Baby Names Girl Names Jane Name Meaning Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Jane. By Toketemu Ohwovoriole Published on June 24, 2024 Fact checked by Sarah Scott In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Jane? Name Variations Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Jane Close Jane is a common name for girls across the globe. It’s so common that terms like “Jane Doe” and “Plain Jane” are used as generic terms for women. The name Jane is of English origin and means “God is gracious.” Jane has roots in the Old French name Jehanne, which is thought to be derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan which means “Yahweh is merciful.” Jane first became popular in the mid-16th century when it was used as an alternative to the name Joan. Jane is also a common middle name and is sometimes used as the second name for a double name, such as Mary Jane or Eliza Jane. Origin: The name Jane can be traced to English, French, and Hebrew origins.Gender: Jane has traditionally been a girl’s name but can be given to kids of any gender. Pronunciation: Ja-yn Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. How Popular Is the Name Jane? Jane used to be a wildly popular name in the United States. From 1911 until 1965 it stayed on the top 100 charts of most popular names for girls. Its popularity peaked in 1946 when it was the 35th most common name for American girls. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Jane was the 281st most popular name for girls in the United States in 2023, up nine spots from the previous year. Name Variations Jane has numerous spelling and pronunciation variations in different cultures and languages worldwide. Some of the most common name variations you are likely to come across include: Gianna (Italian) Jana (Polish, Latvian, Slovak) Janeczka (Polish) Janes (Swedish, Dutch, Finnish) Janet (English) Janete (Portuguese) Jayne (English) Jeanne (French) Jenica (Romanian) Jenka (Czech) Jenne (French) Jinn (Celtic) Joan (English) Similar Names If you like a short and sweet name like Jane, you’ll may also like these simple names: Alice AnneBlaireClara ElleEveFaithGraceGwenJayJeanJuneKimLisa Lucy RoseRuthSheaSueZoe Suggested Sibling Names You’d be hard-pressed to find a sibling name that doesn’t go well with Jane, but here are some options if you are looking for sibling names that pair well: BelleBlakeChadFinnFrankJamesJakeJohnJudeLukeMaxNeilQueenRainSethTessToddTroy Famous People Named Jane Many strong and influential people have been given the name Jane. Calamity Jane, American frontierswoman and sharpshooter Jane Austen, British author known for the wildly popular books Pride and Prejudice and EmmaJane Badler, American actress and singer Jane Campion, New Zealand filmmakerJane Curtin, American actress and comedian Jane Fonda, American actress and political activist Jane Goodall, British primatologist and anthropologistJane Krakowski, American actress Jane Lynch, American actress Jane Roe, the pseudonym for Norma McCorvey who was the plaintiff in the landmark case Roe v. WadeJane Russell, American actressJane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII of EnglandJane Seymour, English actress Jane Siberry, Canadian singer, and songwriter Jane Wiedlin, American singer and member of the Go-Go’sJane Yolen, American writer Fictional Janes Jane is also often used in many literary pieces and great works of art. Some of the most popular include: Baby Jane Hudson, a character in the novel and film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane G.I. Jane, the main character in the 1997 movie of the same name, played by Demi MooreJane Bennet, the eldest of the Bennet sisters in the book Pride and PrejudiceJane Eyre, the lead character in the popular Charlotte Brontë novel of the same name Jane Jetson, a character in the animated show, The Jetsons Jane Lane, a character in the television show Daria Jane Porter, a character in the Tarzan books and filmsJane Studdock, a main character in the novel That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 36 Fantasy Baby Names 300 Popular Baby Names by Syllable Count 50 Welsh Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popularity of a Name: Jane. Social Security Administration. 2023.