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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:
SantiagoShaming · 26/08/2025 05:40

I think Agnes is a beautiful name. My great aunt was Agnes and she was fabulous.

The AA problem only matters in some accents. Linnea Agnes Jean sounds better to me but it doesn’t run together the way I’d say it.

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 26/08/2025 05:25

Banana Jean is easier to say. Otherwise the two neighbouring vowels leave you groping for the sounds with your gob open for too long.

nettie434 · 26/08/2025 03:46

Ivenoname · 25/08/2025 16:24

Gosh OP how disappointing!
I thought you were actually thinking of calling her Banana. I mean people have called their children Apple and Peaches so why not a Banana?
Banana Agnes Jean would be my preference.

I am also a bit disappointed the name isn't Banana. I think Banana Agnes Jean flows better

DarklingIlisten · 26/08/2025 03:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ due to privacy concerns.

decenteringmen · 26/08/2025 03:19

heldinadream · 25/08/2025 16:19

Miranda Agnes Jean.
My autocorrect changed Miranda to Piranha. 😂

That's gonna be her Superhero name.

SpidersAreShitheads · 26/08/2025 03:18

I think the people that said the words with longer syllables at the start would be generally correct, but that doesn’t take into account the double a-a sound.

I think Linnea Agnes sounds really awkward and it doesn’t roll off the tongue very well at all.

It’s not the syllables, it’s the a sounds. Having them together is a problem and really doesn’t work.

You’re going to end up with Linnea Ragnes Jean - it sounds like something Scooby Doo would say 😂

If Agnes was a different two-syllable word, like maybe Gracie, then Linnea Gracie Jean would flow beautifully. It’s the double vowels together causing the problem.

(Obviously I’m not suggesting you change Agnes to Gracie!! Just highlighting how different a consonant would sound!)

freerangethighs · 26/08/2025 03:13

Banana Jean Agnes over Banana Agnes Jean, but both are fine. The addition of a specific last name might shift my preference.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 26/08/2025 03:05

Sabina Jean Agnes.

Planesmistakenforstars · 26/08/2025 02:45

I don't think Crapbag for a boy is great. Could you call him Non Linnea?

mathanxiety · 26/08/2025 02:36

Banana Agnes means two As run together, which is unfortunate.

Banana Jean Agnes is much nicer.

Laura95167 · 25/08/2025 18:59

If Bananas name begins with B id not got BJ for initials

Original poster
greglet · 25/08/2025 18:50

@EmotionallyWeird The stress isn’t quite either LIN-ay-a or Lin-AY-a but it’s definitely closer to the latter!

OP posts:
EmotionallyWeird · 25/08/2025 18:40

It would have to be Banana (or Linnea) Jean Agnes for me because I really dislike it when people who don't like the "linking R" leave a massive great hiccup-like pause in the middle of someone's name.

Incidentally, I never knew Linnea was stressed like Banana. I used to know a little girl called that, and although I never heard her say it herself, teachers and other children were stressing it more like Gooseberry. So basically the non-rhotic pronunciation of linear. I bet her parents (at least one of whom was Swedish) were annoyed about that!

RuthW · 25/08/2025 18:00

Julia Agnes Jean sound best to me

WellMaybeYouShouldntBeLivingHeeeeeeee · 25/08/2025 17:58

It’s a lovely name OP. I like Linnea Agnes Jean. Surely people who would make an -r-sound at the end of Linnea are in the minority? More people don’t have that accent than do (I think? Confused)

Original poster
greglet · 25/08/2025 17:53

@Ponoka7 I think this is the way I’m leaning, too.

OP posts:
Original poster
greglet · 25/08/2025 17:52

@harriethoyle Thank you!

@Mochudubh 😂 new ear worm!

@ComtesseDeSpair Both DH and I had a grandmother called Jean (not the same woman!), and my grandmother’s middle name was Agnes. So it’s important to us to use these names - and Agnes is actually climbing in popularity again, although I doubt it’ll ever be top 10!

OP posts:
Trebormints74 · 25/08/2025 17:52

greglet · 25/08/2025 17:11

@EmpressSisi No, although it’s almost an anagram!

Helena Agnes jean

either sound fine and very rarely will
be said anyway !

Ponoka7 · 25/08/2025 17:51

Linnea Agnes Jean flows better.

ComtesseDeSpair · 25/08/2025 17:49

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.

They’re perfectly nice names: hundreds of thousands of women were called Agnes or Jean for decades - because they were considered pretty names. They just aren’t currently fashionable.

And that’s sort of what middle names are for, though. They’re often meaningful family names or with some other significance to acknowledge whilst also being aware that they might not be familiar to your child’s generation’s ears to have as a first name. They’re on your birth certificate and the relatives close to you know what they are; and they can give some surprise to your friends on your wedding day when they hear your full name out loud. They’re a nice nod to tradition.

thinklagoon · 25/08/2025 17:48

greglet · 25/08/2025 17:11

@EmpressSisi No, although it’s almost an anagram!

Ooh, Anagram’s another good name. Banana Anagram Jean.

oviraptor21 · 25/08/2025 17:46

The double a would be a no for me. You either have to have a stop between first and second name or an r.

harriethoyle · 25/08/2025 17:45

I think that’s a very pretty name @greglet - Linnea Agnes Jean gets my vote

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 25/08/2025 17:44

@greglet do you mean the surname is foreign? or is it actually forrin? do you need to use jean or agnes at all???

Mochudubh · 25/08/2025 17:41

Banana Jean's not my lover
If she's a girl, her name it will be the one.
But if not, Crapbag's my son.