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HelpJack, Henry, or Oliver
If you had to pick between these three, which would you pick and why?
(Jack would be a nickname for John)
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(Jack would be a nickname for John)
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I think that all three are great handsome classics. But all three except Jack and John are so popular I wouldn't use them. I'm guessing popularity doesn't bother you but it does semi-bother me.
If they weren't so popular Oliver would be my favorite followed by Henry. Oliver nn Ollie is just so cute and handsome. Something about the name draws me to it. I always picture a sometimes shy and awkward creative boy. Henry even though it ends in a -y doesn't seem like a nn or immature. It's a strong handsome name that isn't so strong that it comes off brutish. It has a warmth to it and makes me think of shades of rich brown. I picture a noble young man who has strong beliefs that he would stand up for even in the face of adversity. Jack is creative and probably going to become a musician or a comedian some day.
But as I said all of these names are great, John and Jack just are missing something in my opinion since they are only one syllable. As much as I enjoy names like Maeve, Fern, Spruce, Heath, etc... they often feel to me a little off since they are only one syllable and those are some of my favorite one syllable names.
Personally I'd rather just use Jack rather than John nn Jack. I have a lot of John's in my family and as much as I'd love to honor my grandpa John I've always found the name to be a bit bland. Jack has enough history being used as stand alone name that I think it could easily be used on its own. But I am guessing you probably are interested in using John to honor someone and maybe even love the name other than for honoring. If you love both John and Jack then I understand the appeal of using John and having Jack as a nn, that way you get to use both which is a bonus.
Good luck on picking the perfect name for your little boy!
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If they weren't so popular Oliver would be my favorite followed by Henry. Oliver nn Ollie is just so cute and handsome. Something about the name draws me to it. I always picture a sometimes shy and awkward creative boy. Henry even though it ends in a -y doesn't seem like a nn or immature. It's a strong handsome name that isn't so strong that it comes off brutish. It has a warmth to it and makes me think of shades of rich brown. I picture a noble young man who has strong beliefs that he would stand up for even in the face of adversity. Jack is creative and probably going to become a musician or a comedian some day.
But as I said all of these names are great, John and Jack just are missing something in my opinion since they are only one syllable. As much as I enjoy names like Maeve, Fern, Spruce, Heath, etc... they often feel to me a little off since they are only one syllable and those are some of my favorite one syllable names.
Personally I'd rather just use Jack rather than John nn Jack. I have a lot of John's in my family and as much as I'd love to honor my grandpa John I've always found the name to be a bit bland. Jack has enough history being used as stand alone name that I think it could easily be used on its own. But I am guessing you probably are interested in using John to honor someone and maybe even love the name other than for honoring. If you love both John and Jack then I understand the appeal of using John and having Jack as a nn, that way you get to use both which is a bonus.
Good luck on picking the perfect name for your little boy!
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This message was edited 4/28/2020, 1:17 PM
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A few years ago my answer would’ve been Henry without hesitation. Now I oscillate between Henry and Oliver. It annoys me that they’re both so popular in Australia (not sure how it is in your area obviously and maybe this doesn’t bother you?). But at the end of the day I like the nn Ollie better than Harry, so I guess Oliver wins?
Jack is ubiquitous and does nothing for me. Actually I lie, I find Jack grates on my nerves slightly every time I hear it or I roll my eyes!
Jack is ubiquitous and does nothing for me. Actually I lie, I find Jack grates on my nerves slightly every time I hear it or I roll my eyes!
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Boys names are hard!
I guess try and put yourself in your son’s shoes (an absurd exercise I know!). It’s going to be his name after all, not yours (although you’ll certainly be voicing it a lot!).
Popularity is a tough one because local use doesn’t always reflect state or national charts.
I can’t picture Edward on a baby/child (which I know is silly because they don’t stay that way!) but Thomas seems like a more down to earth / approachable name that suits any age.
ETA: I think I remember you wanted to honour someone with an Ed- name? I was going to say it makes a nice, solid middle name choice.
I guess try and put yourself in your son’s shoes (an absurd exercise I know!). It’s going to be his name after all, not yours (although you’ll certainly be voicing it a lot!).
Popularity is a tough one because local use doesn’t always reflect state or national charts.
I can’t picture Edward on a baby/child (which I know is silly because they don’t stay that way!) but Thomas seems like a more down to earth / approachable name that suits any age.
ETA: I think I remember you wanted to honour someone with an Ed- name? I was going to say it makes a nice, solid middle name choice.
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 7:03 PM
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Yes, my dad is Edwin. I'll prob use it for the middle name.
Thanks for your responses!
Thanks for your responses!
