What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Jennifer vs Jane - What's the difference?

jennifer | jane |

As a proper noun jennifer

is .

As a verb jane is

.

jennifer

English

Alternative forms

* Jenifer

Proper noun

(en proper noun)
  • .
  • * 1906 , The Doctor's Dilemma , Act I:
    • RIDGEON. Thats a wonderful drawing. Why is it called Jennifer ?
    MRS DUBEDAT. My name is Jennifer .
    RIDGEON. A strange name.
    MRS DUBEDAT. Not in Cornwall. I am Cornish. It's only what you call Guinevere.
  • * 1960 , The Hunt for Richard Thorpe , Doubleday, page 10:
    • "Most people's sisters have decent names like Jennifer or Jane or something. What did you say hers was?"
  • * 2000 , Nothing Gold Can Stay , Dutton, ISBN 0525945598, page 131:
    • Jennifer . Jenny with the light brown hair. Jenny-fair, their high school French teacher had called her, and fair she had been.

    Usage notes

    The name was mostly used in Cornwall before the 20th century. It became popular in all English-speaking countries, first in UK in the 1950s, and then in US as the top name for women born in 1970-1984.

    Related terms

    * Gaynor * Ginevra * Guinevere * pet forms: Jeni, Jen, Jennie, Jenny, Jenni, Jeny ----

    jane

    English

    Alternative forms

    * Jayne, Jaine

    Proper noun

    (s)
  • ; the standard feminine form of John since the 17th century.
  • * 1605 William Camden: Remains Concerning Britain . John Russell Smith, 1870. p.103-104:
    • In latter years some of the better and nicer sort, misliking Joan, have mollified the name of Joan into Jane', as it may seem, for that ' Jane is never found in old Records; and as some will, never before the time of King Henry the eight.
  • * 1830 , Our Village: Fourth Series: Cottage Names:
    • People will please their fancies, and every lady has favourite names. I myself have several, and they are mostly short and simple. Jane', that queenly name! '''Jane''' Seymour, '''Jane''' Grey, 'the noble ' Jane de Montford;' - - -
  • * 1912 (H.H.Munro), The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope :
    • "What I mean is," said Mrs. Riversedge, "that when I get maids with unsuitable names I call them Jane ; they soon get used to it."
    "An excellent plan," said the aunt of Clovis coldly; "unfortunately I have got used to being called Jane myself. It happens to be my name."
  • derived from a (etyl) variant of John.

    • Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    Related terms

    (variants and pet forms) * Jan * Janelle * Janet * Janice * Janie * Janine * Janis * Jean * Jeanette * Jeanne * Jeannette * Jenna * Jennie * Jenny * Jessie * Jo * Joan * Joann * Joanna * Jodi * Jodie * Jody * Johanna * Juanita

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A woman, often specifically a girlfriend
    • What happened to your regular Jane ?

    Alternative forms

    * jane

    Anagrams

    * * ----