On 12/08/2010 08:00, Kay wrote: > "Janet" and "Jane" are interchangeable. > ** Perhaps in some circumstances, as Janet was originally the pet form, or diminutive, of Jane, but in recent centuries, Jane and Jean are the same, and Jessie, sometimes Jess, is the familiar form of Janet. The Oxford Book of English Christian Names says in its article on Janet " It is now chiefly used in Scotland and is generally given as an independent name sometimes in the diminutive forn Netta or Nettie. In an article on Jessie, it says "A Scottish diminutive of Janet, now often used as an independent name". Gordon.

Just to add to this: I haven't found Janet and Jean to be interchangeable - though Jane and Jean are in the older records. However Janet often became either Jessie (as Gordon said) or Jenny. Jenny >On 12/08/2010 08:00, Kay wrote: >> "Janet" and "Jane" are interchangeable. >> >** Perhaps in some circumstances, as Janet was originally the pet form, >or diminutive, of Jane, but in recent centuries, Jane and Jean are the >same, and Jessie, sometimes Jess, is the familiar form of Janet. The >Oxford Book of English Christian Names says in its article on Janet " >It is now chiefly used in Scotland and is generally given as an >independent name sometimes in the diminutive forn Netta or Nettie. In an >article on Jessie, it says "A Scottish diminutive of Janet, now often >used as an independent name". >Gordon.