Jean (f)
I am completely smitten with Jean (f). Simple, breezy, and elegant, the name delivers so much in so few letters and sounds. What does everyone think?
As for combinations, I resent the tendency of middle names to overpower pithy first names, which I fear is manifest in some of the following:
Jean Abigail
Jean Agatha
Jean Alice
Jean Amabel (honors my mother, Amy)
Jean Beatrice
Jean Bernadette
Jean Blythe
Jean Camilla
Jean Caroline
Jean Cecily
Jean Clara
Jean Clarice
Jean Clarissa
Jean Claudia
Jean Clementine
Jean Constance
Jean Cordelia
Jean Diana
Jean Dorothy
Jean Eleanor
Jean Eliza
Jean Emeline
Jean Flora
Jean Florence
Jean Frances
Jean Gloria
Jean Harriet
Jean Hazel
Jean Helena
Jean Iris
Jean Isabel / Isobel
Jean Julia
Jean Lilian
Jean Lilias
Jean Louisa
Jean Lydia
Jean Margot
Jean Marguerite
Jean Mariel
Jean Marigold
Jean Mathilda / Matilda
Jean Millicent
Jean Odette
Jean Olivia
Jean Opal
Jean Penelope
Jean Philippa
Jean Rebecca
Jean Renata
Jean Rosalind
Jean Rosamond / Rosamund
Jean Rosemary
Jean Rosetta
Jean Susanna / Susannah
Jean Sylvia
Jean Ursula
Jean Violet
Jean Vivien / Vivienne
Jean Winifred
As for combinations, I resent the tendency of middle names to overpower pithy first names, which I fear is manifest in some of the following:
Jean Abigail
Jean Agatha
Jean Alice
Jean Amabel (honors my mother, Amy)
Jean Beatrice
Jean Bernadette
Jean Blythe
Jean Camilla
Jean Caroline
Jean Cecily
Jean Clara
Jean Clarice
Jean Clarissa
Jean Claudia
Jean Clementine
Jean Constance
Jean Cordelia
Jean Diana
Jean Dorothy
Jean Eleanor
Jean Eliza
Jean Emeline
Jean Flora
Jean Florence
Jean Frances
Jean Gloria
Jean Harriet
Jean Hazel
Jean Helena
Jean Iris
Jean Isabel / Isobel
Jean Julia
Jean Lilian
Jean Lilias
Jean Louisa
Jean Lydia
Jean Margot
Jean Marguerite
Jean Mariel
Jean Marigold
Jean Mathilda / Matilda
Jean Millicent
Jean Odette
Jean Olivia
Jean Opal
Jean Penelope
Jean Philippa
Jean Rebecca
Jean Renata
Jean Rosalind
Jean Rosamond / Rosamund
Jean Rosemary
Jean Rosetta
Jean Susanna / Susannah
Jean Sylvia
Jean Ursula
Jean Violet
Jean Vivien / Vivienne
Jean Winifred
Replies
I get simple from Jean. Even breezy. But I don't get elegant. To me, Jean is more down-to-earth, rugged even. But maybe it's just me.
From your list, these stand out as really great:
Jean Amabel
Jean Dorothy
Jean Emeline
Jean Millicent
I don't think these flow very well:
Jean Camilla
Jean Clara
Jean Opal
Jean Renata
Jean Susanna
From your list, these stand out as really great:
Jean Amabel
Jean Dorothy
Jean Emeline
Jean Millicent
I don't think these flow very well:
Jean Camilla
Jean Clara
Jean Opal
Jean Renata
Jean Susanna
I tend to best enjoy the sound of Jean as a middle name (the long "o" of Joan helps me enjoy that one more as a first name) but I do like the feel of Jean and I noticed, in your poll, that it's more versatile than I gave it credit for. Of the combinations you listed, these are my favorites...
