Jane
Jane is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Jane is a classic English name derived from the Hebrew name English forms of Hebrew Yohanan. It has been widely used throughout the English-speaking world for centuries as a feminine variant of John. In the United States, it remains a timeless name with steady usage over generations.
Popularity in the United States
379,876 babies in the United States have been named Jane since 1880. It ranks #93 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #261.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.9 %)
- PA (9 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
- CA (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,971 |
| 1890-1900 | 3,882 |
| 1900-1910 | 4,498 |
| 1910-1920 | 27,740 |
| 1920-1930 | 48,049 |
| 1930-1940 | 45,814 |
| 1940-1950 | 72,537 |
| 1950-1960 | 82,919 |
| 1960-1970 | 43,340 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,483 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,439 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,691 |
| 2000-2010 | 7,123 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,278 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,112 |
Famous people named Jane
- Jane Austen: Author, Novelist
- Jane Fonda: Actress, Activist
- Jane Goodall: Primatologist, Anthropologist
Nicknames
Janie, Jan
Fun facts
- Jane is famous in literature as the titular character of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel Jane Eyre and Jane Austen herself.
- Jane has been among the top feminine names in English-speaking regions for hundreds of years.