Jane Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Jane Name Meaning

Fact: Famous characters named Jane include Jane Eyre from Charlotte Brontë’s novel and Jane Bennet from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”​

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A Deep Dive

Jane Overview

Meaning

God is gracious

Gender

Girl

Origin

English

Etymology

Originated from the Hebrew name “Yochanan,” meaning “God is gracious,” and was later Latinized as “Johanna.”

Pronunciation

/dʒeɪn/

Popularity

Jane is a classic name embraced worldwide, particularly in English-speaking countries. In 2023, Jane ranked #265 for girls in the USA.

Syllable

1 syllable

Length

4 letters

Numerology

3 (Expressive, Social, Artistic)

Name Styles

Classic, Vintage, Edgy, Short, Religious and Spiritual, Cute

Associated Traits

Elegant, timeless, graceful

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Often associated with religious contexts due to its meaning “God is gracious” and its use by many saints and historical figures.

Name Day

July 26 (France)
A Deep Dive

Jane Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Jean, Joan, Janet, Giovanna, Janine, Gianna, Jeanne, Janelle, Johanna

Common Nicknames

Janey, Janny, Jani, Jayne

Diminutives

Janie, Jay, JJ, Jan, Nia

Famous People

  • Jane Austen
    (English Author)
  • Jane Goodall
    (British Primatologist)
  • Jane Fonda
    (American Actress)
  • Jane Seymour
    (British-American Actress)
  • Jane Addams
    (American Activist)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Jane Porter
    ("Tarzan," Film)
  • Jane Villanueva
    ("Jane the Virgin," TV Series)
  • "Jane Eyre"
    (Novel)
  • Jane Foster
    ("Thor," Film Series)
  • Jane Craig
    ("Broadcast News," Film)
  • Jane
    ("27 Dresses," Film)

Places

  • Jane Street
    (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
  • Addams
    (Jane)
  • Jane Brook
    (Western Australia, Australia)
  • Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Church
    (Maryland, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Jane?

Jane signifies “God is gracious.” Those named Jane are often seen as kind-hearted and dependable.

What Is the Origin of The Name Jane?

Jane hails from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is gracious.” It was adopted into English through the Old French name Jehanne.

Jane Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Jane in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#2652021#2902022#2812023
Top 3 Rankings#351946#361945#361947

