Jill vs. Jillian

I spent last week frolicking around the Hamptons. Fancy, right? But there was one strange thing that stood out from my trip to Long Island. I was being introduced as Jill. Not Jillian. It’s been a long time since I’ve been just Jill.

Just Jill to my college teammates.

When I was born, Ryan’s Hope was a popular soap opera and one of the main characters, you guessed it, Jillian. My dad wasn’t even a big fan of the name. He liked just Jill. Guess he lost that battle. I was named Jillian Helena. My father eventually came around. He was the only one to call me Jillian after I was born. Everyone called me Jill. I never really felt like a Jillian growing up anyway. It was so girly. So not me. Jill fit my tomboy personality. At one point, I even refused to answer to Jillian.

Throughout high school and college, I was Jill. Jillian may have been on my license, my college ID card and passport but it still wasn’t me. When I started applying for jobs after graduation I needed a resume. I put Jillian at the top. It sounded more adult, more grown up, more professional. And that’s when it all started.

At the time, I was living in New Jersey with my friend, Marissa. We grew up together and she always knew me as Jill. We were out one night in NYC, probably at Turtle Bay in Midtown, and I introduced myself as Jillian. I’ll never forget the look on Marissa’s face.

Jillian and Marissa living the life in NYC.

“Jillian? Who’s Jillian? You’re Jill.”

She totally called me out. But that’s how it all started. The transition to Jillian had begun. I was Jillian to everyone I met from grad school and on. It was weird that I eventually married someone I went to high school with. He called me Jill and to some people I was still Jill. But to others I was Jillian. My friends would even send birthday cards to Jill(ian).

The day Jillian graduated from graduate school.

I don’t mind being called Jill. I really don’t have a preference. It’s actually kind of refreshing being called Jill. It reminds me of being young and carefree. Back when I following my college boyfriend around the golf course or out until 4AM in NYC. Jill had a great life but so does Jillian. It’s just different.

I asked Benjamin this morning what my name is, and he said Mommy. That is way more important than being called Jill or Jillian.