Thanks for the interesting info, Sian.

Over the years I have given a little thought to the letter J. Although the J pages of the dictionary are few, the J page of my address book is the longest. We seem to have a great affection for J in personal names.

John, Janet, Joan, Jessica, Judith, Jennifer...

And when people who speak different languages encounter one another, it's awkward to tell a person whose name begins with J that their name's no good. And thus the letter J creeps across the border...