John or Mary - so boring/old fashioned?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
John or Mary - so boring/old fashioned?
9
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 9:02pm
Oh man, I'm all over the place with names. I want to (and feel obligated at the same time - anyone in that boat?) name my next baby (not sure if boy or girl yet) - after one of my parents (either first name - some version... or middle name as a last resort) but my parents names are Mary Ann and John. Those are too boring/old fashioned for my taste.
Any ideas on versions of either that are more interesting?
Thanks for any help and good luck to all of you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2003
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 9:43pm

I know what you mean. But...at least John and Mary are both nice, classic names. John or Johnathan might be a great mn. For Mary, I really love double names that start with Mary:

Mary Paige
Mary Claire
Mary Margaret
Mary Catherine
Mary Carys
Mary Ellen
etc.

Other options are to use the same initials or use a variation--Sean and Ian are both derivatives of John--so that you honor them without using the actual same name.

Good luck!
Mel

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2007
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 9:49pm
I must be boring and old-fashioned because John and Mary are both # 1 on my Baby Names lists. LOL!



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 9:52pm
thanks for the great ideas!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 10:12pm

I actually love Mary -- so sweet, classic, and not remotely as common as it once was. Oddly refreshing after its decades of popularity. ;)


There are plenty of variations I love just as much, however. Maybe one will strike you as more intersting.



  • Moira

  • Maura

  • Miriam

  • Mairenn

  • Mariska

  • Marla

  • Mariah

  • Mara

  • Molly

Plenty more here! http://www.behindthename.com/php/translate.php?terms=mary&menuterm=&menuterm2=&gender=both


We've been seeing plenty of Ann variations as well, if you'd like to use something like that in her honor. Aine, Annorah, Alannah, Annelise, Annabel, etc. http://www.behindthename.com/php/translate.php?terms=ann&menuterm=&menuterm2=&gender=both


John has some great options, too.



  • Jack (of course, though I'd probably use John for your father, with Jack as the nn)

  • Evan

  • Ian/Iain

  • Sean

  • Shane

  • Eoin (said like Owen)

  • Giovanni

  • Jonas

  • Bevan (son of Evan/John)

  • Johnson

  • Johnston

  • Jackson (the -son names, especially Jackson, feel rather trendy, but it's refreshing when used to actually honor someone named John, KWIM? )

  • Jenkins (little Jen/John)

  • Jones

  • MacEoin/McKowen (sounds like Mc-Owen, basically means "son of John")

  • McLain (again, basically "son of the servant of John")

  • Malone ("disciple of St. John")

  • Evan(s)

  • Evanson

Yet another list. ;) http://www.behindthename.com/php/translate.php?terms=john&menuterm=&menuterm2=&gender=both


You might also use a feminine form of John, like Jane, Joan, Sinead, Siobhan


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 10:18pm
Then there's my favorite way-out form of John, through Ifan, the Welsh form: Ianto (pr. yan-to.)
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
Sat, 05-12-2007 - 8:47am
Wow - you are super knowledgeable! Thank you for all the info and ideas!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Sat, 05-12-2007 - 9:52am

I suggest to pick a name you love and use a family name as the mn... that way everyone is happy.

-Nikki
http://destastory.blogspot.com/


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sat, 05-12-2007 - 10:19am
You're welcome ... but you have Behind the Name to thank for the extensive lists (I wouldn't have known many of the other forms, besides the favorites I listed). ;)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Sat, 05-12-2007 - 11:39am

Hi,


I'm just a lurker but had to chime in.