Janis
Janis is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Janis is an English feminine given name that originated as a variant of Jane or Janice, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. Popularized in the mid-20th century, it is strongly associated in modern culture with singer Janis Joplin. In recent years, its usage in the United States has become relatively rare.
Popularity in the United States
48,841 babies in the United States have been named Janis since 1880. It ranks #597 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2040.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.5 %)
- TX (8.7 %)
- IL (6.6 %)
- OH (6 %)
- NY (6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 6 |
| 1910-1920 | 389 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,474 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,633 |
| 1940-1950 | 14,862 |
| 1950-1960 | 18,673 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,968 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,853 |
| 1980-1990 | 865 |
| 1990-2000 | 461 |
| 2000-2010 | 343 |
| 2010-2019 | 253 |
| 2020-2029 | 61 |
Famous people named Janis
- Janis Joplin: singer, songwriter
- Janis Ian: singer, songwriter
Nicknames
Jan, Jannie
Fun facts
- Rock legend Janis Joplin brought massive cultural visibility to the name during the 1960s.
- The name developed in English as a phonetic variation of Janice and Jane.