The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Jenna!

Comments and insights on the name Jenna: | Edit

One of my friend's older sister goes by Jenna, and I always assumed that it was short for Jennifer, but only recently I learned that it's short for Jennalyse(Jenna-lees). I think her parents made it up but I'm not sure. But I think Jennalyse is alot prettier and more unique than Jennifer.

Personal experiences with the name Jenna: | Edit

My name is Jenna and I love my name....it's not so common that everyone knows like 5 Jennas but it is common enough for people to be able to pronounce it correctly. I never have gotten called any mean names from the name Jenna. A lot of people compliment on my name....My middle name is Michele which I think flows very nicely...if you need some ideas(: I do get asked if my name is short for Jennifer but not too often. Very rarely is my name misspelled. I would completely recommend naming your daughter Jenna.

I like my name, not very common growing up, but people could still pronounce it. However, if you are thinking of naming your daughter Jenna, just be aware of the things she will have to endure.
#1 People we ALWAYS ask if her name is short for anything. ALWAYS. And trust me, it gets annoying.
#2 In school and life, people will say many words that in the beginning sound like the name Jenna. For example, if someone is talking about the bible and say Genesis, your daughter will turn her head as if someone called her name. This is because the name Jenna is pronounced in the word genesis. and this happens with A LOT of words.
#3 In school, people will call her weird nicknames as a joke, but they are NOT funny. For example, genocide, genitals, generous, and genesis. Even though those words are spelled with a "G" and Jenna is spelled with a "J", they will STILL call her it.
#4 People will always shorten the name, without the girl's permission, and call her "Jen."
#5 People will commonly misspell Jenna as "Gina," even though it's not pronounced with a g.
#6 People ask me why I don't just go by Jennifer...well, because my name is NOT Jennifer.

My name is Jenna... re: the last post, I was never called Gina,genocide, genitals, generous, OR genesis - So the "they will STILL call her it" comment.. isn't necessarily true.
When I was young and played on a softball team, my team mates would call me 'generator' to cheer me on.. but it was funny, and not in a teasing way.
I do get asked sometimes if my name is short for Jennifer, but not very often.
I get complimented on my name quite a bit - I really like it. It's a nice name for a girl, and it looks nice in handwriting too :)

Nicknames for Jenna: | Edit

Jen, Jennie, Jenny

Meanings and history of the name Jenna: | Edit

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Famous real-life people named Jenna: | Edit

Jenna Boyd (born 1993), film actress
Jenna Bush (born 1981), daughter of President George W. Bush
Jenna-Anne Buys (born 1985), South African figure skater
Jenna Dewan (born 1980), film actress
Jenna Elfman (born 1971), film actress
Jenna Fischer (born 1974), TV actress
Jenna Hawkins (born 1919), mother of Laura Bush and grandmother of Jenna Bush
Jenna Haze (born 1982), porn actress
Jenna Jameson (born 1974), former porn actress
Jenna Johnson (born 1967), competitive swimmer
Jenna Lee (born 1980), anchor on Fox Business News
Jenna Leigh Green (born 1974), actress
Jenna Lewis (born 1977), contestant on Survivor Borneo
Jenna McCorkell (born 1986), figure skater
Jenna Morasca (born 1981), winner of Survivor: The Amazon
Jenna Presley (born 1987), porn actress
Jenna Santoromito (born 1987), water polo player
Jenna von Oÿ (born 1977), television actress

Jenna in song, story & screen: | Edit

Jenna Avid, Baywatch Hawaii character
Jenna, a character in the video game series Golden Sun
Jenna, an animated character in the Balto film series
Jenna Stannis, a character in the British science fiction television series Blake's 7
Jenna, the leading character of the Magyk novel series by Angie Sage
Jenna Maroney, 30 Rock character
Jenna Wade, Dallas character
Jenna Rink, 13 going on 30 protagonist