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Baby names

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

Is Jane boring?

166 replies

eatsleepbreastfeedrepeat · 17/03/2021 20:59

Is Jane boring, and does it sound ok with sister Nina?

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HairyToity · 18/03/2021 21:22

Beautiful. Quite possibly my favourite name.

DramaAlpaca · 18/03/2021 21:21

I love it. It's a short, neat, unfussy, underused classic. It's not in the same style as Nina, it's a much stronger name and I much prefer it actually. As for boring - I don't find it so.

BonnesVacances · 18/03/2021 21:17

Jane is nice and classical, but difficult to say unless you want the vowel to sound strangled. So I'd avoid it on that basis. It's the same reason we discounted Amy.

partyatthepalace · 18/03/2021 21:04

... Don’t spell it Jayne though, it is naff.

partyatthepalace · 18/03/2021 21:03

I like it, also think it’s about to start making a come back along with other mid century names

Cushionsnotpillows · 18/03/2021 13:35

It does sound dull, especially in comparison to Nina. I agree with the "ran out of ideas" feel to it when paired with Nina. I think you need to go for something a little more interesting.

ODFOx · 18/03/2021 12:43

Jane, Jean, Joan are all much underused, classic names which are easy for a child to remember and learn to spell, go well with all styles of name.
Jane goes well with Nina, and is a lot less boring than Isabel, Olivia or Evelyn which are lovely but so so common at the moment.

Claricethecat45 · 18/03/2021 12:18

Jane - like Helen - is a 'clever' name!
All Jane's/Helen's I have known - most in 50/60's now have been big achievers....I have always noticed !

Both are lovely

PlantPotting · 18/03/2021 12:12

Great name I love it

SnowdaySewday · 18/03/2021 11:18

Jane isn't boring compared with some names that have been popular recently, like Grace.

I prefer the Jayne spelling. Janie is also nice, as is Joanie.

There is also Eugenie, which can be pronounced You-Janie. I don't like the spelling but others might.

Marmaladeagain · 18/03/2021 11:12

I thought it was really boring when I was a child myself, but I think it is very pretty now. It can depend on the accent of the person saying it though, which is weird with such a short name.

It doesn't sound very nice if someone really extends the aaaaay sound in the middle, but slightly more clipped and deeper pronunciation (if that makes any sense?!) I really, really like.

pastawithsauce · 18/03/2021 11:07

I have a Nina (great name!) and adore Jane (though my DH had the same view of it as some of the posters and nixed it.) I don't think it's dull at all and hits the same "normal but different" sweet spot as Nina. No child will think Jane plain these days.

Go for it!

sundowners · 18/03/2021 10:30

Very very boring and plain to me, sorry.

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 18/03/2021 10:22

It's not boring because it's rare nowadays. People who think it's boring are likely to be in their 40s or older and are thinking of their friends or their mother's generation.

Nope, good ten years younger with no friends named Jane and only one of my parent’s friends with that name, plus a young child that I know and still think it’s very boring. Jane Eyre is a great novel but she is the person that the phrase “Plain Jane” was originally inspired by. She is frequently referred to as plain and refers to herself as plain hence “Plain Jane” which later led to just the name itself being dull and uninspired.

I really disagree with the comments about it not being dull for the next generation. It’s just a dull name no matter what generation it belongs to IMO. A couple of the names mentioned above like Esther and Frances are much more chic and a breath of fresh air whilst still being sensible and well known. I never understand why other posters make the assumption that if you don’t like an old name then you must be a huge fan of the top ten or “trends”. I hate Jane but also not at all keen on Ava, Evie, Olivia etc but I love names like Tanith, Miriam, Zelie, Adriana etc.

Fifthtimelucky · 18/03/2021 10:21

I do think it's a bit dull I'm afraid, but I think it's a great middle name.

medebourne · 18/03/2021 09:37

It's not boring because it's rare nowadays. People who think it's boring are likely to be in their 40s or older and are thinking of their friends or their mother's generation.

There are very few babies called this at the moment and that makes it a really interesting choice. I think Mary is similar. It's also classic, simple and strong. Jane Eyre is a good association. All of the flower names and Olivia, Sophia, Ava etc. are very dated now.

NoMoreZigAndSharko · 18/03/2021 09:33

Hmmmmmm....sorry, yes, I think it is bland compared to Nina!

Jean? I love Jean!!

Ooooor, more classic, maybe Catherine, Emma, Anna, Elizabeth, Alexandra?

Bruce2 · 18/03/2021 09:28

It is yes, but that's not a bad thing.
My daughters are Anna and Elizabeth....also boring. But that's what I wanted. Understated. Normal. Timeless.

Jane is perfectly lovely and bet she'll be the only one at school/class which makes it sort of interesting :)

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 18/03/2021 09:28

I've middle name. But makes me think plain Jane

Hyppogriff · 18/03/2021 09:27

I think it’s lovely and not that common anymore

PlantPotting · 18/03/2021 09:25

Jane will not be boring at all to the next generation
I think we forget to put ourselves in their shoes. No one is ever called Jane anymore

MiaowMix · 18/03/2021 09:25

So boring, I come from a generation where Jane was a common middle name and I don't know anyone who likes it. The Janes I know hate having it as a first name too.

Nina is very chic and in a totally different vein in my opinion.

ILoveStickers · 18/03/2021 09:02

I personally don't know any small Janes, but I know two toddlers called Joan. I think Joan is cool.

Otherwise, I'd go for an equivalent like Siân probably

NameChangedForThisFeb21 · 18/03/2021 08:38

@leafygarden42

I've only known quite 'difficult' people with the name Jane - and that is putting it politely. No - it's not a nice name, when there are so many pretty girls' names to choose from.
You’ve just reminded me of the fact that a lot of Jane’s I knew were nicknamed “Jane the Pain”!
Weloveoptimus · 18/03/2021 07:56

I'm a Jane, I love the name and there are not too many of us about.

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