Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to change my first name

52 replies

Winecurestiredness · 10/09/2021 20:21

Is it offensive to my parents?? They named me Jennifer. It really doesn't suit me. I don't suit Jenny, or Jen really but I've become known as Jen. I honestly wish they named me something more feminine as that's more what I'm like. I get name envy sometimes, not even at particularly extravagant names, but names like Laura or Samantha for example.. sound so much more feminine. As a student I named myself "Jenna" but my parents didn't like it and kept correcting my friends that I'm actually called Jennifer..is it unreasonable to want a nicer name?

OP posts:
DeathStare · 10/09/2021 21:46

I think Jennifer (and Jenny/Jen) is incredibly feminine. Think Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Garner. All very feminine women. Jenna is also nice.

Ultimately it's your name so your call, but I think you'll find that if your parents wouldn't accept Jenna, they wont accept anything else either.

Strangevipers · 10/09/2021 21:54

As long as you don't just add an extra letter such as a 'T' and become Jennifert then go for it ! Your life your name

notangelinajolie · 10/09/2021 21:59

I'd stick with Jennifer if all you can come up with is Laura or Samantha Hmm

BananaMilkshakeWithCream · 10/09/2021 22:01

I like Jenna as a shortening. However, if you want to go for something completely different then go for it!

Kendodd · 10/09/2021 22:03

Yes change your name if you want.

TBH I don't understand why parents would object or be hurt/offended by this. They should be supportive of you. If one of my children disliked their name (and was an adult or much older teen) I would completely support them changing it. The only emotion I'd feel was disappointment that I'd chosen the wrong name for them.

Spanglebangle · 10/09/2021 22:07

MIL age 70ish has decided to change her name from original name to very religious sounding name. It's weird, she has been original name the whole time I've known her 15ish years.

If you are going to change, do it now. Don't wait another 10,20,60 years.

MojoJojo71 · 10/09/2021 22:15

It’s a shame. My DD is named Jennifer and i honestly would be upset if she changed it but if she really felt it wasn’t ‘her’ name then i would ultimately support her decision. I feel like Jenna is a good compromise though. It’s a lovely name, we did actually consider it for DD but thought it might get muddled up with Gemma

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 10/09/2021 22:16

I always wanted to be called Jennifer when I was little, there was a girl on my class who was called Jennifer,, I envied her so much, not only because of her name but she wore white patent Mary-Jane shoes! I don’t know why you think it’s unfeminine it’s hardly manly is it? and yes agree with pp if you are going to change it come up with something more generic than Laura or Samantha, I’m baffled why you would choose Samantha because you would get called Sam which is also a mans name…

Boomkin · 10/09/2021 22:20

Jenna is lovely! If your parents want to call you Jennifer then let them, everyone else will call you Jenna.

hawesmead5 · 10/09/2021 22:22

I'm a Jennifer, I can't stand being called Jenny as it sounds too girly for me!

EIIa · 10/09/2021 22:22

Oh change it

I hate mine too

rattlemehearties · 10/09/2021 22:24

I don't understand why your parents opinion on Jenna when you were a student (18-21? Older?) should have any impact. Stick with Jenna, you're an adult.

Hadjab · 10/09/2021 22:25

Very convoluted, but I actually go by three names! Basically, the sperm donor (father) filled in the birth certificate with his mother’s name as my first name, and my maternal grandmother’s name as my second name, because he was a dickhead. My mum registered me at school with my second name, then when I got to college, I changed it to a nickname based on my second name. Now most people who meet me think I’m a bloke from Liverpool! Change your name if you want, you’re the one who has to live with it, but I do think Jennifer is a very feminine name.

forinborin · 10/09/2021 22:33

Yennefer? I know someone who changed her name to this. Very niche through, linked to a specific book series.

Diversion · 10/09/2021 22:36

Same as Hadjab I also go by three names. I hate my Sunday name which I was christened with and have been known by a shortened version since I was 16 which my parents hate despite them using shortened or middle names themselves. Only my parents and my immediate family use this name. Husband uses the shortened version and my close friends use my chosen name which I intend to change legally once nobody will complain and will potentially at this time change my surname too. Change your name if it is your preference.

Strangevipers · 10/09/2021 22:47

What do you want to change your name to ?

TonyThreePies · 10/09/2021 22:59

Can you not be known as Jenna to everyone you meet now as a kind of nickname and Jennifer by your family? I sympathise though, me and my sister always wanted to swap names. She has a very unusual name whereas mine is very traditional - it would suit both of our personalities if they were the other way round. At 50 and divorced I still hate my name, my married surname made my first name sound far better.

PalacesOfMontezuma · 10/09/2021 23:00

My mum always hated her first name. In her 50s she moved area so took the opportunity to change her name (she did it legally) whilst she was more or less starting afresh with new friends and colleagues. My dad and her old friends and family were on board as they knew how much her name bothered her, but there were a lot of slip ups in the early days of course. I get the impression her mum was upset by it, which I think is understandable. But it's actually given my mum much more confidence.

For what it's worth I much preferred her old name!

So in short, if it's really bothering you then go for it, however expect it to take a while for others to get used to it.

PricklesTheHedgehog · 10/09/2021 23:00

I love Jennifer/Jenny/Jen. Jennifer Gadirova is amazing.

LemonFantaGin · 10/09/2021 23:02

Its your name, do as you wish.

In a world where you can be anything, be what makes you happy 💐

TheGoogleMum · 10/09/2021 23:05

In my head Jennifer is more feminine than Laura and Samantha. Possibly because the main Laura I know had always been a tomboy and the main Samantha I know is a bit of a chav and not particularly feminine. It's not exactly a scientific feeling though is it?

Sh05 · 10/09/2021 23:16

I always wanted to change my name but my parents didn't agree, when I got engaged I remember mum saying you can change it if you like but by then I thought it would be a bit of a pita to try and get get not only my own family but also my oh's to remember a new name so didn't bother.
If you don't like it honestly just go ahead and change it. I wish I had, even at that point, gone ahead and changed it.

GoGadgetGo · 10/09/2021 23:28

Changing your name is really easy, but think seriously if it is something that you want to do. You can just ask people to call you something you prefer.
I changed my name legally, but only to the name my family wanted to call me when I was born, but at the time there were disagreements. That soon changed, so I legally changed it to the name they called me from birth. I am happy with it because it stops me from having to do a long story about why my name is not my name.

Looubylou · 11/09/2021 09:24

Your parents were very unreasonable to correct your friends, particularly as you were an adult. I don't even do this to my primary aged child - it's interfering in friendships and self identity, and quite controlling. It's your life, your name, your identity. Aside from that, I think Jennifer is an extremely feminine and sophisticated name. I will now retreat before I start to remind you of your mother 🤭

spanieleyes · 11/09/2021 09:37

My son was a Jamie until he started work, he is now James.
I think Jenna is a perfectly fine version of Jennifer, I also like Jennet!

Swipe left for the next trending thread