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Jane

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023281
(+9 from 2022)
1108
(+20 from 2022)
0.06334
2022290
(-25 from 2021)
1088
(-84 from 2021)
0.06068
2021265
(-2 from 2020)
1172
(+3 from 2020)
0.06542
2020263
(+14 from 2019)
1169
(-19 from 2019)
0.06613
2019277
(+13 from 2018)
1188
(+56 from 2018)
0.06475
2018290
(-8 from 2017)
1132
(-25 from 2017)
0.06087
2017282
(-3 from 2016)
1157
(+22 from 2016)
0.06124
2016279
(+11 from 2015)
1135
(+23 from 2015)
0.05863
2015290
(+32 from 2014)
1112
(+86 from 2014)
0.05700
2014322
(+34 from 2013)
1026
(+128 from 2013)
0.05245
2013356
(-13 from 2012)
898
(-29 from 2012)
0.04658
2012343
(+24 from 2011)
927
(+59 from 2011)
0.04780
2011367
(+18 from 2010)
868
(+35 from 2010)
0.04480
2010385
(+1 from 2009)
833
(+2 from 2009)
0.04249
2009386
(+3 from 2008)
831
(+5 from 2008)
0.04104
2008389
(+35 from 2007)
826
(+51 from 2007)
0.03966
2007424
(+53 from 2006)
775
(+110 from 2006)
0.03662
2006477
(-5 from 2005)
665
(+14 from 2005)
0.03181
2005472
(-13 from 2004)
651
(-6 from 2004)
0.03208
2004459
(-32 from 2003)
657
(-47 from 2003)
0.03256
2003427
(-10 from 2002)
704
(+8 from 2002)
0.03509
2002417
(+6 from 2001)
696
(+25 from 2001)
0.03524
2001423
(+14 from 2000)
671
(+24 from 2000)
0.03387
2000437
(+1 from 1999)
647
(+29 from 1999)
0.03242
1999438
(-23 from 1998)
618
(-20 from 1998)
0.03174
1998415
(-11 from 1997)
638
(-11 from 1997)
0.03291
1997404
(+3 from 1996)
649
(+10 from 1996)
0.03399
1996407
(+11 from 1995)
639
(+21 from 1995)
0.03333
1995418
(-49 from 1994)
618
(-88 from 1994)
0.03216
1994369
No change from 1993
706
(+18 from 1993)
0.03622
1993369
(+26 from 1992)
688
(+36 from 1992)
0.03490
1992395
(-32 from 1991)
652
(-56 from 1991)
0.03252
1991363
(-18 from 1990)
708
(-65 from 1990)
0.03482
1990345
(-20 from 1989)
773
(-6 from 1989)
0.03763
1989325
(+15 from 1988)
779
(+56 from 1988)
0.03910
1988340
(+17 from 1987)
723
(+55 from 1987)
0.03760
1987357
(-1 from 1986)
668
(-1 from 1986)
0.03564
1986356
(-21 from 1985)
669
(-41 from 1985)
0.03625
1985335
(-12 from 1984)
710
(-15 from 1984)
0.03845
1984323
(-25 from 1983)
725
(-58 from 1983)
0.04020
1983298
(-8 from 1982)
783
(-61 from 1982)
0.04375
1982290
(+24 from 1981)
844
(+82 from 1981)
0.04652
1981314
(-2 from 1980)
762
(-13 from 1980)
0.04261
1980312
(+13 from 1979)
775
(+55 from 1979)
0.04352
1979325
(+3 from 1978)
720
(+21 from 1978)
0.04178
1978328
(-11 from 1977)
699
(-45 from 1977)
0.04252
1977317
(+3 from 1976)
744
(+47 from 1976)
0.04523
1976320
(-20 from 1975)
697
(-85 from 1975)
0.04434
1975300
(-12 from 1974)
782
(-45 from 1974)
0.05010
1974288
(-28 from 1973)
827
(-131 from 1973)
0.05280
1973260
(-22 from 1972)
958
(-203 from 1972)
0.06164
1972238
(-6 from 1971)
1161
(-135 from 1971)
0.07200
1971232
(-30 from 1970)
1296
(-305 from 1970)
0.07395
1970202
(-32 from 1969)
1601
(-279 from 1969)
0.08740
1969170
(-24 from 1968)
1880
(-312 from 1968)
0.10665
1968146
(-19 from 1967)
2192
(-536 from 1967)
0.12821
1967127
(-16 from 1966)
2728
(-485 from 1966)
0.15890
1966111
(-16 from 1965)
3213
(-714 from 1965)
0.18300
196595
(-2 from 1964)
3927
(-639 from 1964)
0.21489
196493
(-18 from 1963)
4566
(-1199 from 1963)
0.23327
196375
(-2 from 1962)
5765
(-350 from 1962)
0.28998
196273
(-1 from 1961)
6115
(-248 from 1961)
0.30169
196172
(-5 from 1960)
6363
(-223 from 1960)
0.30633
196067
No change from 1959
6586
(-280 from 1959)
0.31667
195967
(-6 from 1958)
6866
(-330 from 1958)
0.33032
195861
(-5 from 1957)
7196
(-592 from 1957)
0.34835
195756
(-6 from 1956)
7788
(-453 from 1956)
0.37119
195650
No change from 1955
8241
(-103 from 1955)
0.40014
195550
(-1 from 1954)
8344
No change from 1954
0.41618
195449
(-6 from 1953)
8344
(-569 from 1953)
0.41912
195343
(-1 from 1952)
8913
(-409 from 1952)
