Jana Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: YAH-nah //ˈjɑː.nə//
Origin: Hebrew; Slavic
Meaning: Hebrew: God is gracious; Slavic: June
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jana has its roots in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means "God is gracious." This name transitioned into Greek as Ioannes and subsequently into Latin as Johannes. The name made its way into various languages, including Old French as Jehan and eventually into English as John.
The feminine form Jana is often considered a derivative of the male name John, reflecting a common practice in many cultures of feminizing male names by altering their endings. Historically, the name Jana has been associated with several notable figures and events.
In the Christian tradition, the name John is significant due to its association with John the Baptist, a key figure in the New Testament, and John the Apostle, one of Jesus' closest disciples. The name has been widely used in various forms throughout history, appearing in significant religious texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in 1611 and helped to popularize the name in English-speaking regions.
The feminine variant Jana has been used in various cultures, particularly in Slavic countries, where it has been a common name since at least the Middle Ages. Culturally, the name Jana carries connotations of grace and divine favor, reflecting its etymological roots.
In many traditions, names derived from John have been associated with strong religious and moral values, contributing to their enduring presence across generations. The name Jana may also be linked to various saints, particularly in Christian contexts, further enhancing its cultural resonance.
The diminutive form Janie is sometimes used, particularly in English-speaking contexts, but the name Jana itself stands as a distinct and meaningful choice, embodying a rich historical and cultural legacy.
Famous people named Jana
In this section, you will find notable people named Jana. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jana who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jana who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Jana Kramer is an actress and country music singer best known for One Tree Hill, Dancing with the Stars, and her music career.
Jana Novotná was a professional tennis player best known for winning Wimbledon and achieving a career-high singles ranking of World No. 2.
Jana Gana Mana is a notable Indian song best known as the national anthem of India, composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jana, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jana. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jana was first seen in the United States in 1921.
Jana has ranked as high as #427 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Jana has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jana is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jana was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jana.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 181 | 0 | 181 |
| 2024 | 171 | 0 | 171 |
| 2023 | 200 | 0 | 200 |
| 2022 | 214 | 0 | 214 |
| 2021 | 228 | 0 | 228 |
| 2020 | 234 | 0 | 234 |
| 2019 | 237 | 0 | 237 |
| 2018 | 269 | 0 | 269 |
| 2017 | 292 | 0 | 292 |
| 2016 | 301 | 0 | 301 |
| 2015 | 266 | 0 | 266 |
| 2014 | 229 | 0 | 229 |
| 2013 | 244 | 0 | 244 |
| 2012 | 238 | 0 | 238 |
| 2011 | 213 | 0 | 213 |
| 2010 | 242 | 0 | 242 |
| 2009 | 239 | 0 | 239 |
| 2008 | 226 | 0 | 226 |
| 2007 | 247 | 0 | 247 |
| 2006 | 245 | 0 | 245 |
| 2005 | 252 | 0 | 252 |
| 2004 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| 2003 | 218 | 0 | 218 |
| 2002 | 254 | 0 | 254 |
| 2001 | 235 | 0 | 235 |
| 2000 | 229 | 0 | 229 |
| 1999 | 247 | 0 | 247 |
| 1998 | 248 | 0 | 248 |
| 1997 | 231 | 0 | 231 |
| 1996 | 234 | 0 | 234 |
| 1995 | 271 | 0 | 271 |
| 1994 | 260 | 0 | 260 |
| 1993 | 305 | 0 | 305 |
| 1992 | 340 | 0 | 340 |
| 1991 | 383 | 0 | 383 |
| 1990 | 433 | 0 | 433 |
| 1989 | 481 | 0 | 481 |
| 1988 | 505 | 0 | 505 |
| 1987 | 582 | 0 | 582 |
| 1986 | 684 | 7 | 677 |
| 1985 | 702 | 6 | 696 |
| 1984 | 757 | 0 | 757 |
| 1983 | 741 | 0 | 741 |
| 1982 | 843 | 0 | 843 |
| 1981 | 939 | 0 | 939 |
| 1980 | 1,051 | 5 | 1,046 |
| 1979 | 1,161 | 0 | 1,161 |
| 1978 | 959 | 0 | 959 |
| 1977 | 955 | 6 | 949 |
| 1976 | 798 | 0 | 798 |
| 1975 | 821 | 0 | 821 |
| 1974 | 801 | 0 | 801 |
| 1973 | 827 | 0 | 827 |
| 1972 | 863 | 0 | 863 |
| 1971 | 964 | 0 | 964 |
| 1970 | 1,030 | 5 | 1,025 |
| 1969 | 1,008 | 0 | 1,008 |
| 1968 | 1,011 | 0 | 1,011 |
| 1967 | 1,074 | 0 | 1,074 |
| 1966 | 1,138 | 0 | 1,138 |
| 1965 | 1,094 | 0 | 1,094 |
| 1964 | 1,227 | 0 | 1,227 |
| 1963 | 1,320 | 9 | 1,311 |
| 1962 | 1,313 | 0 | 1,313 |
| 1961 | 1,456 | 0 | 1,456 |
| 1960 | 980 | 0 | 980 |
| 1959 | 938 | 0 | 938 |
| 1958 | 910 | 0 | 910 |
| 1957 | 848 | 0 | 848 |
| 1956 | 841 | 0 | 841 |
| 1955 | 868 | 0 | 868 |
| 1954 | 846 | 0 | 846 |
| 1953 | 655 | 0 | 655 |
| 1952 | 500 | 0 | 500 |
| 1951 | 371 | 0 | 371 |
| 1950 | 307 | 0 | 307 |
| 1949 | 297 | 0 | 297 |
| 1948 | 288 | 0 | 288 |
| 1947 | 230 | 0 | 230 |
| 1946 | 171 | 0 | 171 |
| 1945 | 140 | 0 | 140 |
| 1944 | 131 | 0 | 131 |
| 1943 | 154 | 0 | 154 |
| 1942 | 141 | 0 | 141 |
| 1941 | 66 | 0 | 66 |
| 1940 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1939 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1938 | 41 | 0 | 41 |
| 1937 | 40 | 0 | 40 |
| 1936 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1935 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1934 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1933 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1932 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1931 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1929 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1928 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1927 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1926 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1925 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1924 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1923 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1922 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1921 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Jana (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 21 | |
| NY | 19 | |
| CA | 19 | |
| MI | 18 | |
| IL | 10 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| VA | 6 | |
| NJ | 5 | |
| CO | 5 |