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The popularity of Oliver doesn't bother me that much (it doesn't affect my opinion of it, and I don't think it'd be a problem for the kid), but I would hesitate to use a top 10 name myself.
I like Thomas (and Edwin) more than Jack or Henry. They're equally classic but seem less cookie cutter.
I prefer Henry to Edward. I have a hard time picturing a nice Edward...even though my cousin's kid (Grayson) has it as a middle name.
I like Thomas (and Edwin) more than Jack or Henry. They're equally classic but seem less cookie cutter.
I prefer Henry to Edward. I have a hard time picturing a nice Edward...even though my cousin's kid (Grayson) has it as a middle name.
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 6:28 PM
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I’d go with what you love. No matter the popularity, if you don’t LOVE the name and only pick a name because it’s not popular, you’re just hurting yourself... well, not hurting yourself. It’s a missed opportunity for you that you never get back. Give him two middle names...Jack Oliver ____ (variation of your middle name? )
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 4:09 PM
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But it’s not going to be her name, it’s going to be her son’s name and he’s the one that has to live with it.
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I totally agree. But, as an Ashley growing up in the 90’s, I can promise you it never affected my quality of life, and more so, never even bothered me to meet other Ashley’s. I actually only ever went to school with one Ashley, in 12 years of school. I have only ever met two others, being an adult.
I was just trying to make the point that popularity aside, picking a name you love, and won’t regret using, is more important than worrying about if he’ll meet two other Jacks or Henry’s or Oliver’s in kindergarten.
I was just trying to make the point that popularity aside, picking a name you love, and won’t regret using, is more important than worrying about if he’ll meet two other Jacks or Henry’s or Oliver’s in kindergarten.
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I guess popularity influences people differently. For me, constantly hearing a name mentioned in the playground or at school etc. takes the shine off it a little. Each to their own.
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Yeah - there's no way of guessing how your kid will like its own name. When you're choosing the name, you only have your values to draw from.
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Sure, your values probably have the most say in how you choose a name. But so do society’s values?
Popularity lists are basically summaries of which names a society prefers at any time.
So if you wanted your child to have a generally accepted name but not be one of 5 in their class you’d probably pick something ranked in say the 50s-100.
No one is going to name their child Adolf / Adolph for example because society wouldn’t find it acceptable.
(I know that’s an extreme example).
So while you can’t predict if your child would like their name or not, you can sort of guess how society would react to it and how “acceptable” it is as a name in itself perhaps?
Popularity lists are basically summaries of which names a society prefers at any time.
So if you wanted your child to have a generally accepted name but not be one of 5 in their class you’d probably pick something ranked in say the 50s-100.
No one is going to name their child Adolf / Adolph for example because society wouldn’t find it acceptable.
(I know that’s an extreme example).
So while you can’t predict if your child would like their name or not, you can sort of guess how society would react to it and how “acceptable” it is as a name in itself perhaps?
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 11:42 PM
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Yes, but how much you care about society's values, and in what way, is your own value system. So I might purposefully pick something uncommon because I want my child to have a standout name; my sister might pick something more comfortable for the opposite reason; probably neither of us would pick Adolf because the kind of societal reverberance it would have wouldn't resonate with either of our value sets.
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Popularity lists don't predict what proportion of people will like a name.
They only tell you how many, out of a random sample of kids born in 20XX, will have the name.
Like - suppose the name Liam is actually hated, or at least not cared for, by a large majority of people. The tiny minority of people, about 1 in 100 new parents of boys, who LOVE LOVE LOVE Liam, all used it. And the people who dislike it and had sons, used all the other names - anything but Liam. I don't think that's true, but maybe imagining that it were, you can see what I mean, about how popularity doesn't tell you how well-liked or acceptable a name is generally.
I think you're right that we all have a sense of what "society values" though... because our own values/tastes are just society's values, filtered through our personality and limited point of view. So I think we have an intuition about what names should be widely likeable (or not-disliked), at least within the parts of society where people have a lot in common with ourselves.
I care more about avoiding names that I suspect are *dis*liked by a variety of different kinds of people, than I care about avoiding names that are commonly found or too generally liked. Because really, 1 in 100 kids born in a given year, is not even one per classroom, and that's about the rate for the top 2 or 3 names. Yet, I still do that thing, like you say you do - I'll lose some interest in a name because I see it high on the chart!
They only tell you how many, out of a random sample of kids born in 20XX, will have the name.
Like - suppose the name Liam is actually hated, or at least not cared for, by a large majority of people. The tiny minority of people, about 1 in 100 new parents of boys, who LOVE LOVE LOVE Liam, all used it. And the people who dislike it and had sons, used all the other names - anything but Liam. I don't think that's true, but maybe imagining that it were, you can see what I mean, about how popularity doesn't tell you how well-liked or acceptable a name is generally.
