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Baby names

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

Original poster

Modern alternative for Jennifer

58 replies

Jordanpayne · 28/12/2023 18:01

please let me know your modern suggestions for the name Jennifer, can also be a name that sounds different but has a link to.

Jennifer is my late nans name and I’d love a link to her for our baby girl or boys middle name.

the names we have in mind for first names are:
girl: Daphne
boy: Leo

surname: Payne

other children: Ezra

I love the idea of Juniper as a middle name but Daphne Juniper Payne is a bit of a mouthful.

i know it’s a hard one, thanks in advance.⭐️

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RolyPolyBatFacedGirl · 28/12/2023 20:07

If you're wanting to honour a loved relative then why would you try and twist yourself into knots to come up with a name that basically has no bearing on their actual name?

Just use Jennifer

Applerumleandcustard · 28/12/2023 20:04

Just use Jennifer , it’s a lovely name
DD is Jennifer , everyone calls her this , only I can call her Jen

coldcallerbaiter · 28/12/2023 20:03

Jesamine

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 28/12/2023 20:01

Jennifer is lovely and not dated to me. More a modern classic. Just use that.

Jenna on the other hand sounds hopelessly 80s/90s to me.

Daphne is fine, don't understand the hate.

I do like Juniper and don't think Daphne Juniper Payne is too much name at all, it's got a lovely 2-3-1 cadence. I suppose Jennifer would have the same.

Juno? It's a stretch though.

Avacardo2023 · 28/12/2023 19:42

Jennifer is a great name and I would definitely use that. Using a variation isn't a tribute to your Nan.

You're lucky - my Nans were called Doris and Enid!

Scottyme · 28/12/2023 19:32

I'd personally go with Jennifer as a first name Jennifer Daphne sounds alot nicer.

For a boy how about Jenson

KirstenBlest · 28/12/2023 18:26

Jennifer is a really nice name and doesn't seem dated

Christmasapple · 28/12/2023 18:26

I’d stick with Jennifer. Sounds less dated that some of the options given here. It was obviously very big in the 80s but there are a lot of famous, successful and beautiful Jennifers in the world of celebrities that keeps it kind of current I think.

Floralnomad · 28/12/2023 18:25

TheYearOfSmallThings · 28/12/2023 18:07

Just use Jennifer, or whatever other name you like, but don't use a-name-which-is-not-Jennifer and claim it is in any way linked to your grandmother, whose name is Jennifer.

This exactly . If you don’t like the name enough to use it then don’t bother .

MolkosTeenageAngst · 28/12/2023 18:22

If you’re using it as a middle name then does it really need to be modernised? Why not just use Jennifer as it is? Daphne Jennifer Payne sounds fine.

lemonyellows · 28/12/2023 18:21

Another vote for Jenna.

KirstenBlest · 28/12/2023 18:20

Guinevere
Gaenor
Gwenhwyfar

Daphne isn't wet

Theasparrot · 28/12/2023 18:20

Johnnifer

AndDrSamBeckettNeverReturnedHome · 28/12/2023 18:18

Wren

But Daphne is not modern (and a bit wet)

Jennifer is lovely.

muddyford · 28/12/2023 18:16

Daphne Juniper sounds like a plant list. Juniper is a male name anyway. Jennifer is beautiful and classic.

Terrribletwos · 28/12/2023 18:16

Jeanine.

Girlsjustwannahavefundamentalrights · 28/12/2023 18:15

Just use jennifer. How is it honouring your grandmother if you're not actually using her name?

I wasn't keen on my granddad's name but i used it anyway, because using a name that is vaguely connected to, or just sounds like his name isn't honouring him at all.

Also not sure why you're worried about modernising jennifer if you're using Daphne as a first name!

Notmetoo · 28/12/2023 18:14

If it's a girl why not just use Jennifer? It's a nice name and if you want to honour your grandmother just use it instead of trying to find a similar name.
I can't think how it would work for a boys name though

Luddite26 · 28/12/2023 18:14

Dump Daphne use Jennifer or Jenni. How can you have an awful old name like Daphne and ask for a modern version of Jennifer.
Sorry I'm very bias so please ignore but my father had an affair with a Daphne and called her Daffers.. put me off the name

MalcolmTuckersDisdainfulSneer · 28/12/2023 18:13

Daphne Jennifer Payne

Or

Leo Fergus Payne

Torganer · 28/12/2023 18:12

I thought Jennifer was a modern name? Also, nobody says their whole name out loud all the time, so don’t worry about middle names.

MarshmallowWorld · 28/12/2023 18:11

Yes, use Jennifer. It's lovely!

SleepingStandingUp · 28/12/2023 18:09

Jennifer is perfectly modern op, it's a lovely name.
Jenson door a boy?

Marmite27 · 28/12/2023 18:09

I’d say Jenna too.

Weepingskies · 28/12/2023 18:09

How about Genevieve?

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