Where did the baby name Jaynie come from?

The character Jaynie Stevens from the movie "Orchestra Wives" (1942).
Jaynie Stevens from “Orchestra Wives

Baby names like Janie, Janey, and Jayne have been in the U.S. baby name data since the 1800s, but the spelling “Jaynie” didn’t appear until 1942 specifically:

  • 1944: 9 baby girls named Jaynie
  • 1943: 6 baby girls named Jaynie
  • 1942: 6 baby girls named Jaynie [debut]
  • 1941: unlisted
  • 1940: unlisted

Where did it come from?

The 1942 musical Orchestra Wives, a movie about the behind-the-scenes drama that occurs when a swing band (and all their wives) go out on tour together.

The band’s vocalist was a character named Jaynie Stevens, played by actress Lynn Bari — one of the most popular pin-up girls of WWII.

The band itself was the the real-life Glenn Miller band, led by Glenn Miller, but the name in both cases was changed to “Gene Morrison” (to retain the monogram).

Do you like the spelling of Jaynie, or do you prefer a different spelling of the name?

Source: Orchestra Wives – AFI

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.