Declining since 1985, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Jan since 1902
Babies named Jan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 16 |
| 1910s | 110 | 168 |
| 1920s | 323 | 227 |
| 1930s | 1,787 | 1,695 |
| 1940s | 8,717 | 5,344 |
| 1950s | 26,169 | 5,723 |
| 1960s | 12,827 | 2,397 |
| 1970s | 3,095 | 1,278 |
| 1980s | 1,126 | 1,193 |
| 1990s | 230 | 995 |
| 2000s | 87 | 2,056 |
| 2010s | 45 | 930 |
| 2020s | 15 | 381 |
Meaning & origin
Jan is a classic name with deep roots across Europe, particularly in Slavic, Dutch, and Scandinavian regions. In the United States, Jan has seen a steady decline in use since its peak in 1956, when it ranked much higher. By 2025, it fell to rank 14,942, with only about 1 in 321,453 newborn boys receiving the name, reflecting a trajectory of falling popularity since around 1985. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1911, indicating early 20th-century immigration patterns. Despite its low current usage, Jan remains a straightforward, culturally rich alternative to John or Ian, especially for families honoring Central European heritage.
Jan is a variant of John, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' It is the standard form in many Central and Northern European languages, including Czech, Slovak, Dutch, Polish, and Scandinavian languages. The name has been in use in these regions since the Middle Ages, often associated with saints and royalty.
Where Jan is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jan” around the world
Where Jan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Ireland
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Sibling names for Jan
Names that share Jan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anna, Eva, Marie, Lena, Sofie, Pam, Ania, Anja, Jene, Kasia, Kati, Magda, Aniela, Janique, Jyl, Katrinka, Laia, Marketa, Mirka, Zosia, Agnieszka, Eliska, Jancie, Ewa, Irena, Stanislawa
Brothers: Petr, Karel, Tomas, Jiri, Milan, Jozef, Gerrit, Jakub, Marek, Januel, Krzysztof, Pieter, Piotr, Wille, Kristien, Maks, Mikolaj, Tomasz, Radek, Allard, Arend, Dirck, Kees, Kuba, Matej, Matyas
