Jane

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Origin, Meaning, And History Of Jane

The name Jane is of Latin origin and means “God is generous.” It’s so popular that phrases like “Jane Doe” and “Plain Jane” were invented to describe women. The name Jane is believed to be taken from the ancient French word Jehanne, supposedly deriving from the Hebrew Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is compassionate.” Jane eventually became a substitute for Joan from the middle ages.

There are many variations of Jane used worldwide, including Joan, Jean, Jena, Jaina, and Janna. The name Jane is traditional yet modern and is borne by several notable women in history. For instance, the renowned English author Jane Austen wrote timeless masterpieces like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Sense and Sensibility.”

The name “Jane” has appeared in several movies, TV episodes, and books and is now well-known in popular culture. Jane has been linked to powerful, independent, and smart fictional characters who aren’t afraid to defy the established quo, from Jane Eyre to Jane the Virgin.

Characters named Jane have appeared in several well-known literary works. Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” first released in 1847, portrays Jane as an orphan who becomes a governess and develops feelings for her client, the enigmatic Mr. Rochester. One of the best pieces of English literature, “Jane Eyre,” is studied extensively in schools. Another notable character is Jane Benett. The plot of Jane Austen’s well-known work “Pride and Prejudice” is centered on the lives of the Bennet sisters, notably Jane Bennet, the second-eldest. Numerous cinematic adaptations of “Pride and Prejudice” have been made.

These are just a handful of the numerous Jane-named characters found in great works of fiction. Each of these books has significantly influenced literature and society, and further made the name popular.

Jane

Meaning God Is Gracious; French form of Jehanne; A variant name of Jean

Gender Girl

Origin French, Thai

Names starting with  J..  Ja..  Jac..  Jag..  Jah..  Jai.. 

How To Pronounce Jane?

Jane On The Popularity Chart

Jane has been a favorite choice for parents through generations and maintained its place in the top 100 popular girl names in the US. Find the graph below for detailed information.

Popularity Over Time

As many as 1186 babies were named Jane in 2019, making it one of the favorites among parents. Check out the graph below to understand the name’s popularity better.

Rank Over Time

Jane reached its peak rank in 2021, making it a timeless name loved by parents globally. Find the graphic below to know more about the name’s ranking.

Names With Similar Sounds As Jane

If you loved the sound of Jane, you might want more similar-sounding names. Check out the list below.

Janae Janet Jannine Jeanetta Jeanne Jenava Jenesse Jonetta Jonnelle Joyanna

Names With The Same Meaning As Jane

If you are looking for a name with the same meaning as Jane, here is a list for you. Scroll down and take your pick.

Jaana Jaane Jaimin Jaishna Jana Jemini Jesenia Jessenia Joanna Josianne

Name Numerology For Jane

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Ipshita ChakrabortyMA

Ipshita Chakraborty is a creative content writer with an avid interest in human relationships and literature from around the world. She completed her bachelors in English literature at Patna University and masters in English literature at Sharda University. While pursuing her MA, she presented a research paper on marital rape at the Students’ Academic National Seminar in India. She started...more