A Jennifer in California

Jenn M., 28:

I was born a Jennifer, but I rarely go by Jennifer anymore. I am

destined to be a Jenn with 2 N's. I have no aversion to the name

Jennifer, and at work many superiors refuse to call me by my nickname.

But anybody who has known me for longer than a day knows I prefer to go

by Jenn. Jenny makes me want to cry. There are 2 people in this world

who are allowed to call me by this abhorrent name; Grandma and my

niece Stacey.

I was born in 1981 in Oceanside, California. Mom didn't name me after

anybody famous, or after someone she once knew. She just liked the

name. My sister and brother have equally popular names (Michelle and

Mark). There were something like 15 Jennifer's in my graduating class,

and 5 other co-workers right now that share the same name. I find

myself turning my head to the sound of Jennifer a lot, and I find it

insanely entertaining when the Jennifer in my row, and the Jennifer

across the room do the same thing. We all smile accordingly,

appreciating the bond we share.

I don't remember disliking my name, just the fact that it is so

normal. I grew up being the oddball, the outcast, the child that

nobody understood. The art freak. The rebel. My name just didn't fit

my personality at all. But as the years went on, I became increasingly

more "normal" and I grew into my name. The fact that I'm a redhead has

been my only saving grace in this world of endless Jennifer's; it

helps keep me original and unique.

My goal of individuality aside, I love being a Jennifer. A Jenn. Never

a Jenny. And I have come to realize a name is just a name. I may have

one of the most common names in the country, but it doesn't make me common.