Jenna first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Jenna

A feminine name of English origin possibly derived from Jane.

Popularity of Jenna by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 470 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Jenna.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 470
2022 0 461
2021 0 514
2020 0 544
2019 0 708
2018 0 736
2017 0 811
2016 0 890
2015 0 1,089
2014 0 1,237
2013 0 1,417
2012 0 1,526
2011 0 1,841
2010 0 2,224
2009 0 2,635
2008 0 3,241
2007 0 3,304
2006 8 3,941
2005 6 4,794
2004 27 5,175
2003 16 5,352
2002 7 5,664
2001 6 6,142
2000 8 5,045
1999 5 5,043
1998 0 4,866
1997 0 4,422
1996 0 4,287
1995 0 4,253
1994 11 4,594
1993 5 4,881
1992 13 5,091
1991 12 4,458
1990 7 3,956
1989 13 4,339
1988 17 4,607
1987 24 5,306
1986 21 5,416
1985 18 6,436
1984 19 5,881
1983 0 1,168
1982 8 1,011
1981 5 1,361
1980 0 1,076
1979 0 623
1978 0 463
1977 0 531
1976 0 484
1975 0 502
1974 0 470

The history of the first name Jenna

The name Jenna has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language, originating from the name Yochanan, which means "God is gracious" or "Yahweh is merciful." The earliest recorded use of this name dates back to biblical times, as it appears in the Old Testament as a masculine name.

In the Middle Ages, the name Jenna emerged as a feminine variant of the name John, which was derived from the Hebrew Yochanan. The name gained popularity in Europe, particularly in England and Scotland, where it was often spelled as Jennet or Jennet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jenna can be found in the Scottish clan records from the 15th century, where it was used as a feminine form of John. The name was also popular in medieval England, where it was sometimes spelled as Jennett or Jennette.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jenna. One such person was Jenna of Angers (c. 1080 - c. 1135), a French noblewoman and patron of the arts, who played a significant role in the development of Romanesque architecture in the region.

Another notable bearer of the name was Jenna of Sempringham (c. 1182 - 1246), an English nun and the founder of the Sempringham Order, a religious order that combined both monks and nuns under the same rule.

In the 16th century, Jenna Sibbald (c. 1560 - 1624) was a Scottish writer and poet, known for her works celebrating the beauty of nature and the Scottish landscape.

In the 19th century, Jenna Renaud (1822 - 1892) was a French writer and journalist who advocated for women's rights and education. She was a pioneering figure in the early feminist movement in France.

More recently, Jenna Talackova (born 1988) is a Canadian model and television personality, who gained international recognition for her fight against discrimination in beauty pageants based on gender identity.

While the name Jenna has evolved over centuries and gained popularity in various cultures, it remains closely tied to its Hebrew roots, carrying the meaning of grace, mercy, and divine favor.

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

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

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"Jenna first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jenna-meaning-and-history/.

"Jenna first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jenna-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Jenna first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jenna-meaning-and-history/.

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