Jean
Jean is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Jean is the French form of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yehochanan meaning 'God is gracious'. Historically popular as a classic feminine name in the United States during the mid-20th century, it is now given less frequently as a primary given name but remains widely recognizable.
Popularity in the United States
458,436 babies in the United States have been named Jean since 1880. It ranks #74 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1640.
States where it is most popular
- NY (12.5 %)
- PA (10.4 %)
- IL (6.5 %)
- OH (5.9 %)
- MA (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,000 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,396 |
| 1900-1910 | 5,931 |
| 1910-1920 | 39,284 |
| 1920-1930 | 105,999 |
| 1930-1940 | 94,189 |
| 1940-1950 | 80,363 |
| 1950-1960 | 72,263 |
| 1960-1970 | 37,280 |
| 1970-1980 | 11,027 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,858 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,849 |
| 2000-2010 | 829 |
| 2010-2019 | 707 |
| 2020-2029 | 461 |
Famous people named Jean
- Jean Harlow: Actress
- Jean Arthur: Actress
- Jean Stapleton: Actress
Fun facts
- Jean was a top-10 feminine name in the United States during the late 1920s and 1930s.
- Although used as a feminine name in English, Jean is etymologically identical to the French masculine form of John.