A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Jane since 1880
Babies named Jane per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,971 |
| 1890s | 3,882 |
| 1900s | 4,498 |
| 1910s | 27,740 |
| 1920s | 48,049 |
| 1930s | 45,814 |
| 1940s | 72,537 |
| 1950s | 82,919 |
| 1960s | 43,340 |
| 1970s | 9,483 |
| 1980s | 7,439 |
| 1990s | 6,691 |
| 2000s | 7,123 |
| 2010s | 10,278 |
| 2020s | 7,112 |
Meaning & origin
Jane is a classic feminine name of English origin, derived from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.' It has been a staple in the English-speaking world since the Middle Ages. In 1945, Jane reached its peak popularity at rank 56, and it has since experienced fluctuations. After a period of decline in the late 20th century, the name has been rising in popularity since 2005, reflecting a revival of vintage names. As of the latest data, Jane ranks 221 and is given to about 1 in 1,165 girls. The name has been most popular in states such as Wyoming, Utah, and Washington, D.C.
Jane is the English feminine form of John, which derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages, gaining particular popularity in the 16th century under the reign of Lady Jane Grey. It remained common through the 20th century, often perceived as a classic, straightforward name.
Where Jane 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.
“Jane” around the world
Where Jane lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
55
babies in 2024
Ireland
20
babies in 2025
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Janey, Janie, Jay
Sibling names for Jane
Names that share Jane's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Catherine, Sarah, Ann, Jill, Sue, Catharine, Kathrine, Nan, Female, Lu, Catherin, Girl, Jone, Noell, Su, Donne, Frannie, Janeah, Man, Shere
Brothers: John, William, James, Henry, Charles, Bill, Bob, Cary, Dan, Dave, Jim, Joan, Joe, Jon, Lee, Peter, Phillip, Ray, Robert, Thomas, Tom, Dick, Fran, Garth, Hal, Hardy, Tod, Ward, Carlyle, Cord, Dann, Jame, Jann, Male, Payne, Ric, Rich, Sim, Johnn, Jonn, Langdon, Mart, Bond, Hall, Janes, Jenkins, Ricke, Coyt, Jams, Jaque, Jhan, Joeph, Jonh, Mann, Thos
Names like Jane
Names whose popularity has moved with Jane's over the last 50 years.
