I always thought I had one of the most common names. Jane. And you hear it all the time: Dick and Jane, “Plain Jane” (even though I hate that term), G.I. Jane starring Demi Moore. Easy to spell, easy to remember, right? Apparently not.

It seems like Jane is becoming less and less common. Now it seems like parents are naming their kids anything that will make them stand out from all the other kids.

David Beckham and Posh Spice (I forget her real name) called their son Brooklyn. Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple. Some Israeli couple named their kid Like after the button on Facebook.

So should I be surprised when I go to Starbucks and they ask my name after taking my drink order? My conversations with Starbucks employees usually goes something like this:

Cashier: Welcome to Starbucks. What would you like?
Me: I would like a tall iced green tea lemonade.
Cashier: And what’s your name?
Me: Jane
Cashier: Jay?
Me: No, Jane.
Cashier: Jean?
Me: No, JANE.
Cashier: Okay. (Calling out to barista) Iced lemonade green tea, tall, for Jen!

Go over to the waiting area, wait for my drink. Stand around for a few minutes. Then I hear:

Barista: Drink for Jan?
Me: A tall iced green tea lemonade?
Barista: Yup, for Jan.
Me: It’s Jane.
Barista: Okay, Jay. Enjoy your drink.

Meanwhile, they have no problem with Fiona, Arwin and Janelle.

Perhaps I need to change my name to something more difficult, so that they can pronounce it properly. Maybe if I started calling myself Eilonwy, like the princess in The Black Cauldron, then I’ll have better luck.