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AIBU?

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Original poster

Banana Jean Agnes or Banana Agnes Jean

141 replies

greglet · 25/08/2025 16:16

First name is not actually Banana, obviously, but a three syllable name ending in -a with the same stress pattern. If anyone guesses the name correctly I will confirm; I just don’t want to risk the thread devolving into discussion/criticism of it.

So,
YABU: Banana Jean Agnes
YANBU: Banana Agnes Jean

OP posts:
Delphiniumandlupins · 26/08/2025 08:58

Have a surname that begins with A so definitely looked for names that didn't end with A, which excludes a lot of girl's names. You could swop Nancy for Agnes? Although, as you realise, how often do we need to list all our names?

MyDeftDuck · 26/08/2025 08:57

If the intended first name begins with a consonant then I think Jean Agnes might be preferable to Agnes Jean. Less chance of potential nicknaming to Baj, Haj, Maj, ……..just saying.

tarheelbaby · 26/08/2025 08:48

@OhHellolittleone , some English speakers (not just British ones) do not pronounce R strongly when it's in words and yet add R to words which don't have one, often if the last syllable ends in -a and the next word begins with a vowel. If you are in the US this is a famous Baahhston (Boston) accent and JFK was known for it. The linguistic term for it is 'non-rhotic'.
park - paahhk
parker - paahhkah
father - faarther
Thea - often sounds more like Theer

Often for rhotic speakers, final -a comes out as shwah (that's the -uh sound) but doesn't have an -r sound too
banana - buhnanuh
For the non-rhotics, it actually ends in more of an -r sound if the next word starts with a vowel
banana - buhnannerr, apple,

crumpet · 26/08/2025 08:35

Dc initials are FBA, in that order to avoid the ending/beginning names in a. I have always regretted not using the initials FAB 😄, and the number of times theyve ever had to read out all the names is minuscule so it wouldn’t have been a bother.

hepsitemiz · 26/08/2025 08:31

Alana Jean Agnes. Otherwise you’d have a name ending in A followed by one that begins with A. That makes for an awkward liaison which will probably turn into a glottal stop. Glottal stops have their place, more so in languages like Arabic but even in English sometimes… it’s just that here, between two names, it doesn’t sound great and it’s a tiny bit more awkward to say.

Original poster
greglet · 26/08/2025 08:30

@Ooodelally Mostly just Banana! I think I’m less bothered by the fact that Linnea runs into Agnes in some accents (it doesn’t in mine) because middle names are used so rarely.

@OhHellolittleone Rhotacism is pronouncing an ‘r’ between two vowels :)

OP posts:
Crazybigtoe · 26/08/2025 08:30

Linnea Agnes Jean

It looks nicer when written down.
Because of the a A have to clearly end Linnea before starting to say Agnes... So then each name stands apart. Linnea Jean sounds more Linnea-Jean...

OhHellolittleone · 26/08/2025 08:22

Also I think Agnes Jean is nicer
:)

OhHellolittleone · 26/08/2025 08:22

greglet · 25/08/2025 16:55

@drspouse Yes this is my concern. I have an RP accent and wouldn’t rhotacise the liaison between Banana and Agnes (I’d say “Bananah”), but I’m aware lots of people would. Just interested to see what the majority preference is!

I’ve never heard this called rhotacise… do you mean like the ‘uhr’ sound banan-uhr? I always thought this was called a schwa… but is it a specific thing when the next word starts with a vowel? (I teach phonics but not a
speechie, of course, so interested as you sound like you know what you’re talking about!)

drspouse · 26/08/2025 08:19

bumbaloo · 26/08/2025 07:52

How do you get an R sound? No matter how I say it, I never get an R sound. Where in the country are you from. Ie what accent? Do you end up saying Banana-rag-nes?

Edited
Show quote history

You might not do it in your accent but lots of people do.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Urgmqb41u2w?si=EGtPoWXttU9Q6RAI

bumbaloo · 26/08/2025 07:52

Ikeameatballs · 25/08/2025 16:20

Banana Jean Agnes prevents the “r” sound you can get to stop the name ending in a vowel running into the one that starts with a vowel. Hard to say without know the surname, which I understand you won’t want to disclose! Just make sure you don’t end up with BJAM or BJAR as the initials.

How do you get an R sound? No matter how I say it, I never get an R sound. Where in the country are you from. Ie what accent? Do you end up saying Banana-rag-nes?

ThisKindAmberLemur · 26/08/2025 07:48

Let's hope the first name isn't Virginia and you don't go with Agnes Jean, otherwise their initials will be the death of them at school (and everywhere else for that matter)

AllFours · 26/08/2025 07:45

Linnea Jean Agnes Surname

Flows so much better, cleaner to say out loud and overall sounds nicer!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 26/08/2025 07:44

Why not Banana?

At least you won't have to.come on here saying " Someones pinched MY name!"

🤣

OccasionalHope · 26/08/2025 07:43

Linnea Jean Agnes, I don’t think a name ending a should be followed by another vowel, it feels awkward.

Linnea is lovely btw.

CheeriosOrFrosties · 26/08/2025 07:42

How many syllables is your surname?

Bikergran · 26/08/2025 07:33

Banana Agnes Jean......unless it's Vanessa. Always consider initials and how kids can take the mickey out of anything........

Onefortheroad25 · 26/08/2025 07:32

Banana Agnes Jean flows better.
Please come back and tell us the real name. As much as I like Banana.

Chersfrozenface · 26/08/2025 07:32

Banana Jean Agnes.

Two vowels one after another sounds awkward. And the rhythm 3 - 1 - 2 is better.

Toomanywaterbottles · 26/08/2025 07:26

Banana Agnes Jean definitely flows best.

ColinOfficeTrolley · 26/08/2025 07:17

Jean Agnes.

If the name begins with a V or F , you don't want the initials do be Faj or vaj.

Not that anyone even bothers with middle names. Your child may detest their middle name, (like I do) and not tell anyone about it. The embarrassment of it when I was a youngster and especially a teenager, was so immense.

drhf · 26/08/2025 07:03

What’s the issue with an “r” sound between the two names in some accents when they are said aloud? How often is her full name going to be spoken?

You when you mean business (Linnea Agnes Jean Blank, come here this minute! - and you speak RP so no “r”) and at life events where presumably the celebrant will pronounce her name carefully.

JimmyGiraffe · 26/08/2025 06:12

FattyMcFattyArse · 25/08/2025 16:48

Both Agnes and Jean are not nice names. They don't have any mellifluence - they sound like ugly words when you say them out loud. Agnes especially.

Sorry.

Apologies, I thought the same.

Banana Piraña rocks though!

Ooodelally · 26/08/2025 06:04

End strong with the one syllable is my vote. Will she often be called by all three names? Or just mostly by Banana?

user1492757084 · 26/08/2025 05:49

I prefer Linea Jean Agnes A.
It sounds smarter and more crisp to my ear.

I also like LJAA rather than LAJA - what if she is a larger women?