0.46193
195242
(+1 from 1951)
9322
(+380 from 1951)
0.49012
195143
(-4 from 1950)
8942
(-22 from 1950)
0.48407
195039
(+2 from 1949)
8964
(+245 from 1949)
0.50974
194941
(-2 from 1948)
8719
(-62 from 1948)
0.49666
194839
(-3 from 1947)
8781
(-1161 from 1947)
0.50388
194736
(-1 from 1946)
9942
(+971 from 1946)
0.54690
194635
(+1 from 1945)
8971
(+1332 from 1945)
0.55620
194536
(+5 from 1944)
7639
(+1074 from 1944)
0.56749
194441
(+3 from 1943)
6565
(+534 from 1943)
0.48041
194344
(+2 from 1942)
6031
(+323 from 1942)
0.42016
194246
No change from 1941
5708
(+619 from 1941)
0.41051
194146
(+1 from 1940)
5089
(-3 from 1940)
0.40843
194047
(-1 from 1939)
5092
(+321 from 1939)
0.43103
193946
(-2 from 1938)
4771
(-14 from 1938)
0.42070
193844
(-2 from 1937)
4785
(+83 from 1937)
0.41920
193742
No change from 1936
4702
(-17 from 1936)
0.42674
193642
(+1 from 1935)
4719
(+72 from 1935)
0.43794
193543
(+5 from 1934)
4647
(+289 from 1934)
0.42760
193448
(-1 from 1933)
4358
(-19 from 1933)
0.40265
193347
(+2 from 1932)
4377
(+29 from 1932)
0.41844
193249
(+1 from 1931)
4348
(-184 from 1931)
0.39302
193150
(+5 from 1930)
4532
(-43 from 1930)
0.41061
193055
(+7 from 1929)
4575
(+222 from 1929)
0.39221
192962
No change from 1928
4353
(-57 from 1928)
0.37605
192862
(-2 from 1927)
4410
(-285 from 1927)
0.36887
192760
(-4 from 1926)
4695
(+53 from 1926)
0.37972
192656
(-3 from 1925)
4642
(-239 from 1925)
0.37735
192553
No change from 1924
4881
(-223 from 1924)
0.38644
192453
(+2 from 1923)
5104
(+187 from 1923)
0.39393
192355
No change from 1922
4917
(+112 from 1922)
0.39259
192255
(-8 from 1921)
4805
(-383 from 1921)
0.38515
192147
(+1 from 1920)
5188
(+134 from 1920)
0.40540
192048
(+5 from 1919)
5054
(+527 from 1919)
0.40626
191953
No change from 1918
4527
(-203 from 1918)
0.38540
191853
(+2 from 1917)
4730
(+472 from 1917)
0.39339
191755
(+7 from 1916)
4258
(+432 from 1916)
0.37893
191662
(+7 from 1915)
3826
(+562 from 1915)
0.35239
191569
(+2 from 1914)
3264
(+924 from 1914)
0.31879
191471
(+10 from 1913)
2340
(+581 from 1913)
0.29374
191381
(+8 from 1912)
1759
(+369 from 1912)
0.26858
191289
(+9 from 1911)
1390
(+453 from 1911)
0.23691
191198
(+18 from 1910)
937
(+228 from 1910)
0.21208
1910116
No change from 1909
709
(+83 from 1909)
0.16900
1909116
(+14 from 1908)
626
(+95 from 1908)
0.17007
1908130
(-6 from 1907)
531
(+5 from 1907)
0.14978
1907124
(+16 from 1906)
526
(+88 from 1906)
0.15588
1906140
(+11 from 1905)
438
(+45 from 1905)
0.13974
1905151
(-9 from 1904)
393
(-2 from 1904)
0.12683
1904142
(+1 from 1903)
395
(+14 from 1903)
0.13507
1903143
(-1 from 1902)
381
(-7 from 1902)
0.13695
1902142
(+8 from 1901)
388
(+63 from 1901)
0.13841
1901150
(-22 from 1900)
325
(-170 from 1900)
0.12784
1900128
No change from 1899
495
(+113 from 1899)
0.15579
1899128
(+2 from 1898)
382
(-24 from 1898)
0.15435
1898130
(-5 from 1897)
406
(+10 from 1897)
0.14810
1897125
(-10 from 1896)
396
(-17 from 1896)
0.15950
1896115
(+4 from 1895)
413
(+19 from 1895)
0.16389
1895119
No change from 1894
394
(+4 from 1894)
0.15945
1894119
(+4 from 1893)
390
(+36 from 1893)
0.16527
1893123
(-10 from 1892)
354
(-42 from 1892)
0.15717
1892113
(-11 from 1891)
396
(+17 from 1891)
0.17607
1891102
(+6 from 1890)
379
(+7 from 1890)
0.19281
1890108
(-5 from 1889)
372
(-2 from 1889)
0.18447
1889103
(-11 from 1888)
374
(-72 from 1888)
0.19766
188892
(+15 from 1887)
446
(+158 from 1887)
0.23542
1887107
(-2 from 1886)
288
(-18 from 1886)
0.18530
1886105
(-14 from 1885)
306
(-24 from 1885)
0.19905
188591
(+7 from 1884)
330
(+35 from 1884)
0.23248
188498
(+4 from 1883)
295
(+48 from 1883)
0.21441
1883102
(-1 from 1882)
247
(-7 from 1882)
0.20573
1882101
(-2 from 1881)
254
(+38 from 1881)
0.21954
188199
(-1 from 1880)
216
(+1 from 1880)
0.21850
188098
First SSA data recorded
215
First SSA data recorded
0.22028

