Jenne
A feminine diminutive of Jennifer, meaning "fair one" or "the fair one".
Name Census estimates that about 464 living Americans carry the first name Jenne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jenne today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jenne births was 1973 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jenne. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
464
~ 1 in 738,695 Americans
Peak year
1973
20 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2005 SSA rank
#15,331
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Jenne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jenne from the 1910s through to the 2000s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 151 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jenne by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jenne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jennes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Jenne
The name Jenne is believed to have its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the Old High German name "Jenno" or "Jenni." This name is thought to be a diminutive form of the Germanic name "Jan," which itself is derived from the Latin name "Johannes" or "John."
In its earliest recorded usage, the name Jenne was found in medieval Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It was commonly used as a feminine form of the name Jan or Johann, though it could also be used as a masculine name in some instances.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Jenne was Jenne of Göttingen, a German nun who lived in the 13th century. She is known for her writings and spiritual teachings, which were influential in the religious communities of her time.
Another notable figure with the name Jenne was Jenne Frese, a German painter who lived in the 16th century. She was renowned for her portraiture and religious paintings, many of which can be found in churches and museums across Germany.
In the 17th century, Jenne Badilon was a French poet and writer who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love and nature. Her poetry was widely published and appreciated during her lifetime.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Jenne Seghers was a Belgian artist known for her intricate lace designs and textiles. Her works were highly prized and sought after by collectors and connoisseurs of the time.
Finally, in the early 20th century, Jenne Clements was an American suffragist and activist who played a significant role in the women's rights movement. She worked tirelessly to secure voting rights for women and advocated for gender equality.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Jenne. While the name may have its roots in Germanic languages, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, highlighting its enduring appeal and versatility.
People
Jenne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jenne as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jenne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jenne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 464 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jenne going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 738,695 US residents.
Is Jenne a common name?
We classify Jenne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 569 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jenne most popular?
The single biggest year for Jenne was 1973, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jenne is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jenne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jenne in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.