Jean Alice - seeing crisp white linens hanging on a sunny clothesline
Jean Amabel (honors my mother, Amy) - jaunty and sweet
Jean Bernadette - these feel so fitting together
Jean Caroline - Caroline brings out sunny sweetness
Jean Clarice - doubt it's what you intended, but I'm wanting to rhyme mn with "Paris" here and I like it
Jean Eleanor - for me, Eleanor lends more sophistication and seriousness to Jean
Jean Eliza - this feels both spunky and bookish to me
Jean Florence - lovely; surprising myself here as I don't usually care for "red" and "green" together unless it's a seasonal birth type name
Jean Frances - quite sensible
Jean Gloria - "red" and "gold"
Jean Harriet - sensible with a dash of spunk
Jean Helena - stressing first syllable of mn with this one
Jean Penelope - fun-loving and sweet
Jean Alice - seeing crisp white linens hanging on a sunny clothesline
Jean Amabel (honors my mother, Amy) - jaunty and sweet
Jean Bernadette - these feel so fitting together
Jean Caroline - Caroline brings out sunny sweetness
Jean Clarice - doubt it's what you intended, but I'm wanting to rhyme mn with "Paris" here and I like it
Jean Eleanor - for me, Eleanor lends more sophistication and seriousness to Jean
Jean Eliza - this feels both spunky and bookish to me
Jean Florence - lovely; surprising myself here as I don't usually care for "red" and "green" together unless it's a seasonal birth type name
Jean Frances - quite sensible
Jean Gloria - "red" and "gold"
Jean Harriet - sensible with a dash of spunk
Jean Helena - stressing first syllable of mn with this one
Jean Penelope - fun-loving and sweet
I like Jean, but I think it's commonly regarded as a bit boring.
I like these of your list (hurrah for 'heavy' MNs):
Jean Amabel (I mostly like it bc it's honouring, Jean Amaryllis & Jean Amandine would be lovely too)
Jean Eleanor
Jean Eliza
Jean Helena
Jean Lilias
Jean Marguerite (except I get the tendency to say ZHAWN with a French MN)
Jean Mathilda
Jean Rosalind
Jean Rosamond / Rosamund
Jean Violet
Whatever you do, just steer clear of Jean Marie, because that a MALE combo. (I know several males named Jean-Marie)
I like these of your list (hurrah for 'heavy' MNs):
Jean Amabel (I mostly like it bc it's honouring, Jean Amaryllis & Jean Amandine would be lovely too)
Jean Eleanor
Jean Eliza
Jean Helena
Jean Lilias
Jean Marguerite (except I get the tendency to say ZHAWN with a French MN)
Jean Mathilda
Jean Rosalind
Jean Rosamond / Rosamund
Jean Violet
Whatever you do, just steer clear of Jean Marie, because that a MALE combo. (I know several males named Jean-Marie)
This message was edited 12/9/2013, 10:09 AM
I rather fancy Scottish names with Jean. Jean Fiona; Jean Margaret; Jean Isobel; Jean Elspeth; Jean Alison; and I once knew a Jean Elizabeth, which takes gravitas to new levels. Jean Beatrice, Jean Caroline, Jean Harriet, Jean Penelope, Jean Philippa and Jean Suzette rather than Jean Susanna(h) are all lovely but most of your suggestions are good.
Jean feels too dated, in my opinion. I also automatically read Jean as the male name Jean, so it feels masculine to me. Jeanne seems much more feminine, and more... complete, I guess? Not sure why. I also like the similar Jane or Joan better.
I also agree that a lot of the middle names you listed could easily overpower Jean. It definitely sounds best with names that were also popular at the same time as Jean, which seems to be a lot of your list. Here's some of your combos I really liked:
Jean Beatrice
Jean Blythe
Jean Florence
Jean Isobel
Jean Margot
Jean Susannah
Jean Sylvia
Jean Winifred
I also agree that a lot of the middle names you listed could easily overpower Jean. It definitely sounds best with names that were also popular at the same time as Jean, which seems to be a lot of your list. Here's some of your combos I really liked:
Jean Beatrice
Jean Blythe
Jean Florence
Jean Isobel
Jean Margot
Jean Susannah
Jean Sylvia
Jean Winifred