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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jenny / Jennie?

54 replies

Sophronia · 17/08/2014 01:16

Opinions on Jenny or Jennie? It was originally a medieval diminutive of Jane and has also been traditionally used as a name in its own right.

Do you think it's better as a nickname for Jennifer (and what do you think of Jennifer as well - is it too dated or more of a classic?)

Thanks! Grin

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Olbas · 07/09/2014 20:52

My dd is called Jennifer. We call her Jennie, Jen or Nif.

Vintagejazz · 04/09/2014 13:40

I have two cousins called Jennifer. One always uses her full name while the other is usually known as Jen.
I think it's a lovely name.

ThereMustAndShallBeTea · 03/09/2014 20:21

Agree all the best people are called Jennie. I've never seen so many together in one place!

Everyone assumes it's spelled Jenny and everyone assumes you're really called Jennifer. Both these things are annoying. It is a lovely name though.

squoosh · 26/08/2014 03:28

For a good few years it was literally the most popular name in every single state in the whole country.

squoosh · 26/08/2014 03:26

Jennie seems a bit pointless as everyone and their jack russell will assume it's spelt Jenny. I am fond of Jen as a nickname.

I think every other American woman born 1970 - 1980 was called Jennifer.

This map is fascinating.

Ohmydayz111 · 26/08/2014 00:14

I love Jennifer, but sadly can't stand jenny/jenni/Jen, so rules the name out totally for me

DaveMccave · 25/08/2014 23:42

"It's not a name that is ever going to leap to the top of the girls name list,"

Not at all true. It was in the top 50 of the name charts from the 70's to the 90's. It peaked at number 11 in the 80's. Whilst it has dropped off the charts since then, it has never gone away completely so I agree that it is a borderline classic, will probably come back in at some point. There was less than 300 born last year. I am a Jennifer, (hate Jenny, only my mum calls me that) and I have always hated my name because I was one of four in my class alone. I know loads of other Jen's and Jenny's around my age.

EightFiftySix · 25/08/2014 20:57

Jenny is beautiful on its own. A childhood friend of mine was Janet on bc, always known as Jenny. But Genevieve is really lovely.

VikingVolva · 25/08/2014 20:43

"
It's not a name that is ever going to leap to the top of the girls name list,"

Perhaps not to the very top, but it was in the top 30 in the 1950s, perhaps a bit higher until mid-60s.

EvilTwins · 25/08/2014 20:42

I'm Jenny. Just Jenny, not Jennifer, and I've always rather liked that.

I used to work with a Jenny Taylor.

jaykay34 · 25/08/2014 20:35

I'm just "Jenny". I would love to have the option of Jennifer because I far prefer it to Jenny.
People automatically assume my name is Jennifer - although this may be because when I was born - all the other Jennys were actually Jennifers !

Liquoricelips · 25/08/2014 20:12

I have a Jennifer and she gets called Jenny at work and Jen by family. it's a fab name.

BlackWings · 25/08/2014 20:02

My grandmother went by Jennie, her real name was Janet. Tis a lovely name.

Lewismummy2202 · 25/08/2014 19:57

I prefer Jen/Jenna

GerundTheBehemoth · 24/08/2014 16:44

Just don't do it if your surname is Taylor.

AberdeenAngusina · 24/08/2014 16:41

Jennie Lee was one of those responsible for creating the Open University. I like Jennie for this reason.

Legionofboom · 22/08/2014 08:30

I like Jennie and Jennifer.

I feel Jennifer is borderline classic/dated name. A bit like Laura. Both are lovely but go in and out of fashion a bit more than the really core classics imho.

Cherryblossom200 · 22/08/2014 08:10

I'm a Jennifer which I shorten to Jennie/Jen! I love my name of course ha! I've started using my full name in my 30's more, when I was a baby I was teeny tiny (just over 5lb) so Jennie seemed more appropriate for a small child :) x

YoHoHoandabottleofWine · 21/08/2014 22:32

I love Genevieve, there was one at school who was Genny.

I have a wonderful friend who is just Jenny on her bc, it causes her no problems whatsoever.

weegiemum · 21/08/2014 22:25

Jennifer is lovely - I have an Auntie Jen!

ShakyTheStork · 21/08/2014 22:23

Joanna is lovely. It is a combination of my dad's (John) and my grandmother's (Annie) names

ShakyTheStork · 21/08/2014 22:20

I love Jennifer and Jenny for short.

Original poster
Sophronia · 21/08/2014 22:17

I liked both Jennifer and Genevieve equally, but discussed it with DH and he doesn't like Genevieve at all! I saw someone suggested Josephine. Do you think Joanna could work as a full name, or is it too far fetched?

OP posts:
ijustwanttobeme · 20/08/2014 08:52

My DD is Jennifer on the BC, but Jennie, or Jen all other times. Plus some others she'd rather I didn't tell you :)

It's not a name that is ever going to leap to the top of the girls name list, which is why we chose it.

DD is nearly 20 now and has only come across one similar aged Jennie (was spelt Genny).

BikeRunSki · 19/08/2014 23:58

I know a Genevieve who goes by Jenny. Really suits her.

Miss Honey in Roald Dahl's "Matilda" is Kjenny, and she is lovely.