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by thiht 37 days ago
> Jack for John

Wow, is this one common?

2 comments

Traditionally, yes; these days, perhaps not so much.

The author Jack London was originally John London. John F. Kennedy was familiarly known as Jack ("Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"). The British racing driver John Stewart is far more commonly known as Jackie Stewart. In Patrick O'Brian's naval fiction, Captain John Aubrey is almost always referred to as Jack.

Somehow nobody knows the ff. are the same:

Hahya Ivan Giovanni Shawn

continued: Yohanan Johann John Jack Sean Evan Ian Jean Juan João Hans Jan Vanya Vano (and I’m not including feminine variants)

Although if we’re talking Hebrew > Greek > European borrowings I’m guessing Chava = Eve is funnier. For bonus funny points, ave (as in Ave Maria or Ave, imperator) comes from essentially the same Hebrew word as well.