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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jean

59 replies

MouldyPeach · 24/01/2016 20:19

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and still stuck for a name for dd3 on her way. I previously posted about the name Tiger and got mixed responses. It's still in the running though.
I'm drawn to the name Jean, dds 1&2 have 'old lady' names so it would work but I'm not sure if Jean is an ugly name. What do you think of when you hear it?

As an aside I absolutely love the name Billie-Jean but am in no way a Michael Jackson fan and I don't want to subject the poor girl to a lifetime of that! What other names sound nice hyphened with either Billie or Jean?

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dotdotdotmustdash · 27/01/2016 15:45

It's my DMs, was my DGMs and it's my middle-name. I hate it and don't use it. In my DMs and DGMs case their proper name is Jane but it's a common change to use Jean instead in Scotland. The most boring name ever.

I quite like Janey though :-)

LarrytheCucumber · 26/01/2016 18:21

Jean is not a name I would choose. Or Gladys, Phyllis or Beryl.
You'll be suggesting Edna next.

villainousbroodmare · 25/01/2016 22:59

It's my name and I love it.
I don't mind "Hi Jean/ Hygiene" - it never caused me any problems - and I was an excessively bookish, bespectacled, plumpish child/ teen in not-awfully-kind schools, so if I managed to escape bullying on that score, I would be surprised if someone was targeted hard over it.
"Jean Genie" is a very cool song, "Jeanie Johnston" is a very cool ship, and while Daydream Believer is as cheesy as all get out, the girl is still a homecoming queen! It's good for a laugh in a corny way at 2am in a terrible nightclub!

In French or Dutch or Afrikaan-speaking places it might be pronounced as the French male name Jean - I once had a Skype interview with someone who thought I was going to be a man! - but again that has never caused me any issues.

soundsystem · 25/01/2016 20:48

I love Iove love Jean. DH hates it or it would have been DD1s name.

I like Phyllis as well.

Gladys? It's on my list for DC2 although DH isn't convinced!

Ellieboolou27 · 25/01/2016 20:46

I like old fashioned names, however some of them like Ethel, Maude, Mabel just sound ugly, I think Jean would fall into the old fashioned but ugly category. Tiger is a recipe for a lifetime of teasing and more of a masculine name.

HackerFucker22 · 25/01/2016 20:36

Adore Jean, sadly DP didn't and we didn't use it but if I had another daughter I'd be pushing for it. It's a beautiful, simple, underused name.

Seems to be a bit "Marmite" on here though?

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 25/01/2016 20:17

I actually like Phyllis! I think it's like Jean where you have to get over women you may have known with the name and think of it as new

It's exactly that.
It doesn't matter if a name's vintage or new age, you can associate it with someone you know and like or dislike accordingly.

Beryl is a typical example. It could belong to a matronly blue rinsed lady or it could be for a baby so called after the precious stone. Ruby could be an elderly woman, a pop song or a precious gem.
It's all about perceptions and once a name is given, then its owner can define it.

So called elderly names coming back into fashion for girls is very interesting, because female names come and go much more so than males' names.

Original poster
MouldyPeach · 25/01/2016 17:39

mouse I actually already have an Edith :)

OP posts:
Original poster
MouldyPeach · 25/01/2016 17:38

Ooh I actually like Phyllis! I think it's like Jean where you have to get over women you may have known with the name and think of it as new.

Nothing wrong with being called genius as a play on a name IMO

Seems I like marmite names, should just call her Marmite nn Marmie Grin

OP posts:
Mouseinahole · 25/01/2016 11:51

Mary Jean?
Edith nn Edie

smartyclogs · 25/01/2016 11:47

I like it.
My grandma's sister is Jean, her other sisters are Phyllis and Beryl.
I think she got the best deal!

FarrowandBallAche · 25/01/2016 09:35

It's an ugly name imo.

Pipistrella · 25/01/2016 09:31

An old boyfriend of mine has a Jean. I think it's spelt that way but I have a feeling it may have been after a record we had by the Smiths, in which case it will be Jeane which I think I prefer.

My family is full of Jeans, I'm not sure if I like it or not. Not in itself, I mean.

TattieHowkerz · 25/01/2016 09:07

It is a great name. Simple, but underused. Much, much better than Tiger.

MangosteenSoda · 25/01/2016 03:25

It goes with Linda and Barbara for me. I can't think of it as cool.

All the Jeans I've ever met are lovely though!

duckduckquack · 25/01/2016 02:50

I too hear 'hygiene' every time I say hi to a Jean at work. What about 'jolie'? (Like Angelina's surname)

TheNewStatesman · 25/01/2016 02:35

I like it. It sounds very fresh now.

dangerrabbit · 25/01/2016 01:13

Jean is a great name.

Prayingforsnow · 25/01/2016 01:05

It's too old-fashioned and plain. Don't like Jean, Joan or Jane.

HawkEyeTheNoo · 24/01/2016 23:46

I have friends called Jean and one jeannie, they absolutely detest their names, with a passion. They are in their 40's now and we are Scottish so it's not an uncommon name, but believe me if you asked either of them if they could change anything about themselves, I guarantee they would say their name! Personally I don't like it, hygiene, Eugene, are just a couple of nicknames they were called at school, I think it's quite ugly and doesn't match the gorgeous personalities of these two women. But, that is only my opinion

YorkshireTeaDrinker · 24/01/2016 23:26

My DD has Jean for a middle name. Named after my munch loved Granny. I did contemplate it as a first name, but we hav a single syllable surname and I thought the combination might sound a bit terse. But I love it. Full of positive associations and simple and elegant.

Cornwall73 · 24/01/2016 23:19

This is MILs name and she hates it because it is just one syllable. She was known as gene jeanie or genius at school and her surname was just one syllable too to add insult to injury. She dislikes the shortness. We used it as a middle name for DD and she says that is the only place Jean should ever be!

Sophronia · 24/01/2016 23:07

Jean is nice - definitely ripe for a comeback. You'd be ahead of the crowd.

iciclewinter · 24/01/2016 22:39

Jen short for Jennifer?

Biscuitsneeded · 24/01/2016 22:33

I love it. Very cool and unfussy. Think of Jean Shrimpton and Jean Seberg.