# Jennifers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831 "2003-03-28T18:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lovelyluka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lovelyluka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelyluka)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/21 "2003-03-28T20:19:47Z")
Ehhh, I don’t see how changing your name to Jennifer would help anything…because there are so many that it’s a very “variable” name. On my list of Jennifers in my extended circle of friends: B. #1, who is one of the smartest, funniest, coolest people I know; chemistry major; dates a recording artist K., who is very involved with her sorority; friendly; majors in biology and sociology; has a teddy bear of a bf E., who is sporty and has been engaged three times to date, twice to the same guy, never married O., who graduated at the top of our class; is incredibly hot but also a prude; wants to be a lawyer and/or politician B. #2, who is generally annoying and talks too much; has ok luck with guys but is also kind of easy C., a communications major who spends most of her time with her sorority and trying to be someone she isn’t L., my best friend’s mother who is a counselor here at the school and a wonderful person to talk to… etc. etc. ad infinitum I think you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Vixenation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/278dde/32.png) [@Vixenation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vixenation)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/22 "2003-03-28T20:28:23Z")
Funny, I was just commenting on how I think there are entirely too many girls named Jennifer (and Ashley and Madison/Maddy), and opened this thread with that in mind :). I have five male friends, all of which are friends with one another. Three have girlfriends named Jen, two like girls named Jen. All five Jens refuse to go by any other variant of the name Jennifer. As for Jens getting more men, I don’t know about that. I’ve encountered some attractive, friendly Jens, but just as many that were not so and boring. I guess to improve my luck, I’d want Heather. I’ve never met a Heather that wasn’t gorgeous and loved by guys. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/23 "2003-03-28T21:03:03Z")
Before my kids were born I found a book called “What not to name the baby” It described how the child would turn out based on their name. It was a very funny book. if you can find a copy see what it says about the different names. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/24 "2003-03-28T21:13:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*I am a Jennifer. I have attempted to go by Jeffie. (Short for Jeffiner.) There is only one person in the world who calls me Jenny on a regular basis. I’m not particularly fond of that version of the name. > > Also, when I’m a Jenn, I have two n’s. I don’t like “Jen.” > > My school had a graduating class of about 125. In that group there were five Jennifers. We all went by Jennifer Lastname, as **Motorgirl** described. \*\* I know lots of Jenns, Jens, Jennies, Jennys, and Jennifers. I also know a Genevieve who goes by Genni. AND, one of the Jennifers I know was nicknamed (by me) “Jeffiner” and has been called “Jeff” ever since. I never met another one 'til now! (I also know girls named George and Mitch, both variations of their real names.) ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/25 "2003-03-28T21:14:48Z")
Ah…so familiar. My name is Jessica and up until the past few years, when most of my same-named peers disappeared off the face of the planet, I was always called by my first and last names. The tragedy is, the other option my parents were considering was…yes, Jennifer. :smack: Luckily, friends of theirs had a daughter a few weeks before them and named her Jennifer, so they switched to Jessica. Good thing I am fond of my name, hmm? Don’t like Jennifer…of course, I don’t know that many Jennifers. Just two, but I know at least four Emilys that I’m inclined to talk about in regular conversation. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/26 "2003-03-28T21:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Breezy \* > \*\* > > For some reason, every woman named Vicky/Vickie that I’ve known has been a real bitch! > \*\* Ain’t it so true! My first experience of a VickiBitch [sub]TM[/sub] was my older sister, and no Vicki I have met since has managed to change my mind. {Again, apologies to any pleasant Vickis out there). ---
**Author:** ![coyasicanbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@coyasicanbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyasicanbe)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/27 "2003-03-28T21:58:13Z")
My wife’s name is Jennifer, but everyone at work (we work at the same place) calls her Jenny. I call her Jen. We also have a Janny and a Jeannie plus two Janes and a Janie. Then there’s two Jim’s and a Julie (used to be two Julie’s but one quit). What was the question? ---
