Holding steady.
Popularity of Jeannene since 1929
Babies named Jeannene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Jeannene's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 25 |
| 1930s | 130 |
| 1940s | 146 |
| 1950s | 143 |
| 1960s | 156 |
| 1970s | 70 |
| 1980s | 13 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Jeannene is a rare French-derived variant of Jeanne, with its highest recorded usage in 1929, the year it first appeared in Social Security data. After that peak, its use declined sharply, and it has remained exceedingly uncommon, never breaking into the top 1,000. The trajectory has been stable at extremely low levels since the 1940s, with no revival in recent decades. Jeannene represents a spelling innovation of the early 20th century, part of a trend toward ornate feminine endings like -ene. It carries the classic meaning 'God is gracious' through its connection to John.
Jeannene is a feminine given name derived from Jeanne, the French form of Jehannette, itself a diminutive of Jehanne, the Old French feminine form of John. John ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious.' The variant Jeannene emerged as a spelling innovation in the early 20th century, likely influenced by other -ene endings popular at the time. It saw modest use in the United States, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jeannie, Jean, Nene
Sibling names for Jeannene
Names that share Jeannene's style, for a brother or sister.
