Janice
Janice is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Janice originated as an English elaborated variant of Jane, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. It enjoyed massive popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, peak-ranking as a top female name. Today, it is much less common for newborns but remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
406,448 babies in the United States have been named Janice since 1880. It ranks #90 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1577.
States where it is most popular
- CA (6.7 %)
- NY (6.2 %)
- IL (5.8 %)
- PA (5.4 %)
- OH (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 18 |
| 1900-1910 | 455 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,941 |
| 1920-1930 | 11,809 |
| 1930-1940 | 49,343 |
| 1940-1950 | 118,893 |
| 1950-1960 | 133,620 |
| 1960-1970 | 57,966 |
| 1970-1980 | 14,833 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,495 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,951 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,807 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,792 |
| 2020-2029 | 525 |
Famous people named Janice
- Janice Dickinson: Model, Television Personality
- Janice Y. K. Lee: Author, Novelist
Nicknames
Jan, Jannie, Janis
Fun facts
- Janice was extremely popular in the United States from the 1930s through the 1950s, consistently placing among the top 50 girl names.
- The name gained widespread attention following Paul Leicester Ford's popular 1899 historical novel Janice Meredith.