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HelpJack as a nickname for John
I recently moved into the dorms for my senior year of college, and everyone's door has a piece of paper with their name on it. One person has 'John' crossed out and 'Jack' written underneath.
This is pretty common where I'm from--Massachusetts. I've known about four or five guys named John who went by Jack. John is also really popular here, more so than most places--2018 was the first ever year it wasn't a top 10 name.
But I've seen people online be very confused by this nickname.
So--where you're from, is this a thing? What do you think about it?
This is pretty common where I'm from--Massachusetts. I've known about four or five guys named John who went by Jack. John is also really popular here, more so than most places--2018 was the first ever year it wasn't a top 10 name.
But I've seen people online be very confused by this nickname.
So--where you're from, is this a thing? What do you think about it?
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Replies
Some people online are capable of being confused by anything. Jack has been a nn for John for centuries, so I think their confusion is a mask for ignorance.
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Hunh! Are there other names in Scotland where someone whose legal name is English will be called by the Scottish version, or is it just John?
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My grandfather was John "Jack" and my son John is named for him. With Jack as a full name and Jackson becoming more popular I think a disconnect has developed for a lot of people.
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Jack is timeless but John is super old-fashioned so maybe they want it to more reflect their age. I've not met a John who isn't a Jonathon under the age of 30.
Still I dont get why all J names are somehow interchangeable like wtf does John and Jack have in common other than their starting letter.
Still I dont get why all J names are somehow interchangeable like wtf does John and Jack have in common other than their starting letter.
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A lot of old nicknames seem totally different from the full name. What does Peggy have in common with Margaret?
Some other nicknames that are a bit of a stretch stretch.
Bob - Robert
Ned - Edward
Billy - William
Dick - Richard
Ted - Theodore
Bessie - Elizabeth
Fanny - Frances
Molly - Mary
Nell -Eleanor
Some other nicknames that are a bit of a stretch stretch.
Bob - Robert
Ned - Edward
Billy - William
Dick - Richard
Ted - Theodore
Bessie - Elizabeth
Fanny - Frances
Molly - Mary
Nell -Eleanor
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(Can’t remember my password on mobile!)
Are you from somewhere other than the US? I assume so, because ‘I’ve not met’ is distinctly foreign sounding to me.
In 2000, John was the #3 boys name in MA, and the #14 boys name in the US. Last year it was the #27 boys name in the US. That is not old fashioned by any possible stretch of the word.
Are you from somewhere other than the US? I assume so, because ‘I’ve not met’ is distinctly foreign sounding to me.
In 2000, John was the #3 boys name in MA, and the #14 boys name in the US. Last year it was the #27 boys name in the US. That is not old fashioned by any possible stretch of the word.
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"I’ve not met" doesn't sound particularly un-American. The USA is a large nation with a lot of regional variations on what is considered common phrasing.
Compared to more trendy names, John does have an old-fashioned, staid, traditional sound. I agree that it is still fairly common though.
Compared to more trendy names, John does have an old-fashioned, staid, traditional sound. I agree that it is still fairly common though.
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That's funny!
Jack is not shorter than John or James but carries a less formalized connotation. As Dorchadas mentioned - diminutives or pet names are related. I have an aunt formally named Elizabeth--who prefers "Liz"; one of her many brothers couldn't pronounce the 'z' portion of Liz, so a childish name form "Lib" developed, yet I am fairly certain she is not the first Elizabeth to (accidentally) be called "Lib". During the past week, I've worn hair down, rather than my wonted formal bun. A colleague mentioned it, and as she did, she gently--perhaps playfully ruffled her fingers through it--and called me Barbie rather than Barbra (she usually calls me Barbra).
Consider Ice Cube's "MLK" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m04b0rRKT6o
"Woke up in the back of a tray
On my way to MLK
That's the county hospital, "Jack"
where ____ die over a little scratch.
