Meaning & History
Medieval English form of Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of Iohannes (see JOHN). This became the most common feminine form of John in the 17th century, surpassing Joan. In the first half of the 20th century Joan once again overtook Jane for a few decades in both the United States and the United Kingdom.Famous bearers include the uncrowned English queen Lady Jane Grey (1536-1554), who ruled for only 9 days, British novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817), who wrote Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, British primatologist Jane Goodall (1934-), and American actress Jane Fonda (1937-). This is also the name of the central character in Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre (1847), which tells of Jane's sad childhood and her relationship with Edward Rochester.
Related Names
VariantsJanessa, Janice, Janis, Jayne, Jean, Jeana, Jeane, Jeanna, Jayna, Jeanne, Shavonne, Shevaun, Shevon
DiminutivesJan, Janae, Janel, Janelle, Janet, Janette, Janey, Janie, Janna, Jannette, Jaynie, Jeanie, Jeni, Jenna, Jenni, Jennie, Jenny, Janeka, Janele, Janella, Janetta, Netta
Other Languages & CulturesLashawn(African American) Jone(Basque) Zhanna(Belarusian) Joanna(Biblical) Ioanna(Biblical Greek) Iohanna(Biblical Latin) Yanna(Breton) Ioana, Ivana, Yana, Yanka, Yoana(Bulgarian) Joana, Jana(Catalan) Ghjuvanna(Corsican) Ivana(Croatian) Ivana, Jana, Johana, Janička, Janka, Žaneta(Czech) Johanna, Johanne, Jeanette(Danish) Jana, Janna, Johanna, Janine, Janneke, Jantine, Jantje, Jeanette, Jeanine, Jeannette, Jenny(Dutch) Jaana, Jana, Janika, Johanna(Estonian) Jóna(Faroese) Janika, Janina, Johanna, Jenna, Jenni, Jenny(Finnish) Jeanne, Johanne, Janine, Jeanette, Jeanine, Jeannette, Jeannine(French) Xoana(Galician) Jana, Janina, Johanna, Janine, Jenny(German) Gianna, Ioanna, Yanna, Yianna(Greek) Johanna, Janka, Zsanett(Hungarian) Jóhanna, Jóna, Jenný(Icelandic) Chevonne, Shavonne, Shevaun, Shevon, Síne, Siobhán, Sinéad(Irish) Giovanna(Italian) Johanna(Late Roman) Žanna(Latvian) Janina, Žaneta(Lithuanian) Ivana, Jovana(Macedonian) Jehanne, Johanne(Medieval French) Johanna, Johanne, Jeanette(Norwegian) Janina, Joanna, Janka, Żaneta(Polish) Joana(Portuguese) Ioana(Romanian) Yana, Zhanna, Zhannochka(Russian) Giuanna(Sardinian) Jean, Seona, Seonag, Sheena, Sheona, Shona, Sìne, Jessie, Sìneag, Teasag(Scottish) Ivana, Jovana(Serbian) Ivana, Jana, Janka, Žaneta(Slovak) Ivana, Jana(Slovene) Janka(Sorbian) Juana, Jenny(Spanish) Janina, Janna, Johanna, Jannicke, Jannike, Jeanette, Jennie, Jenny(Swedish) Ivanna, Yana, Zhanna(Ukrainian) Shan, Siân, Siwan, Siana, Siani, Sioned(Welsh)
Popularity
Images
Jane Austen in a portrait by her sister (1810)People think this name is
classic mature formal natural wholesome refined simple serious nerdy
Name Days
Sweden: May 3
Categories
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