Buckwheat is Robert, and he came to be Buckwheat because when he was little and living with his grandma, the other kids would come by the house in the morning and ask if Bobby could play. His grandma would say "Yes, as soon as he finishes his buckwheat." And the name stuck like glue.
These are all truck drivers, and some of them are what you might call red, more or less, and I am sure they would not be so widely known by those nicknames if they had taken up other professions, like doctor or teacher or furniture salesman.
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I used to have a boyfriend nick- named Moose.
And my daughter had a boyfriend nick-named Microbe. Don't know why.His actual name is Andre.
And my daughter had a boyfriend nick-named Microbe. Don't know why.His actual name is Andre.
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I have no problem with an adult being called Johnny. I do, however, prefer that John is used for the birth certificate.
My rule of thumb: It's best to use the formal name on the legal documents (birth and marriage certificates, job applications, school certificates, even health records, etc.) and let nns like Johnny or Jack or Doodlebug or whatever evolve on their own.
My rule of thumb: It's best to use the formal name on the legal documents (birth and marriage certificates, job applications, school certificates, even health records, etc.) and let nns like Johnny or Jack or Doodlebug or whatever evolve on their own.
This message was edited 4/25/2012, 3:11 PM
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Yes, I think it's juvenile. The only grown man who 'works' as Johnny is Johnny Depp, IMHO.
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or Johnny Cash...
Him being a country singer.
Him being a country singer.
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Okay, two guys.
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Does Johnny Carson count?
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You people are killin' me! ;)
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Dude I know tons of grown up Johnnys. But I also live in Alabama
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I've met one grown-up Johnny my whole life. Weird.
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we won't include Johnny Knoxville, since that's a stage name
:)
:)
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