Janet
Janet is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Janet is historically a diminutive of Jane, originating as a Anglo-Norman French diminutive of Jehanne, derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan. Though overwhelmingly given to females, it has seen limited historical use for males in the United States. Its male usage has dropped significantly in modern times, with no recorded male births in recent SSA data.
Popularity in the United States
1,515 babies in the United States have been named Janet since 1880. It ranks #3224 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (51.2 %)
- NY (19.2 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- MI (5.8 %)
- PA (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 11 |
| 1920-1930 | 47 |
| 1930-1940 | 280 |
| 1940-1950 | 338 |
| 1950-1960 | 309 |
| 1960-1970 | 234 |
| 1970-1980 | 98 |
| 1980-1990 | 151 |
| 1990-2000 | 47 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Nicknames
Jan, Net, Nettie
Fun facts
- Janet originated in Medieval Britain as a diminutive suffix added to Jane or Joan.
- Over 1,500 males in the U.S. have been officially named Janet since 1880, though it is predominantly used for females.