American States Popularity Rankings for Jane

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#3542021#3122022#3192023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#1972021#2772022#3032023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#2862021#3092022#3002023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#2552021#3292022#3402023

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#2732021#3572022#3172023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#1932021#2642022#2182023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#2892021#2622022#2972023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#3042021#3192022#4622023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#4682021#3662022#3922023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#3582021#4082022#4082023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#2912021#3152022#2182023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#2232021#1922022#2582023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#2192021#2242022#2902023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#2772021#2472022#5302023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#3542021#2352022#3042023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#2532021#2662022#1912023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#1552020#2352021#3982022

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#2622021#2402022#2432023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#3082021#4122022#4002023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#2452021#2082022#2092023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#3702021#3482022#2812023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#2392021#5052022#2722023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#4022021#4932022#3772023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#2832021#2662022#1992023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#1732021#2152022#2212023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#4062021#3612022#2292023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#2572021#3242022#1992023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#2512021#2682022#2412023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#3712017#2022019#3492022

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#3452021#2602022#3062023

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#2312018#2332022#1902023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#432021#702022#442023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#3182021#2102022#2172023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#2832021#3772022#3642023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#1952021#1552022#2942023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#3292021#2512022#3952023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#1482021#702022#772023

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1831999#2202003#1622019

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2662009#2492010#1572022

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#2552006#2262018#1982020

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#1992015#1832019#2072023

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#2071971#2031974#1801990

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#3402021#4082022#2852023

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#831968#931970#1441972

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#4172015#2722017#2852020

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#882019#812021#1812023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#1022021#1262022#812023

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1761992#2102016#1372023

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#831964#1361965#1001966

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#5602020#4732021#2992022

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#1662018#1112019#1492023

Popularity Rankings for Jane in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#131998

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#781982#811983#931984

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#912019#832020#782021

Popularity in France

France flagFrance#1941936#1731937#1931938

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#2282021#1952022#2262023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#4462021#2182022#3282023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#3362017#3172020#2472022

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#2612021#3602022#3312023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#3512012#4712020#3802022

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#3922008#4612009#3962010

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#4792003#5072004#5592013

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#5422020#5552021#6012022

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#5431998

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#7022020#9952021#6462022

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#7292013#7342014#7242015

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#7272007#9952008#8792009

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Jane a Name for Boys or Girls?

Primarily, Jane is a feminine name. Its historical use in literature and culture, often representing strong, graceful women, reinforces its association with girls.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Jane

Jane in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Jane Austen (Author, 1775–1817): An English novelist whose works like "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma" have become classics in literature.
  • Jane Goodall (Primatologist, born 1934): A British primatologist and anthropologist who is celebrated for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees.
  • Jane Fonda (Actress, born 1937): An American actress and activist with a prolific career in film and television, and a history of political activism.
  • Jane Seymour (Actress, born 1951): A British-American actress known for her roles in "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and the James Bond film "Live and Let Die."
  • Jane Addams (Activist, 1860–1935): An American social reformer and pacifist who co-founded the Hull House and was a pioneer in the field of social work.
  • Jane Russell (Actress, 1921–2011): An American actress and sex symbol who starred in classic films like "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
  • Jane Wyatt (Actress, 1910–2006): An American actress best remembered for her role in the TV series "Father Knows Best."
  • Jane Porter ("Tarzan," 1999 Film): An adventurous Englishwoman who falls in love with the jungle and its hero, Tarzan.
  • Jane Villanueva ("Jane the Virgin," 2014 TV Series): A young woman whose life takes unexpected turns after a medical mix-up leads to her becoming pregnant.
  • "Jane Eyre" (1847 Novel): A classic novel by Charlotte Brontë that tells the story of an orphaned girl who becomes a governess and finds love.
  • Jane Foster ("Thor," 2011 Film Series): A brilliant scientist and love interest of the superhero Thor.
  • Jane Craig ("Broadcast News," 1987 Film): A smart and ambitious news producer navigating the challenges of the TV news industry.
  • Jane ("27 Dresses," 2008 Film): A woman who has been a bridesmaid 27 times and is struggling to find her own happily ever after.
  • Jane Marple ("Miss Marple," 1984 TV Series): A sharp-witted elderly detective who solves crimes in her small English village.
  • Jane Street (Toronto, Ontario, Canada): A major north-south thoroughfare in Toronto, connecting various neighborhoods and commercial areas.
  • Jane Addams Park (Chicago, Illinois, USA): A public park in Chicago named after the social reformer Jane Addams, offering green spaces and recreational facilities.
  • Jane Creek (Colorado, USA): A stream located in the state of Colorado, flowing through scenic landscapes and mountainous regions.
  • Jane Brook (Western Australia, Australia): A suburb of Perth in the Shire of Mundaring, known for its natural surroundings and vineyards.
  • Jane Bay (British Columbia, Canada): A bay located on the central coast of British Columbia, featuring beautiful coastal views and marine life.
  • Jane Foss Barff Plantation (Saint Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis): A historic plantation site with remnants of the sugar industry on the island.
  • Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Church (Maryland, USA): A historic Roman Catholic church located in Bethesda, serving the local community.

Similar Names to Jane