I think you're right that we all have a sense of what "society values" though... because our own values/tastes are just society's values, filtered through our personality and limited point of view. So I think we have an intuition about what names should be widely likeable (or not-disliked), at least within the parts of society where people have a lot in common with ourselves.
I care more about avoiding names that I suspect are *dis*liked by a variety of different kinds of people, than I care about avoiding names that are commonly found or too generally liked. Because really, 1 in 100 kids born in a given year, is not even one per classroom, and that's about the rate for the top 2 or 3 names. Yet, I still do that thing, like you say you do - I'll lose some interest in a name because I see it high on the chart!
This message was edited 4/28/2020, 1:08 AM
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Yeah I knew my wires had crossed somewhere so to speak! I knew I’d gone off track when I used such an extreme example. That will teach me (hopefully) - trying to be coherent when I was already mentally exhausted at the end of the day lol.
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Oliver isn't a name I like. Henry vs. Jack is a harder choice.
I would probably go for Henry, it feels more solid, earthy, and handsome to me. Jack has a lighter and more spritely feel that doesn't appeal, but calling John Jack was a distinct possibility early on, so it seems odd to say I'd choose something else in lieu of it.
I would probably go for Henry, it feels more solid, earthy, and handsome to me. Jack has a lighter and more spritely feel that doesn't appeal, but calling John Jack was a distinct possibility early on, so it seems odd to say I'd choose something else in lieu of it.
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They are all lovely names.
Oliver and Jack are really insanely popular here (Oliver in particular) so that sorta wrecks Oliver in particular for me. I don't really love John "Jack". I'd be more inclined to just have Jack.
Henry is also hugely popular here but really only for the under 6s. Theodora has a Henry in music, dancing, swimming and 2 at school! However, I think it's really handsome and classic.
Really all 3 names will stand the test of time and not be trendy or dated, so you can't really go wrong.
Oliver and Jack are really insanely popular here (Oliver in particular) so that sorta wrecks Oliver in particular for me. I don't really love John "Jack". I'd be more inclined to just have Jack.
Henry is also hugely popular here but really only for the under 6s. Theodora has a Henry in music, dancing, swimming and 2 at school! However, I think it's really handsome and classic.
Really all 3 names will stand the test of time and not be trendy or dated, so you can't really go wrong.
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All great names, hard to choose, I think Henry, a great classic name
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Probably Oliver. There's things I don't like about it but if I had to use one of these on an actual kid that's what I'd pick. It kind of just makes me think of olives and Oliver Twist but that's not terrible. It's also pretty friendly. Jack could be friendlier, but Oliver is smarter.
I hate Henry, it just sounds like the name of a terrible person to me. Most of its nicknames are even worse, except Harry but I think I only like/tolerate Harry because I got used to seeing it while reading Harry Potter.
Jack isn't bad, and John "Jack" is kind of a cool throwback (at least where I live it would be somewhat unexpected), but it doesn't stand out in any way and it's sort of a filler name, like the John Doe of anecdotes.
I hate Henry, it just sounds like the name of a terrible person to me. Most of its nicknames are even worse, except Harry but I think I only like/tolerate Harry because I got used to seeing it while reading Harry Potter.
Jack isn't bad, and John "Jack" is kind of a cool throwback (at least where I live it would be somewhat unexpected), but it doesn't stand out in any way and it's sort of a filler name, like the John Doe of anecdotes.
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I’m going with Oliver, but I mostly only like it as a middle name.
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I'd pick John, nn Jack. Gives him more options for nns if Jack doesn't suit; and Jack just has more snap to it. Henry is okay but kind of buttoned-up, and I have never liked Oliver, it sounds like something slithery and oily.
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I love all three, but Henry gets my vote. It makes me think of Henry Cavill as Superman! His British accent makes it sound even better, imo. Henry feels stalwart and handsome to me, whereas Oliver feels a bit quirkier, and Jack feels rougher. All things I love about each name, but Henry feels warmer overall to me. You can't go wrong though!
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I dislike Henry and would never consider it. It comes across as weak and dithery. Harry as a nn is better, but not good enough. If I wanted Harry, I'd start with Harold, or probably Harald.
Oliver is really, really appealing. Ollie isn't. So, I'd use Oliver happily enough as a mn only.
So, John, nn Jack! I like it very much, it's a family name from way back, and though I don't mind John on its own at all - I really do like it - in today's world it's so uncommon compared to Jonathan (which I find wimpy) that I think a young John who went by John would spend a lot of time explaining. Jack is all nn in my head, but it's a nn I'd happily use and, if I were male, happily answer to. Jack, all the way!
