Jane (Baby Name)

Medieval English form of Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of Iohannes. This became the most common feminine form of John in the 17th century, surpassing Joan. The masculine form John means “YAHWEH is gracious” of “God is gracious”[1].

The name of the character of the short story “The Mission of Jane”. The real name of Jane is unknown, because her mother died, and the child was at the hospital under the care of nurses who gave her the name “Jane”. The name seems to be given randomly, without any meaning, because the nurses needed a name for a baby. Therefore, they had chosen the most ordinary English female name for the girl. For this reason, Mrs. Lethbury wanted to rechristen the child with another name, like Muriel or Gladys, that were more popular and considered as appropriate for a daughter of a lady in the time of publishing of “The Mission of Jane". Mr. Lethbury forbade to rechristen Jane; therefore, the name remains unchanged.

Mrs. Lethbury did not want her daughter to have an ordinary name and she found the name “Jane” dreadful. Mrs. Lethbury´s wish came true, and it was something special for her; therefore, she wanted the name of her daughter to be special too. In the conversation about other names Mr. Lethbury, who stays unyielding, says to his wife: “Well, we don´t know that she won´t be dreadful. She may grow up a Jane.” (Wharton. “The Mission of Jane”). There are two prophecies in this line: firstly, Jane will grow up “a plain Jane”, a bluestocking, who has no perspectives to marry despite of her not being ugly; secondly, Jane will be something “dreadful” for her parents and will cost them many deepened lines on their faces before she marries. This way, Edith Wharton sets a signal for the reader to be aware of the character.

Sources:

[1] Source

"The Mission of Jane"