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Re: Jennie
in reply to a message by ADT
Some given names were originally nicknames. JENNIE is an alternate spelling of JENNY. They are both probably Americanizations of JENNET, a variation of JANET.
"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." Ps. 127:4
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah Joseph

This message was edited 11/22/2015, 3:25 PM

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I don't think Jenny/Jennie is an "Americanization." It is actually associated with Scotland, and it's not hard to find 17th and 18th c. examples of Scottish Jennys, such as Jenny Cameron and Jenny Geddes.
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JENNET was said to have been used in Scotland. Would they have made the leap JENNET > JENNY?
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Absolutely. The diminutive -IE ending was highly popular in Scotland in the 18th century. The poet Robert Burns, for instance (1759-1796) was called Rabbie among contemporaries, and Charles Stuart (a pretender to the throne of England, 1720-1788) was commonly called "Bonnie Prince Charlie." Janet/Jannet/Jennet was a popular name in Scotland, and these three forms seem to have been used almost interchangeably (for example, in this book, where all of them plus Jean appear repeatedly: http://tinyurl.com/pdelq2k.) There is no need for for the progression to necessarily be Janet > Jennet > Jennie. There is plenty of evidence that women named Jean and Janet were nicknamed Jennie as well. Jenny Cameron, for example, was also called Jeanie.

This message was edited 11/23/2015, 4:41 PM

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