Oliver is really, really appealing. Ollie isn't. So, I'd use Oliver happily enough as a mn only.
So, John, nn Jack! I like it very much, it's a family name from way back, and though I don't mind John on its own at all - I really do like it - in today's world it's so uncommon compared to Jonathan (which I find wimpy) that I think a young John who went by John would spend a lot of time explaining. Jack is all nn in my head, but it's a nn I'd happily use and, if I were male, happily answer to. Jack, all the way!
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Jack for John.
Short reason why: It's just the one I'd use. They're all good names.
My responses to these names ...
I agree with honeypie about Oliver - I get a "slimy" feeling from the sound of it. Also it sounds to me like "all of her" or "all over" and I can't unhear it, and that'd make it a little bit funny to me, every day I had to call a guy that. And I don't like Ollie at all. Ew.
It's also a "serious" and "intelligent" sounding name, to me - kind of a similar vibe to Norman. That doesn't make it less likeable, but Jack sounds more to me like he can be fun and laid-back.
Henry is similar to Jack because it sounds friendly and traditional. But it's different. Less youthful? It's more "19th century" to me, and kind of "farmer"-ish ... quiet reliable hard working family man. I guess that's irrelevant to how I feel about it on a real young person, but anyway that's the image inside me. I think it sounds sort of like Clara or George - or Oliver for that matter - antique chic, in a basically appealing way, not pretentious.
I think the biggest reason I don't favor Henry myself, is just the sound of HEN. I don't love how it feels to say names that start with HEH.
Jack has something the other two lack imo - a feeling of energetic youth and sex appeal, in addition to being masculine, traditional sounding and warm. Its generic-ness makes it feel to me like a protagonist name somehow, foregroundy. Another thing about it - I sometimes feel it's slightly playful to address someone as "Jack." You just slip out the back, Jack. It's alright, Jack. I'm not sure whether or not I'd notice that or not, if I knew a Jack.
Jack for John also has the advantage of being able to choose John or Johnny any time he wants.
Short reason why: It's just the one I'd use. They're all good names.
My responses to these names ...
I agree with honeypie about Oliver - I get a "slimy" feeling from the sound of it. Also it sounds to me like "all of her" or "all over" and I can't unhear it, and that'd make it a little bit funny to me, every day I had to call a guy that. And I don't like Ollie at all. Ew.
It's also a "serious" and "intelligent" sounding name, to me - kind of a similar vibe to Norman. That doesn't make it less likeable, but Jack sounds more to me like he can be fun and laid-back.
Henry is similar to Jack because it sounds friendly and traditional. But it's different. Less youthful? It's more "19th century" to me, and kind of "farmer"-ish ... quiet reliable hard working family man. I guess that's irrelevant to how I feel about it on a real young person, but anyway that's the image inside me. I think it sounds sort of like Clara or George - or Oliver for that matter - antique chic, in a basically appealing way, not pretentious.
I think the biggest reason I don't favor Henry myself, is just the sound of HEN. I don't love how it feels to say names that start with HEH.
Jack has something the other two lack imo - a feeling of energetic youth and sex appeal, in addition to being masculine, traditional sounding and warm. Its generic-ness makes it feel to me like a protagonist name somehow, foregroundy. Another thing about it - I sometimes feel it's slightly playful to address someone as "Jack." You just slip out the back, Jack. It's alright, Jack. I'm not sure whether or not I'd notice that or not, if I knew a Jack.
Jack for John also has the advantage of being able to choose John or Johnny any time he wants.
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 12:33 PM
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Oliver - I prefer the sound of it to the other names, even though it is really popular where I am (number one).
Jack would be my second choice but only if it was a name in it's own right. I don't care for it as a nickname for John. A few years ago I was sick of the name Jack as it was number one forever here, but now I can appreciate it and can also understand why it became popular.
Henry - I know a lot of little Henrys (it seems to be the default name for middle class parents to choose) so I'm getting a bit bored of it. Also I find it to be a bit pompous sounding.
Jack would be my second choice but only if it was a name in it's own right. I don't care for it as a nickname for John. A few years ago I was sick of the name Jack as it was number one forever here, but now I can appreciate it and can also understand why it became popular.
Henry - I know a lot of little Henrys (it seems to be the default name for middle class parents to choose) so I'm getting a bit bored of it. Also I find it to be a bit pompous sounding.
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Henry! This is my current favorite. It is popular around the US (but less so than the other two options), but I have never met someone with this name. I think it ages so well too.
