Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Jane
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “God is gracious”
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- JAYN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #221
- US babies 2025
- 1,380
- Best rank
- #35 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Jane
Jane is an English and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
Jane is an English feminine form of John, from the Old French Jehanne, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan, God is gracious. It became common in England in the sixteenth century and was borne by Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII, and by Lady Jane Grey, queen for nine days. Literature made it iconic: Jane Austen wrote as one, and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre gave the name a heroine of quiet strength. Jane is simple, timeless and understated, and it works equally well as a first name or a classic middle name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Jayne.
Popularity over time
Jane has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #35 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 9,943 were named Jane. In 2025, 1,380 babies were named Jane, and it ranked #221 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #48 in 1920, #39 in 1950, #312 in 1980, #437 in 2000, #385 in 2010, and #221 in 2025. Of the 379,876 US girls named Jane since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 72,537 babies. Since 2010, 17,390 more have been named Jane.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Bonnie, Martha, Phyllis, Marilyn, and Gloria.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Jane ranked highest in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #26 | 96 |
| Wyoming | #69 | 6 |
| Idaho | #91 | 22 |
| Maine | #93 | 11 |
| District of Columbia | #99 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Jane is usually pronounced JAYN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with J and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Jayne.
Middle names for Jane
A few middle names that flow with Jane: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Jane
Similar names
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Lists that include Jane
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jane mean?
Jane is an English and Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”.
What is the origin of the name Jane?
Jane has English and Hebrew roots. Jane is an English feminine form of John, from the Old French Jehanne, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan, God is gracious.
Is Jane a popular name?
Yes. Jane ranked #221 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Jane a boy or girl name?
Jane is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Jane?
Jane is usually pronounced JAYN. 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