Jack is not shorter than John or James but carries a less formalized connotation. As Dorchadas mentioned - diminutives or pet names are related. I have an aunt formally named Elizabeth--who prefers "Liz"; one of her many brothers couldn't pronounce the 'z' portion of Liz, so a childish name form "Lib" developed, yet I am fairly certain she is not the first Elizabeth to (accidentally) be called "Lib". During the past week, I've worn hair down, rather than my wonted formal bun. A colleague mentioned it, and as she did, she gently--perhaps playfully ruffled her fingers through it--and called me Barbie rather than Barbra (she usually calls me Barbra).
Consider Ice Cube's "MLK" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m04b0rRKT6o
"Woke up in the back of a tray
On my way to MLK
That's the county hospital, "Jack"
where ____ die over a little scratch.
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Still I dont get why all J names are somehow interchangeable like wtf does John and Jack have in common other than their starting letter.
A lot, actually. Did you even read the information featured in the entry for Jack? It literally says that the name is derived from a medieval diminutive of John.
A lot, actually. Did you even read the information featured in the entry for Jack? It literally says that the name is derived from a medieval diminutive of John.
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In my experience here in Australia it isn't a common practice anymore. In fact, when a friend named her two sons Jack and Johnny, no-one except me (and you guys on here when I posted it) thought that it was odd to give them (basically) the same name.
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I mean, that *is* where Jack comes from.
Haven't personally known anyone named John who goes by Jack, though.
Haven't personally known anyone named John who goes by Jack, though.
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I know some people from the northeast (Jersey, Philadelphia) who are named John and go by Jack. But these people are in their 70's. And they'd talk about how they were the third or fourth John in their family who went only by Jack. I assumed it was a weird old-people thing. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. They're both one-syllable J names, if someone is going to call their kid "Jack" their whole life then maybe… name them that.
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I know at least one of these people isn't a junior (although oddly, his younger brother is).
Well, how many people slap Chuck on their kid's birth certificate as opposed to Charles? They're both one syllable C names. But one's more formal than the other. Americans like their sons to have formal full names more so than other Anglo countries.
My university has a student directory, so looking at it there's 26 Johns who have put in that they prefer Jack. One is an IV, but if the rest are a Jr./III/IV, they don't have it listed. There's also two Jonathans who prefer Jack, which shows how solid the nickname association is in Massachusetts.
Well, how many people slap Chuck on their kid's birth certificate as opposed to Charles? They're both one syllable C names. But one's more formal than the other. Americans like their sons to have formal full names more so than other Anglo countries.
My university has a student directory, so looking at it there's 26 Johns who have put in that they prefer Jack. One is an IV, but if the rest are a Jr./III/IV, they don't have it listed. There's also two Jonathans who prefer Jack, which shows how solid the nickname association is in Massachusetts.
This message was edited 9/7/2019, 3:09 PM
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I mean I get differentiating different people and having informal versions of names. But John and Jack are just two separate names in my head.. not like say Samuel and Sam or Michael and Mike.
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Yes - yet Rory is frequently independent from Aurora - but it is not always.
It is far easier on others to introduce one's self with a name (form) of preference rather than one's legal name.
If I were Charles and preferred Chuck--and introduced myself accordingly, some would still have the audacity to call me Charlie.
It is far easier on others to introduce one's self with a name (form) of preference rather than one's legal name.
If I were Charles and preferred Chuck--and introduced myself accordingly, some would still have the audacity to call me Charlie.
This message was edited 9/8/2019, 9:35 AM
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I didn't know this was a thing for a long time, and I think I first heard about it in historical fiction. Even then I thought it was a more historical nickname, like Molly and Polly for Mary or Sally for Sarah.
Most people called Jack where I'm from are short for Jackson or else just Jack. Although I recently found out Jack Horner's name is short for John.
Most people called Jack where I'm from are short for Jackson or else just Jack. Although I recently found out Jack Horner's name is short for John.
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My university has a directory and if people have listed a nickname it'll show up, and I was surprised to see there are two Sarahs and a Sara who go by Sally. That was a nickname I thought was dead. One of them is retired but the other two are students.
There's also 26 Johns who go by Jack, and 2 Jonathans.
There's also 26 Johns who go by Jack, and 2 Jonathans.
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