Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Jana
GirlCzech, German· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Czech, German
- Pronunciation
- JA-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,247
- US babies 2025
- 181
- Best rank
- #226 (1961)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Jana
Jana is a Czech and German name that means “God is gracious”.
Jana is a feminine form of Jan, the Czech, Slovak, Dutch and Scandinavian form of John. John goes back to the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. Jana is very popular in central Europe, especially in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it is pronounced YAH-nah. In English-speaking countries it is often pronounced JAN-uh. The name is short, clear and international. It is used in many cultures and is easy to spell. Jana pairs well with longer middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Janna.
Popularity over time
Jana first appears in US Social Security records in 1921. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 67 different years, starting in 1941. Its best national rank was #226 in 1961, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,456 babies. In 2025, 181 babies were named Jana, and it ranked #1,247 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #465 in 1950, #246 in 1980, #938 in 2000, #1,032 in 2010, and #1,247 in 2025. Of the 46,185 US girls named Jana since records began, 25% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 9,168 babies. Since 2010, 3,759 more have been named Jana.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Cheri, Janine, Sherrie, Terrie, and Lorrie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jana ranked highest in Illinois, New York, and Virginia.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Jana is usually pronounced JA-nuh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Janna.
Middle names for Jana
A few middle names that flow with Jana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jana
Similar names
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EE-nuh
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LEE-nuh
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DAY-nuh
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kuh-TREE-nuh
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DAH-nuh
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Gina Girl
JEE-nuh
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MOH-nuh
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Shaina Girl
SHAY-nuh
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Rena Girl
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Lists that include Jana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jana mean?
Jana is a Czech and German name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Jana?
Jana has Czech, German, and Hebrew roots. Jana is a feminine form of Jan, the Czech, Slovak, Dutch and Scandinavian form of John.
Is Jana a popular name?
Not especially. Jana ranked #1,247 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Jana a boy or girl name?
Jana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Jana?
Jana is usually pronounced JA-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings