In terms of the Jenny-ration, did television and movies cause popularity of the name Jennifer? Or did the rising births of Jennifers trigger an increase in characters named Jennifer in movies and on television?

Before 1960, Jennie was the only derivative of Jennifer in usage in the United States. 

After 1960, names like Jennifer, Jenny, Jen, Jenni, and Jenna flooded television and movies at an increase of 44 percent. 

Now, as the Jenny-ration is coming of age, actresses named Jennifer are moving into the spotlight. Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jennifer Aniston, Jennie Garth, and Jenna Elfman are only part of that new trend.

Simon Lamont, creator of the Jencyclopaedia, which records Jen information, said he believes media influence in the 1970s caused the popularity of the name Jennifer.

"I believe Erich Segal's novel and subsequent film had a part in the 1970s boom, although I don't have the figures to back that up," he said.

As the Jenny-ration phenomenon is yet unstudied, there is little to go as to what was the cause and what was the effect.

My own naming was based on my father's fondness for Jennifer O'Neil in the movie, "Summer of '42."

In discussions with Jennifers in chat rooms, it appears that the dawn of celebrity in the 1970s may have had some impact on the popularity of Jennifer as well.

If celebrities became more important to our culture and a few key celebrities were named Jennifer, could it be enough to cause a name trend? It is still unknown.

Sadly, this debate has yet to be decided, much like that of whether it is life or art that imitates the other.