melissaadrian
Nobility
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2011
- Messages
- 385
- City
- snowsville
- Country
- Canada
You are right in saying John has never been short for anything in English. John and Johannes both come from the Latin Ioannes. See here: Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name John (that website is probably the most reliable name etymology website on the internet).
Jack is an English diminutive form, Ian is the Scottish form, and Seán is the Irish form of John (Shawn is the Anglicized form of Seán). Ewan is actually not related to John, although it sounds like Ioan, the Welsh form of John.
If you couldn't tell, name etymology and usage is my pet hobby.
I write fanfic, and I always give my characters who have a baby, a baby name with meaning. My reviewers always like the little explanation of what the name means and why I chose it. Behind the names is actually bookmarked on my computer, I use it all the time, that and baby names.com. And you're right, Jack is a diminutive not a variation.
I agree with Anna, I love the idea of switching female/male. I have a feeling though the little boy will be Friedrick and little girl Mary for middle names but can hope.
But I think Bendt is the Danish masculine form of Benedikte though.
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