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HelpJennifer
If it weren't so popular, would you find it attractive? I dislike Jen and Jenny but I really like the sound of the full name for some reason.
It confuses me how long it was popular. It was still in the top 10 in the early 90s. To me it's a 70s name and I only know two who were born in the 90s (both in 1992) the others were all born in the 70s.
Do you know any Jennifers born past 1990? How many do you know in total? Do any go by their full names? I have the feeling most go by Jen which I find sad, it's such a pretty full name. It's not usable because I knew too many growing up (none of them went by their full names though) but I like it in theory. Or maybe as a middle name.
Opinions?
It confuses me how long it was popular. It was still in the top 10 in the early 90s. To me it's a 70s name and I only know two who were born in the 90s (both in 1992) the others were all born in the 70s.
Do you know any Jennifers born past 1990? How many do you know in total? Do any go by their full names? I have the feeling most go by Jen which I find sad, it's such a pretty full name. It's not usable because I knew too many growing up (none of them went by their full names though) but I like it in theory. Or maybe as a middle name.
Opinions?
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I had a really vivid dream a month or so ago about having a baby and naming her Jennifer. She was wrapped in a cream and blue blanket with "Jennie" embroidered on it. A good chunk of my dream was me thinking how pretty Jennifer is and how well it suited the baby. I think it's a beautiful name. I like its nicknames, too.
I'm a child of the 70s, so I'm sure I've known a convention's worth of Jennifers in my life. At three different times, across three different states, I had three different best friends all named Jennifer Lynn. When I was in elementary, I had one grade where, out of 13 girls in the class, 8 of them were named Jennifer. It is the girl name of my generation. I think I've only met one Jennifer born after 1990--she was born in 1993, and named after a 70s-born Jennifer who died in an accident.
I don't know that I've ever met a Jennifer who has gone exclusively by her full name, at least not once you get to know her. Every one I've known has used a combination of Jennifer and Jen (Jenny/Jennie, usually, when young). I'm not much of a nickname person, but I actually like Jen. I think it has the same sort of vibe as Kate--strong, not babyish.
It would be a great middle name, and that probably is the best place to put it if you can't stand Jen, but I love it as a first name. Jennifer is one of a number of 60s/70s/80s names, like Amy, Melissa, Christine, and Jessica, that I know are pretty dated, but I would use anyway.
I'm a child of the 70s, so I'm sure I've known a convention's worth of Jennifers in my life. At three different times, across three different states, I had three different best friends all named Jennifer Lynn. When I was in elementary, I had one grade where, out of 13 girls in the class, 8 of them were named Jennifer. It is the girl name of my generation. I think I've only met one Jennifer born after 1990--she was born in 1993, and named after a 70s-born Jennifer who died in an accident.
I don't know that I've ever met a Jennifer who has gone exclusively by her full name, at least not once you get to know her. Every one I've known has used a combination of Jennifer and Jen (Jenny/Jennie, usually, when young). I'm not much of a nickname person, but I actually like Jen. I think it has the same sort of vibe as Kate--strong, not babyish.
It would be a great middle name, and that probably is the best place to put it if you can't stand Jen, but I love it as a first name. Jennifer is one of a number of 60s/70s/80s names, like Amy, Melissa, Christine, and Jessica, that I know are pretty dated, but I would use anyway.
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I can't stand 70s/80s names like Melissa, Christine and Jessica. They make me shudder. They are so bland to me from being ubiquitous that they aren't really even names to me anymore.
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It wasn't until a few years ago, when an ex-co-worker of mine used Melissa and I realized it was the first time I had met a baby Melissa in over 15 years, that I started to like the common names I grew up with. Once 70s/80s names were separated from hordes of their own kind, I could finally see how attractive they are.
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I've always liked the sound of Jennifer. That was never the problem for me. It was its rampant popularity. Even so, I briefly considered it for dd #2 because the name I really wanted didn't flow with our surname (I used it anyway). I do like the nn Jenny, however, I think I'd be more inclined to use Jenna or the full name. Have I known any born past 1990? Sure, although I couldn't tell you exactly how many. I've known quite a few over the years (before and after 1990). I'd say most have gone by Jennifer or Jen.
BTW, I read somewhere that Jennifer was so common in the 70s that by the 90s census, it officially became one of the top 10 names used in this country for women (of all ages). That's quite an impressive feat for one decade!
