Is Jack too popular of a name?

[Anonymous]

I don't like the name John, but love the name Jack. We named our son Jack. I agree with the PP that you should name your child what you want to call them, not a name for which you like the nickname.

And for what it's worth, after 3 years in daycare and preschool, my son has been the only Jack in both schools (including children in all classes!).

[Anonymous]

Our 4 y/o son is Jack. Named after his great grandfather, it's a timeless, classic name. Only trouble was when we had our second boy and had to come up with an equally fantastic name. Also, he's in his 3rd year of preschool (2,3,4) and has been the only Jack each year in his class. Go for it, it's a great name!

[Anonymous]

My son is John and named for his grandfather who always went as Jack. We planned to call him Jack but our oldest insisted his name is John not Jack so we call him John John (which is what JFK JR went by). I love Jack. I love John. It's a solid name. If you love it, use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is definitely popular. Some just name their kids Jack, and I've heard is as a nickname for John, Jackson, and even Jacob.

It sucks, because it was my grandfather's name and I'd love to use it, but I don't like the idea of him being one of 5 Jacks in class.

Actually Jack is a pretty common nickname for Jacob among Jews.

I'm Jewish and can think of 3-4 Jacobs or Jakes off the top of my head, but nobody who uses Jack for Jacob. I do, however, know plenty of people who use Jack for Jackson or just name their kid Jack. It's REALLY common.

I'm not disputing that there are plenty of Jackson's who are called Jack as well as Jack as their full. But I'm Jewish too and I can think of 4 Jewish Jacob's who go by Jack (Jacob Javits, Jacob Lew (current Deputy Secretary of State), my grandfather, and a family friend).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a few Jacksons who might occasionally go by Jack, don't know any little Johns who go by Jack. There are plenty of people with common names, and it's a common classic name, so I say go for it.

Sorry, as a mom of a Jack this is my pet peeve (and no offense to you, PP) -- Jack is actually a classic nickname for John (think Jack Kennedy). Drives me batty when I tell people our son is named John and we call him "Jack," and they ask why.

Sorry, but Johns don't "own" Jack. If a kid is named Jackson of course they are going to use the nickame Jack.

Personally, I believe in just naming the kid what you want to call him. If I wanted to call my son Jack, that's what I would name him.

You missed the point -- of course a kid named Jackson may well go by Jack. Was just pointing out the historic John-Jack connection.

Right, sorry, misread your post.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely second the poster who said that Jack is not as common as peoplle think. There was not another Jack in all his three preschool classes, nor his K class (we live in Potomac). I do hear it for older kids and some younger, but go with it (like we did) despite what people say!

[Anonymous]

I personally know four Jacks in my circle of friends and acquaintances (5 and under crowd). By far the boy name I hear most often. That said, it's a great name. So who cares. Use it if you like it.

[Anonymous]

I think names cluster a lot. When DC was in preschool, there were lots of girls named Zoe. Now that we've moved and DC is in a different school (still in the DC metro area), we see a lot of girls named Clara. No Zoes. I've heard Jack quite a bit at one of the schools, but not so much at the other.

I'm with the PP who said that there's nothing wrong with a classic name that happens to be popular. If you want to call your son Jack, go for it! It's a great name (or nickname).

[Anonymous]

"so we call him John John (which is what JFK JR went by). "

A myth.

[Anonymous]

I know way too many boys called Jack and Will. John, funny enough, is very unusual in boys now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a few Jacksons who might occasionally go by Jack, don't know any little Johns who go by Jack. There are plenty of people with common names, and it's a common classic name, so I say go for it.

Sorry, as a mom of a Jack this is my pet peeve (and no offense to you, PP) -- Jack is actually a classic nickname for John (think Jack Kennedy). Drives me batty when I tell people our son is named John and we call him "Jack," and they ask why.

My Jack is a John, named after my grandfather, who actually went by George, but that's another story Jack is a nickname for John, but some people aren't aware of that. Both my husband and I loved the name Jack, so Jack it was.

[Anonymous]

I have a Jack and while I agree the name is popular, he's always been the only Jack in his class. (He's one of two Jack's in his elementary school.) Meanwhile every year he has had more than one Max in his class. I was concerned about the name Jack being too common but that hasn't been an issue.

[Anonymous]

It seems that every other episode of a Baby Story or Bringing home baby has a "Jack". It's definitely used quite a bit. But it's your kid so as long as you like it. Go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know way too many boys called Jack and Will. John, funny enough, is very unusual in boys now.

I have a Will (5) and we are in a nanny share with a Jack (almost 4). My son has a Jackson in his K class. We, too, wanted a name that was classic and would stand the test of time. For us, William (Will) was it. I think John/Jack is the same type of name. Yes, there may be 1 or 2 kids in the class with the same name, but that is no big deal. Growing up there was always another person with the same first name as I have - teachers just used our last initials to differentiate, but it didn't really matter.

[Anonymous]

I think name popularity is regional too. I thought DD had a popular name and I said something to my OB along those lines when I went in for DC#2 and she told me it is a lovely, old fashioned name that isn't really all that popular "around here". I guess she would know because she works in a large practice at a large hospital!