My best friend told me I can't use the name I want

Grade School Bully · June 2011

You probably get this alot.

My husband and I love the name Jenna but I never told my bestie that we were thinking of it. She is a month further along than me and was thinking of either Gianna or Carolina. I just got my anatomy scan ultrasound and ITS A GIRL! We're so excted. I called my bestie to say that we're going to have a little Jenna Elyse. She said that she and her husband picked Gianna Carolina (just used the two they couldn't decide between) and if I named my baby Jenna, she said "one of us will have to move because we would get confused."

I don't get how we'd get confused. If I'm talking about my daughter, it's Jenna. If she's talking about her daughter it's Gianna. I'm not going to wonder "Wait? My daughter or your daughter just got her first tooth?" That is ridiculous.

Or am I wrong?

starsjaime · June 2011

Gianna and Jenna don't sound anything alike to me. they are completely different, in my opinion.

I think you will be okay! and besides, no one has any right to say "you can't use a name because of xyz reason".

urmyantichrist · June 2011

ummm She needs to get over herself..lol

Use the name, it's gorgeous! Congrats on the girl!!

StrawberryAlarmClock · June 2011

Well the general consensus on this board is "no one owns a name". I'm still LOLing at the idea that you'd get confused. Whaaa? Haha. You should mess with her: wait, was that Gianna or Jenna who just kicked my spleen? I'm confused. Seriously though, hormones run rampant during pregnancy. I'm sure she'll cool off. Don't let others affect your name choice. Who knows where you'll be (or who you'll be friends with) in a decade.

MAMAxB · June 2011

Hmmm.. interesting. She sounds like she's used to getting what she wants

The two are nothing alike to me (I prefer Jenna for the record)

Whatever with her!

Rose&Nick09 · June 2011

I think she is being realllllly silly. Jenna and Gianna are not the same name. My best friend and I have the same name and no one gets us confused. If I were you I'd let it settle with her for awhile and then bring it up again so that she knows you are using Jenna and that you hope she is using Gianna.

And I LOVE Jenna Elyse!

PeridotEyes · June 2011

Your bestie is crazy

Jenna & Gianna are totally different. I know, my daughter's nickname is Genna.

MissPrettyMomma · June 2011

Grade School Bully:

You probably get this alot.

My husband and I love the name Jenna but I never told my bestie that we were thinking of it. She is a month further along than me and was thinking of either Gianna or Carolina. I just got my anatomy scan ultrasound and ITS A GIRL! We're so excted. I called my bestie to say that we're going to have a little Jenna Elyse. She said that she and her husband picked Gianna Carolina (just used the two they couldn't decide between) and if I named my baby Jenna, she said "one of us will have to move because we would get confused."

I don't get how we'd get confused. If I'm talking about my daughter, it's Jenna. If she's talking about her daughter it's Gianna. I'm not going to wonder "Wait? My daughter or your daughter just got her first tooth?" That is ridiculous.

Or am I wrong?

They sound nothing alike and most ppl will prbablly call her daughter gigi as a nickname anyways..sounds like she needs to get over it!

BabyBLove · June 2011

Your friend is nuts. For one, she has NO right telling you what you can and can't name your daughter. And two, Jenna and Gianna do not sound alike! Where is the confusion??

Name YOUR daughter what YOU want!

LaComtesse · June 2011

To everyone saying they're nothing alike--they actually are when you pronounce "Gianna" correctly (Jah-nah), so it could be Jah-nah and Jenna, which is similar.

That said, and you'll pardon my lack of decorum, but is she fvcking serious? That is absolutely ridiculous and it makes her sound spoiled, juvenile, and kind of dumb, frankly. You use whatever name your heart desires.

Moneypenny424 · June 2011

This is hilarious--your friend needs to get over herself! They are not the same name and no one needs to move Wink

victoria1977 · June 2011

No, you are not wrong. She is just being stupid and annoying.

aubreysmom1 · June 2011

Seriously? They're never even close to the same name. I agree, she can get over herself. Use the name YOU want

kmhb2010 · June 2011

This is crazy!! You should name your child what you want to name your child, and nobody has the right to tell you otherwise!! I'm sorry that you even had to have this conversation with your best friend!

TyrinM03 · June 2011

BabyBLove:

Your friend is nuts. For one, she has NO right telling you what you can and can't name your daughter. And two, Jenna and Gianna do not sound alike! Where is the confusion??

Name YOUR daughter what YOU want!

balihaigirl · June 2011

Gianna /=Jenna. They are completely different names. If she has a problem with it, SHE can change her baby's name. If you like the name, then go for it.

mnmgirl078 · June 2011

Tell her you're set on Jenna and if she thinks there will be any confusion, then SHE should choose a different name.

ara_cale · June 2011

Rose&Nick09:
I think she is being realllllly silly. Jenna and Gianna are not the same name. My best friend and I have the same name and no one gets us confused. If I were you I'd let it settle with her for awhile and then bring it up again so that she knows you are using Jenna and that you hope she is using Gianna.