**Author:** ![Rug\_Burn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rug\_Burn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rug_Burn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/28 "2003-03-28T22:13:25Z")
I’ve got a next door neighbor that is pretty hot, named Jennifer. But, it is really so ordinary. If you want something unique and very sexy; how about Genviev. Yummy ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/29 "2003-03-28T22:18:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > \*\* Is there a name that you’d like to have to improve your luck? > \*\* I like my name just fine. Sure, it sounds kinda dumb, but I’ve grown to like it. (My user name is my real life name… I hope after I’ve said that I don’t attract any stalkers :smack:.) ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/30 "2003-03-28T22:56:29Z")
I have a cousin named Jessica and one named Jennifer. They are sisters. They have a sister, Jaime, and their mom (my aunt) is Janie. Jessica is married to Jim, and they have Jaycee and Josh. I once knew a girl who started spelling her name Jennipher, just to be a little different, but who am I to talk? I’m an mle. (Emily) When I was named Emily, there weren’t any other Emilies! Now it’s the most popular girl’s name! unspecial, mle ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/31 "2003-03-28T23:46:26Z")
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned “Neffer” yet. There is an art teacher in my hometown who goes by Neffer, in memory of her dad, who called her that. In the “Emily” vein, my name is Emma and people are always trying to call me Emily. This makes me grrrrrrrrr. Not because I have anything against the name Emily. It just isn’t. my. name. ---
**Author:** ![Branwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Branwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Branwen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/32 "2003-03-29T04:36:39Z")
I’d be willing to trade. Sometimes it feels like almost half of the female population in the U.S. is named Jennifer. I go by Jen, Jenn, Jenna, Jenny, Jinny and (thanks to my little brother) Niffer. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/33 "2003-03-29T04:40:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kung fu lola \* > \*\*In the “Emily” vein, my name is Emma and people are always trying to call me Emily. This makes me grrrrrrrrr. Not because I have anything against the name Emily. It just isn’t. my. name. \*\* My husband is John, and people are forever Jonathanizing him. I get cranky (no, not **Cranky** ) when people assume my name is short for something else, too… it IS short for something, but not what most people think it’s short for! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/34 "2003-03-29T04:43:40Z")
(slight hijack) PS: Welcome to the SDMB, **Branwen**. I had a character named Brynwend once. ---
**Author:** ![Branwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Branwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Branwen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/35 "2003-03-29T04:52:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > \*\*(slight hijack) PS: Welcome to the SDMB, **Branwen**. I had a character named Brynwend once. \*\* Thanks for the welcome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/36 "2003-03-29T05:12:41Z")
I was lucky. In my whole high school, there was only one other person who shared my name. The downside was, she was part of my small circle of friends. What do you figure the odds of that are? ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/37 "2003-03-29T08:27:13Z")
To the OP: My name used to be Jennifer/Jen and I _never_ had much luck with guys (could have been cos I was into girls… but I never had much luck with them either ☹ ) I actually changed my name to Jaimie instead because I think it suited me better, and I’ve had heaps more success with girls since then 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/38 "2003-03-29T13:41:59Z")
I know a guy named Jennifer. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/39 "2003-03-29T14:01:57Z")
I’m fairly lucky in that I like my name but if I were to change it I have one picked out that sounds similar enough to my real name that I would respond to it by reflex. It has the same number of consanants, vowels, and sylables as my name and is even identically structred. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831/40 "2003-03-29T14:17:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*I knew a Jennifer who went by “Nej” (pronounced _nedge_, “Jen” spelled backwards). That was how important it was for her to stand out from the crowd. \*\* I knew one who used Guinivere as a means of standing out from all the “Jennifers, Jens and Jennys”. Luckily, I was born a little too early to be a Jennifer - I don’t think it had hit the peak of its popularity. Instead, I got Laura. I was the only one in my elementary school class… But by high school, when three schools merged into one there were (just in my class): four Lauras, two Lauries and at least one Laurel (there may have been another). The four Lauras had last names that began with: A,B,C and D. So for homeroom or any other alphabetically assigned class we were together. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifers/164831.md?page=3)