Find out how popular the first name Jenell has been for the last 48 years (from 1974 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jenell by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Jenell is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jenell.

The history of the first name Jenell

The given name Jenell is of English origin, derived from the French name Janelle, which itself stems from the Late Latin name Iohanella, a diminutive form of the male name Iohannes, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." This name can be traced back to the biblical Hebrew name Yohanan.

The earliest recorded use of the name Jenell dates back to the late 19th century in England and the United States. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Jenell Woodruff Paschall (1854-1933), an American educator and activist for women's rights. She was a co-founder of the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College, now known as Mississippi University for Women.

Another notable figure with this name was Jenell Hawkins (1926-2020), an American model and actress who was one of the first African American women to grace the cover of a major fashion magazine, appearing on the cover of Vogue in 1949. She paved the way for greater diversity and representation in the fashion industry.

In the literary world, Jenell Greenfield (born 1951) is an American author and journalist known for her novels and non-fiction works exploring themes of family, identity, and social issues. Her debut novel, "It Looked Different on the Model," was published in 1994 and received critical acclaim.

Jenell Holstead (born 1979) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by her ring name Jenell Tonic. She has competed in various promotions, including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and was the first woman to hold the Ohio Valley Wrestling Women's Championship.

Jenell Proctor (born 1986) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for teams like the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury. She was a standout player at Duke University, where she helped lead the team to the NCAA Women's Final Four in 2006.

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 Jenell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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