I was actually called Alison for a week and then my parents changed their mind. They always wanted to call me Jane but then an Aunt and Uncle got in first and called one of my first cousins 'Jane'. My parents chose Alison to avoid a conflict but then decided they liked Jane too much and the family could live with two Janes. On that side of the family, I am known as 'Jane Elizabeth' to differentiate from my cousin 'Jane Ruth'.

I really like my name but for some reason I really struggle to think of other girls' names that I like. Luckily, I had a son (Julian) and not a daughter! When I was a child, however, I would have rather liked to have been called Andrew.

The best thing about being a Jane is that I don't come across too many other Janes. I only know three others. The worst thing is probably the Tarzan jokes, but I have not heard those since school.

I am not plain Jane ... I am Jane who doesn't finish other people's sentences.