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Jane or Jean?
Do you prefer Jane or Jean for a girl, and why?
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I like each name equally: however, I would always use or assign as full a first name as possible, to allow for the name bearer to use as many possible nicknames as conceivable: I do not know of any longer formalities for Jane, but for Jean - I would use Jeannine (or any spelling).

This message was edited 11/7/2015, 5:23 AM

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I think Jean is the tomboy version of Jane.Jane is more feminine-classic.I'd go with Jane, probably because I read Pride & Prejudice when I was an impressionable preteen, and Jane Bennet was sweetness personified.
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I prefer Jane but Jean is a family name, so I will probably end up using it.
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JeanJane is lovely, but Jean is a brazen firebrand who can defy you just as triumphantly as she can entrance you.
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Jane. I don't like the sound of Jean.
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Jane, for sureJean just never appealed to me. It sounds so unattractive.
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My preference is Jean. Contrary to other responses, I actually think Jane sounds kind of harsh in comparison - it reminds me of chains, perhaps? I do like Jane, but I think I only like it because of Jane Eyre, Jane Austen, Jane Bennett, etc.Jean is spunky and cool, and doesn't need to be bogged down by the extra letters in Jeanne. It does remind me of jeans as some have mentioned, but I don't think that's a bad thing! Jeanie is also super adorable, whereas I see Janey as a bit whiny.
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JaneMore softer and feminine
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I like Jane. It's so open and airy and also warm. Jean is cool too, it's more hipster-chic, it's smart and wry and alert. But I'm a Jane fan.
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I like Jane - I once met a little girl named Jane and it was adorable on her. I'm sure she was the only one among Emmas and Lilys. Jean is kinda cool; it makes a neat middle name. This spelling is rare these days where I'm from; even among the older population. I see more Jeannes than Jeans.If I had to pick, I'd choose Jane or Jayne.
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I like them both and I think it just depends on the combo. Jane is sweet. Jean is spunky. I prefer Jean a lot of the time as Jane is getting to be overused.
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I prefer Jane, but Jean is also pleasing, and I could see preferring Jean at a different time. I love Esther Jean, but Martha Jane. It depends on the context.
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JaneI find Jean a bit dated. It's not bad, just a bit dated. Whereas I see Jane as sweet and timeless.
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JaneJane. I love Jane and Joan, but Jean runs a distant third. Something about Jean feels tired. It doesn't shine with the same luster.
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I personally prefer Jane, I'm not exactly sure why, I suppose I just like prefer the A sound than I do the E sound.
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I like them both. Jean is a family name on both sides, but I'd use it as a mn if at all, while I'd happily use Jane as either fn or mn.Does that mean I prefer Jane? Yeah, probaly.
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Definitely Jane for me. It has a much more pleasant sound to me, and feels more vintage whereas Jean is more dated.

This message was edited 11/4/2015, 10:52 PM

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JaneIt's classic whereas Jean is dated. Plus Jane is just nicer to say and to hear =)
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Jane without a doubt. I find the sound and look of this name far more appealing than Jean. Jean just reminds me of jeans, as in the pants. Jane is timeless and classic and beautiful. It's simple, yes, but that's what makes it beautiful imo.
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Jane.I like the look of Jean, but whenever i hear it spoken i just think of blue jeans. I think i like Joan better than either. More unusual, plus i like that it rhymes with roan (I always wanted a roan horse)

This message was edited 11/4/2015, 9:39 PM

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I'm not a fan of either, but if I had to choose, Jane. I just think it sounds nicer and more feminine.
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That's really difficult. I like them about the same, but I'll side with Jane because Jean sounds like Gene and reminds me of denim jeans.
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Jane.It's elegant, yet simple and not frilly. Jean is too similar to John.
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I don't love either but much prefer Jane. I just prefer the way it looks and sounds. Plus, I'll admit that Jean doesn't come off as sophisticated as Jane. I even prefer Joan to Jean. Then again, my MIL is Jean (Gloria Jean) so perhaps therein lies the real reason that I dislike Jean. ;-)
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Jean. It's more of a wall flower than Jane and I'm all for the underdog. Plus, I adore the nn Jeanie. There's something very friendly about Jean. As a first name, I hear bagpipes. As a middle name, I hear banjos. :0)

This message was edited 11/4/2015, 6:29 PM

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Banjos ... that's it exactly! Not a fan of Jean although I agree with you that in the fn position, the name does have a somewhat different feel to it.
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