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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Jennifer or Jessica?

42 replies

Tigertots · 30/06/2012 19:00

Which of these 2 names do you prefer? Both are gorgeous names. When I was younger, I preferred Jessica; but now I slightly prefer Jennifer.

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Lannie33 · 03/07/2012 20:06

Couldn't have said it better than Stellan

jellybeans · 03/07/2012 16:18

Jessica but it is very popular. Jennifer nice too.

TheWave · 03/07/2012 15:14

Love Jennifer. Jess/Jessica a bit popular. And I get your comment squoosh about the strange hissing in Jessica.

birdofthenorth · 03/07/2012 14:30

Jennifer. Love it. Too many Jessicas around atm imho. (obviously I don't mean that as badly as it sounds, just that it's very popular, I don't wish them to disappear!!)

AdventuresWithVoles · 03/07/2012 14:10

I like Jennifer & all nns for it.
Jessica is fine, but over popular & I've known a few horrid ones.

Mollydoggerson · 03/07/2012 14:00

I think Jennifer and Jessica are twins, ones a bit racier and the other's more thoughtful, but both good girls at the core.........or am I regressing into Sweet Valley High?

mateysmum · 02/07/2012 19:26

Just for the record, Jenny's are not silly. In fact they are highly intelligent, slim, stunning looking and generous. Grin.

not that I'm biased at all....

hattymattie · 02/07/2012 19:20

Jessica! (it's my DD1). Her cousin is called Jennifer though. I honestly think they are both nice names.

CJfromTheWestWing · 02/07/2012 19:18

Jennifer, great name, suit every generation, and the short forms are all fab

CPtart · 02/07/2012 19:12

Jennifer.
But be prepared for "Jenny" at school.

Fanatic · 02/07/2012 18:42

Jessica

shepherdsdelight · 02/07/2012 18:23

Jennifer - such a lovely name and been underused for years. I've never especially liked jessica - too many experiences of girls I didn't like called that. (girls of dd's age - now 20)

Nobhead · 02/07/2012 18:18

Jessica for me. I work with 5 Jennifer's (we only have 65 employees!) and a work collegue has just named her baby DD Jennifer too. My best mates DD is called Jessica, I like it very pretty.

IceCreamCastles · 02/07/2012 18:08

Jennifer

septembersunshine · 02/07/2012 18:05

My name is Jennifer! I do like it - a lot. People shorten it to Jen quite a bit but it can be Jenna or Jenny/ie too. I don't like being called Jenny much but Jen is good :)

Jessica - meh. There are many many Jessical's about but I do like the nn Jess - but that is pretty much it with the Jessica nick names. At least with Jennifer you have at least three different combinations depending on personality :)

EvilTwins · 02/07/2012 16:12

This thread is amusing. I am a Jenny who spent her teenage years wishing she was a Jennifer. Now that I hear Jennys are silly and Jennifers are thoughtful piano players, I am going to make my mother change it. Even if I am 36. Wink

I prefer Jennifer. Obviously. My best friend is a Jessica (cheer leader type) but I have taught too many unpleasant Jessicas to consider it for a potential DD.

ArthurandGeorge · 02/07/2012 16:08

I prefer Jennifer but both are nie.

Mollydoggerson · 02/07/2012 16:06

I love them both.

Jennifer - more thoughtful and piano playing.
Jessica - more high energy and cheer leading.

flowers123 · 02/07/2012 15:32

Jessica - I have got a Jessica she is 19 and I dont know any others x

squoosh · 02/07/2012 14:45

I don't like the hissing sound in Jessica.

Ephiny · 02/07/2012 14:44

I prefer Jessica, but then Jennifer was very popular when I was young so just feels over-used to me. Probably not such an issue these days though.

squoosh · 02/07/2012 14:43

Defintely Jennifer

Love the nickname Jen. Not Jenny though, jennys are silly people!

manicinsomniac · 02/07/2012 14:42

Another biased poster of a Jessica here.

I also like Jennifer though.

I don't like shortened forms at all really but much prefer Jessie to Jenny so I would take that into account as well.

ChaoticismyLife · 30/06/2012 22:28

I like both but prefer Jessica but, like a pp, I'm biased as it's my dd's name.

I also have to agree it's very popular, it was when my dd was born and she's 18.

TouTou · 30/06/2012 22:24

Jennifer - fab name. Jen/jenny/jennie - all good shortenings.

Jessica - nice too, but many many many in our area.

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