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[Opinions] Jennifer
I have a friend at university who introduced herself as Jenny and I've called her Jenny ever since I met her (though I know her full name is Jennifer, I saw it written down). Then something funny happened today in class. She was being silly and I was a bit annoyed so I just yelled "Jennifer, stop it!". It felt kind of weird saying it and then I realized that I hardly ever said the name Jennifer out loud before even though it was one of the most popular names in the country when I was born. I know heaps of Jennifers. At least 50 of them and two girls named Jennyfer as well. But I just noticed that not one, not even a single one of all the Jennifers I know actually goes by Jennifer. The ones I know in my country all go by Jenny. Except for one who goes by Jenna. The ones I know in English speaking countries all go by Jenny, Jennie or Jen. I think it would be refreshing to actually meet a Jennifer who was called Jennifer. How are your experiences with this name? Are there any other names you know many people with but they all don't use their full name?Do you know many Jennifers? More than Jessicas? I went through my high school yearbook and I would say 40 percent of all girls in it were called Jennifer, just Jenny or Jessica.Do you prefer it on its own or do you like any of the nicknames for it, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jennie etc? Would you use any of them as full names? Does Jennifer seem dated? Do you feel the same way about Jenna and Jennie/Jenny or do they seem fresher? How about Jenica or Jennica? Do you think it'll be out of the top 100 soon?Have you met any Jennifers that spelled their name differently?
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I'm John Doe's twin sister name wise at least. There are too many of us, and I wouldn't use any form of the name. Part of the Jenny/ Jennifer/ Jen thing is the age of the person when you meet. We were all Jenny in elementary school. Now, in the workplace, I'm Jennifer. Jen is used mainly when in a hurry.
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Most of the Jennifers I know either go by Jennifer or Jen(n)... Very few of the ones I know go by Jenny. (though there are a few) I tend to associate "Jenny" more with a little girl and teens and adults more as Jen or Jennifer... Prob'ly know more gals named Jennifer than any other girls' name I can think of (was born in the 70s, so there were LOTS of 'em)... Personally, I'm sick of the name... The name itself sounds kind of nice initially, but the meaning is blah and when you hear it too much, it starts to get rather tedious.
Jennica (Jenica) on the other hand, I actually like.
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I don't really like Jennifer. I prefer Jessica. I have known a couple Jennifers before. All older than me by a few years. But yes I think it's dated

This message was edited 11/20/2008, 2:08 PM

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Almost every Jennifer I know (about 8 or so) goes by Jen or Jenny.I definitely know more Jessicas. I think Jennifer's time was slightly before Jessica, or Jessica has just stuck around a little bit longer. Personally I like the name Jessica more than Jennifer, but I like Jenny a lot.Jenna can stand alone, but I don't think Jen or Jenny should. That said, Jenny feels much more timeless than Jennifer, even though they are one in the same...
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How are your experiences with this name? Are there any other names you know many people with but they all don't use their full name?
I would have almost been called Jennifer but THANK GOD someone from my family stole it before I was born, so it became unusable. From 7th to 10th grade there were three Jennifers in my class alone, and all went by Jenny. So every single time a teacher had a question and asked "Jenny" to answer it, the unavoidable response was, "Which one?" The worst thing is, they couldn't even go by Jenny F., Jenny T. and Jenny W. or something because two of them actually had the same (very common) surname. I'm oh so glad I didn't have to be a Jenny.Do you know many Jennifers? More than Jessicas? I went through my high school yearbook and I would say 40 percent of all girls in it were called Jennifer, just Jenny or Jessica.
I know around ten Jennifer personally, I guess, one of them is my cousin, and I know of a few more through family and friends. I definitely now more Jennies than Jessicas. Really, 40%? I never noticed that many when looking through my yearbook.Do you prefer it on its own or do you like any of the nicknames for it, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jennie etc? Would you use any of them as full names?
I've never met a Jenny whose full name was actually Jenny, it was always Jennifer. I wouldn't use any of those as full names, just makes it more complicated.Does Jennifer seem dated? Do you feel the same way about Jenna and Jennie/Jenny or do they seem fresher? How about Jenica or Jennica?
I feel it's very, very dated. It was the in-name at the time I was born (1989), and almost all Jennifers I know are my age. Jenna doesn't seem all that dated to me, but then, I've never met one. Jenica and Jennica just sound trashy.Do you think it'll be out of the top 100 soon?
I think it'll take its time to drop out, but it definitely will.Have you met any Jennifers that spelled their name differently?
I once met a Yenifer, a Jenifer and a Gennifer, but that's about it.
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It seems horribly dated. It's a name that needs a long, long rest and will take ages to make a comeback. In Italy it's considered tacky because it's the kind of name people pick from soap operas (it's not very common, though). But I know my share of Jennifer's in their 20s and 30s.
I don't think the variants are much fresher. I particularly dislike Jenna.
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Ugh. Jennifer is dated and overused. It's one of those names, like Lauren or Emily, that just bore me to death.
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