And I LOVE Jenna Elyse!

This exactly right down to me and my best friend having the same name.

kmv68 · June 2011

Your friend is out of line, Gianna and Jenna are TOTALLY different.

BTW, I have an 8 yr old niece named Jenna Elise!!!!

Keri Marie · June 2011

It should be fine. I like Jenna

tct1219 · June 2011

LaComtesse:
To everyone saying they're nothing alike--they actually are when you pronounce "Gianna" correctly (Jah-nah), so it could be Jah-nah and Jenna, which is similar.
That said, and you'll pardon my lack of decorum, but is she fvcking serious? That is absolutely ridiculous and it makes her sound spoiled, juvenile, and kind of dumb, frankly. You use whatever name your heart desires.

while they are similar, imo they're not too close that they'll constantly be confused. it doesn't sound like this girl will be a lifelong friend anyway so i definitely wouldn't let her influence my decision in naming my child.

LaComtesse · June 2011

tct1219:
LaComtesse:
To everyone saying they're nothing alike--they actually are when you pronounce "Gianna" correctly (Jah-nah), so it could be Jah-nah and Jenna, which is similar.
That said, and you'll pardon my lack of decorum, but is she fvcking serious? That is absolutely ridiculous and it makes her sound spoiled, juvenile, and kind of dumb, frankly. You use whatever name your heart desires.
while they are similar, imo they're not too close that they'll constantly be confused. it doesn't sound like this girl will be a lifelong friend anyway so i definitely wouldn't let her influence my decision in naming my child.

Oh, absolutely. It's a complete non-issue.

cmw&tdm · June 2011

I think that Jenna and Gianna are far enough from sounding the same that they won't be a problem. Your BFF can change her name if she wants.

mrsh1545 · June 2011

Not sure what her problem is...Gianna and Jenna are different names. They don't sound alike.

Congrats on the baby girl!!

CluckyEV · June 2011

and ditto what everyone else said. Your baby you get to pick the name, she does not like it, she can pick Carolina.

emnoahmom · June 2011

Wow, your friend needs to grow up. Jenna and Gianna are so different in style it should matter. I have an Emma and six years later DH's cousin had a Gemma. I don't care, to me they have a completely different feel.

Angel0423 · June 2011

maybe she should move if she will be confused!

zaramarie81 · June 2011

Your best friend doesn't sound like she's being a great friend right now.

Her response to your Jenna should have been:

Oh wow, congrats!!!! What a beautiful name. I am so happy for you!!!

The end.

CAM2007 · June 2011

She is being ridiculous! Go with your choice. They are nothing alike.

RobinSparkles214 · June 2011

She needs to get over herself. The two names are nothing alike.

sprinkle pop · June 2011

That's completely ridiculous! Ignore her and do what you want. If she's really a good friend she'll get over it and herself! Congrats, girls are so much fun!

Clerk9 · June 2011

I'm gonna go out on a limb & say that she's kidding. I really don't think anyone would make that comment seriously.

seashell_83 · June 2011

Congrats on haveing a girl!!! I think Jenna Elyse is beautiful and that you should use it for your little girl. Jenna sounds nothing like Gianna and in my opinion is way prettier anyway

starlight8323 · June 2011

mnmgirl078:

Tell her you're set on Jenna and if she thinks there will be any confusion, then SHE should choose a different name.

This.

She should just switch her daughter's name to Carolina Gianna, since they liked both names so much. IMO, it flows much better than Gianna Carolina anyway.

ashb123 · June 2011

LaComtesse:
To everyone saying they're nothing alike--they actually are when you pronounce "Gianna" correctly (Jah-nah), so it could be Jah-nah and Jenna, which is similar.
That said, and you'll pardon my lack of decorum, but is she fvcking serious? That is absolutely ridiculous and it makes her sound spoiled, juvenile, and kind of dumb, frankly. You use whatever name your heart desires.

This. The only Gianna I know pronounces it like this and her family is pure Italian. But, with that being said, I also agree that your friend sounds spoiled and you should name your daughter what you want.

magnoliablossom00 · June 2011

From a teacher's perspective..... Does she think her LO will be the only Gianna that ever lived? I have had years that I have had 3 girls with the same name in my class.

And I agree with PP, ppl will probably call her daughter Gigi, whether she likes it or not, it is a common nn for Gianna.

Under.the.Rose · June 2011

The world revolves around a pregnant woman's baby, that's just the way every mom feels... now I think she's taking it a bit too far with the name thing, but I think that's where this is coming from. Your babies are both going to be so different from one another and will suit their individual names so much that you won't be thinking twice about any slight similarity in the names Gianna and Jenna.

Once she has her baby and has a glass of wine, she'll losen up about this. haha

SummerBaby12 · June 2011

Your friend is psycho...they are not even close to the same name..Jenna is like an 80s American name and Gianna is Italian...crazy...If I was in your situation I would purposely name my child Jenna because I would be so annoyed at her thinking these are close to the same name and anyways why does she even get a say in what you name your child! UGH!