my name is [name]Jenna[/name], I’m 16, and I’m having a hard time liking my name. 
I think its too outdated and no more special than the name [name]Jennifer[/name]. What do I do to feel better about it?
[name]How[/name] about coming up with a nickname that feels more modern and unique?
What about your middle name? Would you consider going by that? Or, your middle name might help with nicknames, sometimes combining some elements of the first and middle result in a creative, cool nickname.
Some ideas just based on [name]Jenna[/name]:
Jea (pronounced like [name]Gia[/name])
[name]Jay[/name]/[name]Jae[/name]
[name]Jean[/name]
[name]Enna[/name]
[name]Nina[/name]
Or, you could come up with a nickname that is not as directly related to your name, if there’s something that you are drawn to. For example, according to Nameberry, [name]Jenna[/name] means “white shadow, white wave” - so what about [name]Oceana[/name] (wich calls to mind white wave). If you like mythological names, here is a cool website that lists the deities of oceans & seas: http://www.whiterosesgarden.com/Grimoire/GRIM_elements/Water_grimoire/WT_deities/WT_deities_oceans_seas.htm
[name]Hope[/name] this helps! I really enjoy thinking of creative nicknames.
[name]Hi[/name], [name]Jenna[/name],
I like [name]Jenna[/name]. It doesn’t feel dated to me. There aren’t nearly so many [name]Jenna[/name]'s out there as there once were [name]Jennifer[/name]'s. I think of [name]Jena[/name] [name]Malone[/name], [name]Jenna[/name] [name]Fischer[/name], and [name]Jenna[/name] Marbles, who (I think) are cool women. I also remember starting to like it when I was young watching Balto, haha!
I suppose you could freshen it up a little by finding a new nickname. [name]Jem[/name] or [name]Jemma[/name]/[name]Gemma[/name] are so close to [name]Jen[/name]/[name]Jenna[/name] that I think you could pull from them. J or something involving your middle name or last name could give you a break from [name]Jenna[/name] for a bit. You might also ask your parents more about why they picked [name]Jenna[/name]. Maybe it’s a neat story, or maybe they really liked it, in which case you can think about the names you like and might (I don’t know) appreciate that if that’s how they felt about [name]Jenna[/name], it’s worth liking.
Ultimately, I remember coming around to my name (which I also disliked for a period of high school; it seems too mature and blah) when I didn’t dwell on it. My name didn’t define me; I was so much more than it. There might be more [name]Jenna[/name]'s out there, but you’re this one and maybe you’ll be the [name]Jenna[/name] that makes someone else like that name (“Oh, yeah, I knew a [name]Jenna[/name] once. Cool chick.”) For me, once I started investing my time and thoughts into things that really did matter, I kind of forgot I didn’t love my name and (get ready for cheesiness) just kinda loved being me instead. Now that I’m in my mid-twenties, I like my name. I don’t know if I’ve grow into it or if it just took time.
Not sure if that little pep talk helped. I’m sure there are people here who grew up with more common names who can sympathize.
I don’t think it’s a bad name at all- but soon enough you’ll be I’m college and you can name yourself whatever you want! I never thought of it but a bunch of my friends started going by cool middles, [name]Barrett[/name] and made up names like [name]Dez[/name], once they were away from home. Only wish I had that idea- so I’m sharing with you!
A couple of months ago I would have agreed with you that [name]Jenna[/name] is no more special than [name]Jennifer[/name], but I have to disagree now. There’s a girl in one of my English classes at college with the name [name]Jenna[/name], and she has to be one of the sweetest, cutest girls I’ve ever known. And smart, too. Whenever anyone is around her, she just puts a smile on their face. So now I can’t think of [name]Jenna[/name] without thinking of her, and I can’t imagine her with any other name. She really changed my opinion on it.
Anyway, my point…
[name]Just[/name] think of all the people who picture you when they hear the name [name]Jenna[/name], and how hearing the name makes them remember how you have positively affected their lives. That’s pretty special, I think.
I’m not sure that it’s actually that dated. I know two little girls - one who is 4 years old and one who was just born who were given this name. I think it’s very pretty and obviously my two friends think that it is too if they used it for their daughters. 
Ya know what [name]Jenna[/name] reminds me of? [name]Jehanne[/name] (“ZHAHN-eh”) It’s the original name of [name]Joan[/name] of [name]Arc[/name].
Could you share a name with anyone more heroic than [name]Jehanne[/name] d’[name]Arc[/name]? No ma’am. If you’re a patient movie-watcher, the silent film by Dreyer is incredible (The Passion of [name]Joan[/name] of [name]Arc[/name])
[name]Jenna[/name] is not dated [name]IMO[/name]. I have considered using it on a daughter.
Thank you so much everyone!! I am feeling a lot more optomistic about my name now from all your encouraging advice
Check out upswingbabynames.com for a recent post about [name]Jenna[/name]! It talks about how [name]Jenna[/name] is becoming a modern classic and how it has timeless style.
Wow, that’s awesome to hear!