BTW, I read somewhere that Jennifer was so common in the 70s that by the 90s census, it officially became one of the top 10 names used in this country for women (of all ages). That's quite an impressive feat for one decade!
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It's soooo very popular that I find it so hard to seperate from it's popularity. I'm an 80s baby, so there were a million Jennifers in classes and in the workforce I meets billions as well.
It's so commonplace that it's almost like the word "great" or "nice" so overused that it's full meaning (sound) isn't appreciated anymore because of it's saturation in daily conversation.
It's so commonplace that it's almost like the word "great" or "nice" so overused that it's full meaning (sound) isn't appreciated anymore because of it's saturation in daily conversation.
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I love Jennifer, it's so pretty
And I'd use it definitely.
And I'd use it definitely.
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I like the way Jennifer sounds. I prefer it to Jen and Jenny. I like Jenny, but Jen strikes me as very bland.
I think of Jennifer as a 70s and 80s name. I'm pretty sure that I have met Jennifers who were born in the 90s, but I can't think of any off of the top of my head. I was born in the 80s and interacted with more people who were also born in the 80s.
I once encountered a baby named Jennifer perhaps 10 years ago. I don't know if she was called by a nickname, but her mom introduced her as Jennifer.
There are so many people named Jennifer who are around my age that I wouldn't use it myself, but if it were less popular, it might be on my list. I think it would make a great middle name.
I think of Jennifer as a 70s and 80s name. I'm pretty sure that I have met Jennifers who were born in the 90s, but I can't think of any off of the top of my head. I was born in the 80s and interacted with more people who were also born in the 80s.
I once encountered a baby named Jennifer perhaps 10 years ago. I don't know if she was called by a nickname, but her mom introduced her as Jennifer.
There are so many people named Jennifer who are around my age that I wouldn't use it myself, but if it were less popular, it might be on my list. I think it would make a great middle name.
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I knew a few that were born in the 80s, and like you said mostly in the 70s. However, I know it was popular in England well before then.
I think it is pretty, but I think I have heard it too much, like you said, for it to have any freshness to me.
My friend growing up went by Jennifer, never any nickname.
I think it is pretty, but I think I have heard it too much, like you said, for it to have any freshness to me.
My friend growing up went by Jennifer, never any nickname.
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I can think of four from the school I work at. One graduated one or two years ago. One is in fourth grade, one in kindergarten, and the other is three. They all go by their first names, but once in a while the kindergartener wants to go by her middle name on her assignments (Tatiana. I'm not a fan of the combo.) Three of them are the children of immigrants, so they maybe want their kids to blend in, not stand out as Hispanic, and they know that Jennifer is a common name here, so they use it. I also know a Jessica who will be five soon, and a year old Amanda.
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I don't really have a problem with popularity unless I know several personally in my area that will be around the same age as the child with the name. Even then if I really like the name the popularity wouldn't stop me from using it. I know 5 Jennifers and a Jenna. Some go primarily by Jennifer. Maybe 3 go by Jen regularly. They range from 70s-mid 90's but most are 80's.
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There was one Jenny in my grade at school (so born 1988/89) and then I know one who was in my brother's grade (1991/2). My little cousin is also dating a Jenny who would be about 16 and then there is a cute little kindergarten girl at my work named Jennifer. She is the only one I know who is always Jennifer.
I actually really like Jennifer. I don't mind Jen but I really dislike Jenny. I wouldn't use it or consider using it because she'd never stay as 'always Jennifer' :-(
I actually really like Jennifer. I don't mind Jen but I really dislike Jenny. I wouldn't use it or consider using it because she'd never stay as 'always Jennifer' :-(
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Despite its popularity and perhaps even its datedness, I like the name Jennifer.
I actually think of Jennifer as a late 80s-early 90s name, mostly because a good majority of the Jennifers I know were born between 1989 and 1996.
I know so, so, so many. I'll try to count them, lol. I know at least 25. And my neighbour has a 2-year-old named Jennifer, which really surprised me when she announced it. It really suits her though.
Two went by Jennifer, and the rest went by Jenny, Jen or Jenn. On top of that, there were two Genevieves. A lot of Gen/Jen.
I actually think of Jennifer as a late 80s-early 90s name, mostly because a good majority of the Jennifers I know were born between 1989 and 1996.
I know so, so, so many. I'll try to count them, lol. I know at least 25. And my neighbour has a 2-year-old named Jennifer, which really surprised me when she announced it. It really suits her though.
