Condoms have picked up a lot of nicknames over the centuries - johnnies, french letters, rubbers, sheaths. Each one has a story behind it, and most of those stories stretch back further than you'd expect. The most widely cited explanation for "johnny" is that it traces to British military slang from around World War II, though some researchers link it to a 17th-century London apothecary named John Milles who was among the first to sell condoms commercially. Whether one story or both contributed to the term, "johnny" has been firmly British English for condom since at least the 1940s.
What You'll Find in This Article
- Why are condoms called johnnies?
- The "John Milles" apothecary theory
- Other theories: John Thomas and the generic name explanation
- Why are condoms called french letters?
- Why are condoms called rubbers?
- Why are condoms called sheaths?
- Condom slang around the world
- "Something for the weekend, sir"
- A brief history of condoms
Condom Slang in Plain English
"Johnny" has been British slang for condom since at least World War II, when it appeared in forces vernacular as both "johnny" and "rubber johnny". The term likely stuck because "johnny" was already used informally to mean a fellow, a stranger, or something generic - the same logic behind calling an unknown man a "john." Other British terms tell similar stories: "french letter" emerged in the 18th century when French-made condoms were imported, wrapped like letters; "rubber" arrived with vulcanised latex in the 1840s; and "sheath" is a straightforward description of a protective covering. None of these terms are particularly polite - they were all ways of naming something people felt awkward naming directly. Today the slang is mostly affectionate, occasionally embarrassing, and entirely part of the language.
Why Are Condoms Called Johnnies?
The most common theory links the term to a real person. John Milles was a London apothecary in the 17th century, reportedly one of the first to sell condoms commercially in Britain. The story goes that his product became so closely associated with his name that customers began asking for "John Milles" or "Johnny Mills," which over time shortened to simply "johnnies."
There are reasons to treat this with some caution. Historical records from the period are patchy, and no contemporary document has been found that definitively connects Milles to the coinage. The term does appear to have been in use before the 20th century, but the John Milles story may be as much folk etymology as documented history.
A more solidly documented origin places the term in World War II British forces slang. The expression "rubber johnny" was recorded in this era, and the simpler "johnny" followed. By the time latex had replaced natural rubber in most condoms, "rubber" had already become part of the phrase - which is why "rubber johnny" sounds slightly odd but everyone knows exactly what it means.
The "Generic Name" Theory
There is a third explanation worth knowing. In British English, "johnny" has long been used to refer to a man whose name you don't know, a stranger, or something anonymous and disposable. The same instinct gave us "John Doe" in American English. On this reading, calling a condom a "johnny" is less about any specific John and more about the habit of giving unfamiliar or unnamed things a generic bloke's name. It fits neatly with how slang actually develops - not through one inventor, but through gradual drift in casual speech.
The John Thomas Connection
Some sources suggest a link to "John Thomas," D.H. Lawrence's term for penis in Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928). The logic is that "johnny," as a diminutive of "John," picked up the same euphemistic associations. This is probably a secondary reinforcement rather than a primary origin - the term existed before Lawrence - but it may have helped it stick.
Why Are Condoms Called French Letters?
"French letter" has been in British use since the 18th century, and the origin is fairly straightforward. French-made condoms, crafted from animal intestine, were imported to England and wrapped in paper packages - small sealed parcels that looked, not unreasonably, like letters. English buyers who ordered them from France would await their "letters from France," and the nickname followed.
The French, for their part, called the same objects "capotes anglaises" (English cloaks), which shows the same dynamic operating in reverse. Each country blamed the other. This kind of linguistic finger-pointing around taboo objects is extremely common - see also "French disease" for syphilis, which the French called "the Neapolitan disease."
The term "french letter" has become rarer in recent decades. You'll hear it occasionally from older generations but rarely in everyday conversation now.
Why Are Condoms Called Rubbers?
"Rubber" arrived with the material. Before the mid-19th century, condoms were made from animal intestines, linen, or lambskin. In 1839, Charles Goodyear developed vulcanised rubber - a process that made natural rubber far more durable and elastic. Rubber condoms went into commercial production and quickly became standard.
Calling them "rubbers" was simply descriptive. The term stuck particularly firmly in North America, where it remains the most common informal term. In the UK, "rubber" can cause confusion since the word primarily means eraser. This has led to a few transatlantic misunderstandings in schools.
Why Are Condoms Called Sheaths?
"Sheath" is one of the oldest and most literal terms for a condom. A sheath is a protective covering - originally for a sword or blade. The word comes from Old English and has been in use in this sense for over a thousand years.
In the context of condoms, "sheath" was used in medical and official writing when other terms were considered too informal. The WHO and various public health bodies still use "male condom sheath" in technical documentation. It describes exactly what the product is: a close-fitting protective covering.
Incidentally, if you Google the Latin word for sheath, Google Translate returns "vagina" - which is the original Latin meaning, also describing a scabbard or covering. The words share a root, which tells you something about how the Romans thought about anatomy.
Condom Slang Around the World
Britain has no monopoly on creative condom vocabulary. Here is a brief tour:
France and French-speaking countries - "capote" (hood or cape). Formally "preservatif," which also means food preservative, leading to occasional confusion at dinner tables.
