[Dawn]

Hello,

Bon Jovi is taken from Jons surname. Its Italian and I think Bon Jovi means Good Jon.

The name actually sounds rather European to me. Do you think that the name has hindered their success ?

BJ have never been considered in general as a rock group , I wonder if they had a name like Whitesnake , Deep Purple, Anthrax ETC, if this would have given them more credibility?

Over the years the person that seems to take the mickey out of the name the most is Richie, its as if he's uncomfortable saying Bon Jovi, so he usually puts on some stupid accent when he mentions it. David sounds the most serious when ever its mentioned like he is talking about a work contract.

So do you like the name Bon Jovi ?

Dawn

[allmike]

I love that name. And don't want any other name to attach to it. I don't see how it would change if they had different name.

[Keeper]

I don't think the original Bongiovi means Good Jon, though. That would be very weird! I can't speak Italian, but Good Jon would be Buon Giani or something like that.

As for the name - I don't think it sounds all that European. I like it, think it's very original and makes a good trade mark too

[Sambo-Chris]

Since the name Bongiovi is a European name, i.e. Italian one, of course Bon Jovi sounds somehow European, since it is just a slightly change of Bongiovi. But a lot of names in the USA sounds European since there are loads of people with European roots. It's just natural.

I don't know what Bongiovi means but it doesn't mean Good Jon. I heard it would mean something like Good life but I cound't find a translation for Giovi on the net. Why should the name hindered their success? I mean they are one of the most successfull rockbands, you nearly can't have more success as a band than they have. And when you think the name sounds strange, a band with all male members calling Queen is way more strange.

[Javier]

when I first heard Bon Jovi I didn't even know that could be a name.
I thought it was a very weird polish food,(though i was about 8 or 9 years old at that time)
Then i asked my mom and well the mistery unfolded from there.

[Becky]

It's a great name BECAUSE it doesn't fit specifically into one genre. How long could the New KIDS on the Block be successful? Metallica, Megadeath, Slayer... they couldn't exactly be country acts. I wonder if Pink is tired of being called by a color? How long is Lil' Romeo going to be "lil"? What about Boys II Men... II Midlife Crisis?

Given that Bon Jovi's success has been worldwide, it doesn't seem to have inhibited their career at all.

Becky

[Edwin]

I don't think it has anything to do woth it. It's just the ring I think. Van Halen is a Dutch name and is pronounced very differt then we Dutch would do. And I think they were bigger in the US than in Europe.

[Plien]

I've read once that "bon jovus" means nice voice....

Personally I don't like band names which are derived from a person's name... but I don't think a name can influence the success... What's in a name? Don't judge a book by it's cover...

[Edwin]

Originally Posted by Plien

I've read once that "bon jovus" means nice voice....

Personally I don't like band names which are derived from a person's name... but I don't think a name can influence the success... What's in a name? Don't judge a book by it's cover...

I thought "bono vox" means good voice and that's related to Bono from U2.

[Iceman]

In Latin:
Results for query "bon":

# bona : good qualities, gifts, blessings as well as material properties.
# bonus : good (melior : better / optimus : best ).

In French "bon" means good. Jovi doesn't mean a thing in any know language as such.

Ice