Two went by Jennifer, and the rest went by Jenny, Jen or Jenn. On top of that, there were two Genevieves. A lot of Gen/Jen.
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You mention that the majority of the Jennifers you know were born between 1989 and 1996. Jennifer was so popular for so long that I know even by the time my husband's college friend named his daughter Jennifer in 1984, upon reading the birth announcement, I rolled my eyes and said, "Oh, come on! Could they not come up with something a little more original than that?" That's literally what happened, I remember it. If I heard of a newborn Jennifer between 1989 and 1996, I probably would have had an apoplexy, but then, I put a lot of importance on avoiding popular names, which not everyone does.
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Ahah I know like.... 100 Jennifers! born around 1990. Dude seriously I know so many. Off the top of my head:
A lot of these Jens don't go by Jen, they just get called it about half the time.
Jen
Jenne that dumb b from camp
Nif
Jennifer whom I just met the other night
Jennifer
Jenny
Jennifer
Jen
Jen
2 BTN Jens
I actually really don't like the sound of the full name.
A lot of these Jens don't go by Jen, they just get called it about half the time.
Jen
Jenne that dumb b from camp
Nif
Jennifer whom I just met the other night
Jennifer
Jenny
Jennifer
Jen
Jen
2 BTN Jens
I actually really don't like the sound of the full name.
This message was edited 3/27/2012, 3:15 PM
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There was one, just one, Jennifer in my high school, and she was born circa 1960, perhaps 1959 or 1961, but definitely within that time frame, as she was in the same class as I. My older sister had two friends who each named their daughter Jennifer back in the mid 1970s. My daughter had a childhood playmate named Jennifer who was born in the early 1980s. My husband's college friend and his wife named their daughter, who was born in 1984, Jennifer. I once read the obituary of a woman who died when she was in her mid-seventies. She was born in the early 1930s. Her name was Jennifer, and it was jarring to read of a woman that old named Jennifer and I just couldn't picture it. Her parents were certainly ahead of the times. Now that you mention it, no, I have never known a Jennifer born past 1990.
High school Jennifer went by Jennifer and so did my daughter's childhood friend. The college friend's daughter was called Jenny. I'm not sure about the two Jennifers who were born in the mid 70s, and I have no idea what the dead Jennifer went by as she was totally unknown to me. (I have a morbid habit of just reading obituaries.)
I am the opposite of you when it comes to my opinion of the name. I like the "Jen" part, and I like the nicknames Jen and Jenny, but I really dislike the "fer" ending, which makes me not like the entire name nearly as much as I like the nicknames. For that reason, I don't think I ever would have considered using the name, even before it became so wildly popular.
High school Jennifer went by Jennifer and so did my daughter's childhood friend. The college friend's daughter was called Jenny. I'm not sure about the two Jennifers who were born in the mid 70s, and I have no idea what the dead Jennifer went by as she was totally unknown to me. (I have a morbid habit of just reading obituaries.)
I am the opposite of you when it comes to my opinion of the name. I like the "Jen" part, and I like the nicknames Jen and Jenny, but I really dislike the "fer" ending, which makes me not like the entire name nearly as much as I like the nicknames. For that reason, I don't think I ever would have considered using the name, even before it became so wildly popular.
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I have come to quite like Jennifer. It's very sweet. I love it in the middle name spot particularly. It adds such warmth and friendliness to a combo. It's the perfect girl-next-door name.
My bff Jenn's mom always calls her Jennifer-in-full. It's so cute.
I can't think of any Jennifers born past 1990, but I don't know that many people that age anyways.
My bff Jenn's mom always calls her Jennifer-in-full. It's so cute.
I can't think of any Jennifers born past 1990, but I don't know that many people that age anyways.
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I've always loved the name Jennifer / Jenny, popularity be darned. It's so warm and friendly. Jennifer Carys (or Carys Jennifer) is my stock combination.
The only Jennifer I know born past 1990 is Bill Gates' dd (Jennifer Catherine, sp?). I'm not sure of the exact year she was born, but I'm pretty sure it in the mid 90's. I remember being surprised at the time because I thought Jennifer was no longer that popular.
The only Jennifer I know born past 1990 is Bill Gates' dd (Jennifer Catherine, sp?). I'm not sure of the exact year she was born, but I'm pretty sure it in the mid 90's. I remember being surprised at the time because I thought Jennifer was no longer that popular.
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