Zhanna

Meaning & origin

Zhanna is a rare but culturally rich name in the United States, first appearing in Social Security data in 1994. It peaked in popularity in 2016, though it has never entered common usage. As of 2025, Zhanna ranks 13,208 nationally, with approximately 1 in every 267,878 girls receiving the name. Its trajectory has remained stable, reflecting its consistent but niche appeal. The name is the Russian transliteration of the French Jeanne, carrying the resonant meaning 'God is gracious.' Zhanna is most familiar from the Soviet-era pilot Zhanna Yorkina and the Belarusian tennis star Zhanna Guseva. While it has not been recorded in any U.S. state as a top name, its use among families with Eastern European roots keeps it present.

Zhanna is the Russian and French transcription of Jeanne, the French feminine form of Jean, which itself derives from the Latin Ioannes and Greek Ioannes, ultimately from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' The name has been used in France since the Middle Ages, notably borne by Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc). In Russia, it gained usage in the 20th century, often as a transliteration of the French name.