Germany and Scandinavia - "Gummi" (rubber). Denmark uses "gummimand" (rubber man), which takes the abstraction in an unexpected direction.
Brazil - "camisinha" (little shirt). Informal, slightly affectionate, and entirely accurate.
China - "baoxi'an" (insurance glove). Functional and pragmatic.
Italy - "preservativo," same dual meaning problem as France.
Arabic-speaking countries - "waaqi" from the verb meaning to prevent or protect.
The pattern is consistent: condom slang is either material-based (rubber, gummi), function-based (preservatif, waaqi), or shape/covering-based (sheath, camisinha, capote). "Johnny" is relatively unusual in being name-based - which is part of what makes it so distinctly British.
"Something for the Weekend, Sir?"
This phrase became a cultural reference point in the mid-20th century. Barbers - particularly in the 1950s - would quietly offer condoms to male customers at the end of a haircut, with the question "something for the weekend, sir?" as a euphemism. It was discreet enough to pass over the heads of anyone nearby who was not supposed to hear.
The phrase worked precisely because condoms could not be discussed openly in many contexts. Asking for them by name in a shop was considered embarrassing enough that euphemisms served a genuine social function. Today, you can buy condoms online with plain-packaging delivery and no awkward interactions required.
The History of Condoms
The johnny-by-any-other-name story is older than most people realise. Evidence of condom-like devices goes back to ancient Egypt, where linen sheaths have been found. Greek and Roman physicians wrote about using animal bladders as a protective measure. By the Renaissance, linen condoms soaked in chemical solutions were being used across Europe.
The modern condom as we know it began with vulcanised rubber in the 1840s and reached something close to its current form with the arrival of latex in the 1920s. Latex was lighter, stronger, and more comfortable than rubber. Mass production made condoms cheap enough to be widely accessible, and the 20th century saw them become central to both contraception and STI prevention.
Today, condoms remain among the most reliable forms of dual protection - against both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Whatever you call them.
In Summary
The word "johnny" is probably a product of British forces slang from World War II, possibly reinforced by older folk etymology linking it to a London apothecary. The other main British terms tell clearer stories: "french letter" from the imported parcels that arrived from France, "rubber" from the material that replaced animal gut, and "sheath" from plain description. Globally, every culture has developed its own vocabulary for the same object - which says something about how universal the product is, and how universal the discomfort around naming it directly used to be.
If you're looking to stock up, our full condom range covers every type including non-spermicidal options if you or your partner have a sensitivity concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a johnny a condom?
Yes. Johnny is British slang for a condom and has been since at least the 1940s. You'll hear it on its own or as "rubber johnny", and both mean the same thing. It's informal without being crude, which is why it turns up in ordinary conversation far more often than the word condom does, whatever the box in our condom range actually says on it.
What does "johnny" mean in British slang?
Away from condoms, johnny is an old British way of referring to a man whose name you don't know. It's the same habit that gave American English "John Doe". The word has carried that sense of an anonymous bloke for centuries, which is probably part of why it ended up attached to condoms. Context sorts it out, and nobody in a pharmacy is confused about which meaning you want.
Where does the word "condom" come from?
Nobody's certain, and most dictionaries record the origin as unknown. The story you'll see repeated is that a Dr Condom supplied them to Charles II, but no record of that person has ever turned up and etymologists treat it as invention. A Latin root, condus, meaning a vessel or store, is a more plausible candidate without being proven. It's one of those words whose history got lost while everyone was too embarrassed to write it down.
What do British people call condoms?
Johnny is the most common informal term, usually on its own or as rubber johnny. Rubber gets used too, though nowhere near as much as in North America where it's the default. French letter still turns up from older speakers. Sheath belongs to medical and official writing rather than conversation. Plenty of people just say condom, which has lost most of its clinical edge over the past few decades.
What were french letters made of?
Animal intestine, usually sheep, cleaned and softened and then tied at the open end. They were washed and reused, which sounds grim now but made sense given what they cost. Linen versions existed as well, sometimes soaked in a chemical solution. Rubber didn't arrive until the 1840s and latex not until the 1920s, which is where every thin feel condom on the market today traces back to.
Why are they called rubber johnnies?
The rubber half is a leftover from the material. Condoms were made from vulcanised rubber from the 1840s onwards, so rubber became a way of naming them, and British slang stacked it on top of johnny. Latex replaced rubber decades ago and the phrase stayed exactly where it was. Slang does that. The words outlive the thing that made them make sense.
Are condoms called jimmies?
Not in Britain. Jimmy hat, usually shortened to jimmy, is American slang that came out of US hip hop vocabulary in the late 1980s. You'll hear it in films and music rather than in a British pharmacy. The logic behind it is the same as johnny though: take an ordinary first name and attach it to something people would rather not say out loud.
Are condoms still made of rubber?
Not in the way they once were. Almost everything sold today is latex, which comes from the rubber tree but is processed very differently from the vulcanised rubber of the 19th century. Latex is much thinner and stronger. If latex is a problem for you or your partner, non-latex condoms are made from polyisoprene or polyurethane instead.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have any concerns about your sexual health, speak to your GP or visit a sexual health clinic.
