Find out how popular the first name Jane has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jane by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jane is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Jane being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,108 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jane.

The history of the first name Jane

The name Jane is derived from the Hebrew name Johanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." It is a feminine form of the male name John, which gained popularity in medieval England. The name can be traced back to the 12th century in Britain, where it was a variant spelling of the French name Jehanne.

Jane is a name with deep roots in Christianity. Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641) was a French Catholic nun who co-founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. Her life and teachings influenced the spread of the name across Europe.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Jane Seymour (c. 1508-1537), the third wife of King Henry VIII of England. She gave birth to the future King Edward VI and was widely respected for her kindness and piety.

Another notable Jane in English history was Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554), who briefly reigned as Queen of England for nine days in 1553. Her tragic story and execution at the age of 16 made her a celebrated Protestant martyr.

In the realm of literature, Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of the most famous Janes. The English novelist's works, including "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma," have been widely read and adapted for over two centuries.

Jane Addams (1860-1935) was an American social worker and leader in the settlement house movement. She co-founded the Hull House in Chicago and was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

Jane Goodall (born 1934) is a renowned English primatologist and anthropologist, known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her work has revolutionized our understanding of primate behavior and has been instrumental in promoting conservation efforts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jane was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jane, please contact us.

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