Declining since 1999, #1,684 for girls today.
Popularity of Janae since 1939
Babies named Janae per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 14 |
| 1950s | 157 |
| 1960s | 372 |
| 1970s | 1,116 |
| 1980s | 2,841 |
| 1990s | 5,019 |
| 2000s | 4,675 |
| 2010s | 2,876 |
| 2020s | 976 |
Meaning & origin
Janae is a modern American coinage that first appeared in recorded data in 1939, likely as a creative variation of Jane or Janelle with the popular -ae ending. The name climbed in use through the late 20th century, reaching its peak rank in 2000 before beginning a steady decline. In 2025, it ranked at No. 1684, with a birth rate of roughly 1 in every 13,174 girls. The name has been most common in Washington, Georgia, and North Carolina. Its trajectory has been falling since 1999, placing it in a period of moderate but decreasing popularity. Janae reflects the broader trend of invented or respelled names that gained traction in the late 1900s, often celebrated for their distinct sound and feminine, melodic quality.
Janae emerged in the mid-20th century, likely as a modern coinage blending the popular prefix Jan- (from names like Jane or Janet) with the fashionable -ae suffix found in names like Renee and Danae. It may also be considered a variant of Jane or Janelle. The name has been used predominantly in the United States since the 1940s.
Where Janae 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.
“Janae” around the world
Where Janae lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jay, Nae, Janie
Sibling names for Janae
Names that share Janae's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Janae
Names whose popularity has moved with Janae's over the last 50 years.
