View Message

I prefer Jane, June, and Joan to Jean. Jean feels the most dated of them and also the least elegant/classy to me.

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 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.

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)

This message was edited 12/9/2013, 10:09 AM

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

... Load Full Message

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