Jane: Plain and worn-out or Beautiful and Underused?

[sunshine.10]

I'm curious to see what you Berries think! I always thought this name was too "plain Jane," but after reading Jane Eyre recently I've been starting to see it as a very beautiful classic. Would you like to see it used? Is the "plain Jane" connotation too strong?

Thanks!

[uselesskitty]

I used to think of it as plain and ugly, but like a lot of older names that are making a come back, it has grown on me. It is a sweet name.

[mommyhonu]

I LOVE the name Jane. I only know of one Jane, and she's named after a family member. I think that it's classy and sweet, definitely not "trendy" which is a plus.

[lexiem]

Can I say both? I also can't decide. I love Jane - esp after reading Jane Eyre or all of Jane Austin. I think if you pair it will a really great mn it's anything but boring. Something like Jane Priscilla Skymanski would definitely be fresh and intriguing. However, I'd think that a Jane Ann Wilson as a name would be rather unremarkable.

[sammi]

Growing up my best friend's mum was called Jane. She was a lovely, happy, down to earth mum with a good sense of humour. It's a good classic name but definatly not unique or original.

[sunshine.10]

Can I say both? I also can't decide. I love Jane - esp after reading Jane Eyre or all of Jane Austin. I think if you pair it will a really great mn it's anything but boring. Something like Jane Priscilla Skymanski would definitely be fresh and intriguing. However, I'd think that a Jane Ann Wilson as a name would be rather unremarkable.

Yes, I agree. I think a lot depends on the last name.

Thank you all for the feedback so far?

Oh, and another question, what about Jane in the middle spot? Is it elegant or does it sound filler? Perhaps something like Adelaide Jane or Evanna Jane...

[sylfessev]

I think of Jane as simultaneously plain and beautiful. It would be good to endow it with a more unusual and quirky middle name. Jane as a middle name is fine, and goes well with a good amount of names.

[maple_blythe]

I like it-- classic name with plenty of namesakes and history. It's also decidedly underused.

It's worth noting that Jane re-entered Utah's top 100 in 2008, and Utah seems to be a sort of name bellwether state: Emily was revived there first in the 70s, and more recently Eliza re-entered the top 100 there about 10 years ago and has been steadily climbing since. There are many, many examples of names starting out in Utah which have then spread like wildfire (Madison and Aubrey, along side Eliza and Emily). Jane (#368) is rising in use across the US where her no-nonsense English sisters Ellen (#699), Anne (#593), Susan (#781), and Frances (#789) are still falling. Jane is the sort of name that would be just as classic, just as strong, in the top 100, I think-- so the more Janes the better!-- but if you're liking Jane as a name outside the top 300 (or even top 200), it might just not stay there over the next five or ten years

edit to add: I much prefer Jane as a first name. As a middle, it's in the same category as Anne, Rose, Grace, Louise, and Elizabeth. But I'm Canadian and British, so it might be more of a filler in those two countries than in other parts of the world. I know multiple C/Katherine Janes, Phoebe Janes, and Laura Janes! Also at least one each of Elizabeth Jane, Fiona Jane, Heather Jane, Alison Jane, Naomi Jane...

[erinlw]

I really like Jane a lot. It's sweet and has great literary references.

[libbyj06]

It is my mom's middle(her name is Alice Jayne) and I always thought it was plain when I was younger. Now that I'm having children and wanting to honor her, I think Jayne/Jane is a great option. I plan on using it as a middle with Anneliese Ivy Jayne. I think it would be a pretty first name as well, although I prefer Jayna.