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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jane as a first name

85 replies

snoopy26 · 13/04/2014 09:26

I'm loving Jane at the moment. Do you think Jane Eyre, Jane Austen or Plain Jane Superbrain?

Also struggling with a middle name as everything sounds back to front e.g. Jane Emily should be Emily Jane, Jane Laura should be Laura Jane.

Surname is 2 syllables, begins with P. Older sister is a Sarah. We're not exactly adventurous.

Any thoughts?

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HagLady · 13/04/2014 20:15

I dont know any but i know a lot of people with jane as their middle name.

Rose is the default middle name now but rose is more popular than jane as a first name. (Rosie )

I know two janets and that is not a name that calls out for a revival! Bleurgh

squoosh · 13/04/2014 20:12

It's unusual in that not many baby girls are given this name these days. But there are squillions of them in the 30+ age bracket, that's why it feels dull to me.

HagLady · 13/04/2014 20:11

No to the y though.

If you pick Jane, leave it as it is. If you try to jazz it up it just loses its appeal (imo)

HagLady · 13/04/2014 20:09

Like it. More unusual than the names people think are unusual.
But that's not why i like it. There is a confidence to its simplicity.

nicky2512 · 13/04/2014 20:08

Love it. DS would have been Jayne if he had been a DD!

Benchmark · 13/04/2014 20:03

I don't like it. I just hear "plain Jane". Each to their own though. I do like other simple classic names like Emma and Anna, but for some reason not Jane.

Original poster
snoopy26 · 13/04/2014 19:54

OP here. Pleasantly surprised so many like it, thought people would say it was far too plain.

Think it's the female equivalent of John and peoole will love it or hate it.

Agree on the need for a long/fancy/feminine middle name, possibly Jane Fiona or Jane Isabel.

Our surname is quite unusual. Not Doe thankfully.

OP posts:
Delphiniumsblue · 13/04/2014 19:10

I only like the traditional spelling.

gertiegusset · 13/04/2014 19:07

I like it.
I don't like it spelt with a Y in the middle though which most of the Jaynes I know do.

Delphiniumsblue · 13/04/2014 19:07

I like it.

pilates · 13/04/2014 19:04

I like it

Nocomet · 13/04/2014 19:03

If you don't say it with a forced smile, which makes you look silly, it just sort of falls away into nothing.

nomoretether · 13/04/2014 18:55

I really like Jane :)

brokenhearted55a · 13/04/2014 17:47

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Timeandtune · 13/04/2014 16:39

I like Jane. Classic and timeless.

exWifebeginsat40 · 13/04/2014 16:33

i am a Madeleine and when i was little i SO wanted to be called Jane. it's so pretty..

Jellaby · 13/04/2014 16:30

I think it is gorgeous, understated chic. Like Kate.

sandberry · 13/04/2014 16:28

Lovely and very uncommon, is less popular than Favour, Janelle, Isadora, Seraphina and Gaia hardly popular names and yet everyone will be able to say and spell it, what more could you want in a name?

A longer middle name balances it out. I'd rethink if your surname is one syllable or very common though, Jane Jones or Jane Smith could be a bit much.

HuglessDouglas · 13/04/2014 13:05

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WhereHas1999DissappearedToo · 13/04/2014 13:00

It's dull, meh and dated, sorry.

ChickenMe · 13/04/2014 12:59

I love it. Underused. Lovely name IMO.

joanofarchitrave · 13/04/2014 12:52

Adore it.

Nice with a season name, or a family surname/male relative name?

Jane Winter
Jane Howard

fairnotfair · 13/04/2014 12:47

Love it.

MrsJohnDeere · 13/04/2014 12:46

Dull.

I have it as a middle name (along with 99% of people my age) and loathe it!

squoosh · 13/04/2014 12:42

It's a bit boring.