Jack would be my second choice. I think it suits babies, kids, teens, adults, and elders, so that's nice.
Oliver would be last because I cannot see it on an adult man!
Jack would be my second choice. I think it suits babies, kids, teens, adults, and elders, so that's nice.
Oliver would be last because I cannot see it on an adult man!
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Jack, for sure.
I actually love all three, but Jack is my favorite.
I don’t care as much for John, so I would go with Jack as the full name. I really can’t give so many reasons why? I’ve just always loved Jack/Jackson since I was a kid. It’s the one boy name ive always liked and never gotten tired of.
Henry is cute, handsome, whatever. Classic and solid.
Oliver is adorable, impish, and sweet. Handsome on a man and just as cute on a boy.
I actually love all three, but Jack is my favorite.
I don’t care as much for John, so I would go with Jack as the full name. I really can’t give so many reasons why? I’ve just always loved Jack/Jackson since I was a kid. It’s the one boy name ive always liked and never gotten tired of.
Henry is cute, handsome, whatever. Classic and solid.
Oliver is adorable, impish, and sweet. Handsome on a man and just as cute on a boy.
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Oliver. I like them all, but I love Oliver. It's been one of my favorites for years, and one I strongly considered for my son. I honestly dislike my son's name, and I like Oliver more and think it would suit him. It's handsome, classic, perfect for a young boy as well as an adult.
John is boring, and I dislike Jack as a nickname for it. So for me it would be a choice between Oliver and Henry, which also is a great name with fantastic nicknames (Harry, Hank and especially Huck).
John is boring, and I dislike Jack as a nickname for it. So for me it would be a choice between Oliver and Henry, which also is a great name with fantastic nicknames (Harry, Hank and especially Huck).
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That's interesting, disliking your son's name. How did that come about? Do you think you would ever consider changing it?
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I've made multiple posts here during his first year about changing it. I've realized I'm not going to change it though.
I dunno...I guess I just feel like Hugo is a good name for someone else's child, but it's boring and not something I ever imagined naming my son. And possibly somewhat awkward sounding when I say it, or maybe that's just in my head because I'm not so sure about his name.
I love him more than anything, but I think I will always be sad that he ended up with the name he did and blaming myself (and somewhat my mom) for being too quick on deciding on a name after birth.
I dunno...I guess I just feel like Hugo is a good name for someone else's child, but it's boring and not something I ever imagined naming my son. And possibly somewhat awkward sounding when I say it, or maybe that's just in my head because I'm not so sure about his name.
I love him more than anything, but I think I will always be sad that he ended up with the name he did and blaming myself (and somewhat my mom) for being too quick on deciding on a name after birth.
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I wonder how I missed those posts! Hm. Well, that's interesting and maybe too bad. I wonder if you'll like it more on him later.
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Henry, I think it has an elegance and a timelessness to it. It soft but there’s also strength in its sound.
Oliver is unpleasant to me, probably due to overexposure. It’s sort of slimy, like seaweed.
I could live probably quite happily with John. I haven’t met an extraordinary amount of them and it’s a stand-up-straight sort of name. Jack bores me to tears, I’ve met and known dozens.
Oliver is unpleasant to me, probably due to overexposure. It’s sort of slimy, like seaweed.
I could live probably quite happily with John. I haven’t met an extraordinary amount of them and it’s a stand-up-straight sort of name. Jack bores me to tears, I’ve met and known dozens.
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Henry since it's the lest common where I live. The other ones are too boring at this point.
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Oliver, because I've just always liked the sound of it. It doesn't hurt that I prefer the meaning, and it feels brighter than Henry though not necessarily Jack.
Henry's respectable but feels cliche to me in a stuffy-monotonous way.
I don't mind the sound of Jack, but it annoys me stylistically because of Stonewall Jackson and lumberjacks. It screams look how ordinary and traditional and strong I am...and my reaction's like, why are you screaming; Joe is quieter, John is steadier, and Jay is more fun to be around. Also it feels vaguely 90s-00s fangirlish (Jack Dawson, Jack Sparrow).
Henry's respectable but feels cliche to me in a stuffy-monotonous way.
I don't mind the sound of Jack, but it annoys me stylistically because of Stonewall Jackson and lumberjacks. It screams look how ordinary and traditional and strong I am...and my reaction's like, why are you screaming; Joe is quieter, John is steadier, and Jay is more fun to be around. Also it feels vaguely 90s-00s fangirlish (Jack Dawson, Jack Sparrow).
This message was edited 4/27/2020, 11:16 AM
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I’m inclined to pick Henry, it’s the most interesting and fresh of the three.
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