logoalt Hacker News

thihtyesterday at 2:18 PM1 replyview on HN

> Jack for John

Wow, is this one common?


Replies

dghfyesterday at 3:22 PM

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.