Declining since 2007, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Janelli since 1988
Babies named Janelli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 51 |
| 2000s | 100 |
| 2010s | 86 |
| 2020s | 48 |
Meaning & origin
Janelli is a modern invention, first recorded in U.S. births in 1988. It reached its peak popularity in 2007, then entered a steady decline; by 2025 it had fallen to rank 10,917 with a frequency of just 1 in 200,908. The name's trajectory suggests it was a creative spin on Jane, riding the wave of names ending in -elli that were fashionable in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Though never common, its modest spike in 2007 reflects that brief period of popularity. Today Janelli remains unusual, chosen by a small number of parents each year.
Janelli is a modern elaboration of the name Jane, created by adding the Italianate suffix -elli, which conveys a sense of smallness or endearment. Jane itself is the English feminine form of John, which comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' This pattern of creating new names by attaching fashionable suffixes to established names was particularly productive in the late 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jane, Jan, Nellie
Sibling names for Janelli
Names that share Janelli's style, for a brother or sister.
