Jane: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced JAYN · 1 syllable
Jane means “God is gracious”, from French and Latin and Greek.
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iohannes, from Koine Greek (Ioanna), from Hebrew (Yohanah, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of (Y hohanan) which produced John and its many doublets.
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- French, Latin, Greek
- Pronunciation
- JAYN
- US rank (2025)
- #221
- US babies a year
- about 1,252 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1940
- Style
- Vintage, Classic, Literary
How popular is Jane?
Jane was the #221 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,380 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1940.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #221 |
| Scotland | #471 |
| Northern Ireland | #333 |
| Ireland | #217 |
| France | #702 |
| Canada | #463 |
| Australia | #432 |
How old are people named Jane?
Half of US adults named Jane are older than 69; most are between 30 and 86. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Jane
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Jane have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Jane
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Jane
What does the name Jane mean?
Jane means “God is gracious”. It comes from French and Latin and Greek.
How do you pronounce Jane?
Jane is pronounced JAYN.
How popular is the name Jane?
Jane was the #221 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,380 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1940.
How old are people named Jane?
Half of US adults named Jane are older than 69. Most are between 30 and 86.