Jeannette Girl

Popularity: #924 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: zhah-NET //ʒəˈnɛt//

Origin: French; English

Meaning: God is gracious; little Jean

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jeannette is derived from the French diminutive of Jeanne, which itself is the feminine form of the name Jean. The etymology of Jean can be traced back to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." This name passed into Greek as Ioannes, then into Latin as Johannes, before evolving into the Old French Jeanne.

The diminutive form Jeannette emerged in the Middle Ages, reflecting a common practice in French to create affectionate or familiar versions of names by adding suffixes such as -ette. Historically, the name Jeanne has been borne by notable figures, including Saint Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc), who played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years' War during the 15th century.

Her legacy contributed to the name's prominence in French culture. The name Jeannette itself gained further recognition through various literary and artistic works, including its use in French literature and music, particularly during the 19th century when diminutive forms became fashionable.

Culturally, Jeannette carries connotations of grace and favor, aligning with its etymological roots. The name has been associated with various saints and historical figures, reinforcing its significance in Christian tradition.

The use of Jeannette in literature and the arts has also contributed to its enduring appeal, often symbolizing innocence or femininity. The name's diminutive form, Jeannie, has also been used in various contexts, further enriching its cultural tapestry.

Overall, Jeannette reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural resonance, rooted in a rich historical background.

Famous people named Jeannette

In this section, you will find notable people named Jeannette. 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 Jeannette who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jeannette 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.

Jeannette Walls is an author and journalist best known for The Glass Castle, Half Broke Horses, and The Silver Star.

Fictional characters named Jeannette

The following list of fictional characters named Jeannette is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Jeannette Walls is a fictional character from the memoir The Glass Castle. She is the author recounting her unconventional and often tumultuous upbringing in a dysfunctional family.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jeannette, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JulietteCharlotteMargaretEvelynCeciliaAmelie

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jeannette. 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.

JeanJoanJaniceJanineJanelleGenevieveGiselleJacqueline

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jeannette was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Jeannette has ranked as high as #308 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Jeannette has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jeannette 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 Jeannette 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 Jeannette.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 24 0 24
2024 20 0 20
2023 23 0 23
2022 18 0 18
2021 16 0 16
2020 28 0 28
2019 30 0 30
2018 23 0 23
2017 31 0 31
2016 32 0 32
2015 37 0 37
2014 31 0 31
2013 36 0 36
2012 48 0 48
2011 40 0 40
2010 42 0 42
2009 39 0 39
2008 36 0 36
2007 48 0 48
2006 52 0 52
2005 61 0 61
2004 55 0 55
2003 57 0 57
2002 67 0 67
2001 70 0 70
2000 62 0 62
1999 82 0 82
1998 92 0 92
1997 95 0 95
1996 102 0 102
1995 146 0 146
1994 150 0 150
1993 193 0 193
1992 214 0 214
1991 308 0 308
1990 266 0 266
1989 311 0 311
1988 346 0 346
1987 343 0 343
1986 425 0 425
1985 369 0 369
1984 283 0 283
1983 327 0 327
1982 415 0 415
1981 415 0 415
1980 474 0 474
1979 410 0 410
1978 408 0 408
1977 460 0 460
1976 406 0 406
1975 428 0 428
1974 542 0 542
1973 537 0 537
1972 574 0 574
1971 717 0 717
1970 714 0 714
1969 689 6 683
1968 632 0 632
1967 653 0 653
1966 643 0 643
1965 697 0 697
1964 732 0 732
1963 802 0 802
1962 913 5 908
1961 877 0 877
1960 938 0 938
1959 938 0 938
1958 886 0 886
1957 863 0 863
1956 902 0 902
1955 870 0 870
1954 855 0 855
1953 911 0 911
1952 898 0 898
1951 856 0 856
1950 884 0 884
1949 917 0 917
1948 957 0 957
1947 994 0 994
1946 965 0 965
1945 788 0 788
1944 931 0 931
1943 1,037 0 1,037
1942 1,061 6 1,055
1941 948 0 948
1940 1,048 9 1,039
1939 1,018 0 1,018
1938 1,044 0 1,044
1937 1,012 0 1,012
1936 960 5 955
1935 955 6 949
1934 919 0 919
1933 860 0 860
1932 1,086 6 1,080
1931 974 0 974
1930 993 6 987
1929 929 0 929
1928 889 0 889
1927 910 0 910
1926 920 0 920
1925 1,050 0 1,050
1924 1,032 0 1,032
1923 1,081 0 1,081
1922 1,027 0 1,027
1921 1,094 0 1,094
1920 1,060 0 1,060
1919 1,068 0 1,068
1918 1,077 0 1,077
1917 1,113 0 1,113
1916 1,082 0 1,082
1915 903 0 903
1914 699 0 699
1913 570 0 570
1912 487 0 487
1911 373 0 373
1910 347 0 347
1909 311 0 311
1908 260 0 260
1907 235 0 235
1906 216 0 216
1905 205 0 205
1904 212 0 212
1903 161 0 161
1902 174 0 174
1901 167 0 167
1900 170 0 170
1899 125 0 125
1898 144 0 144
1897 144 0 144
1896 135 0 135
1895 150 0 150
1894 133 0 133
1893 139 0 139
1892 122 0 122
1891 98 0 98
1890 99 0 99
1889 92 0 92
1888 109 0 109
1887 95 0 95
1886 75 0 75
1885 81 0 81
1884 63 0 63
1883 53 0 53
1882 60 0 60
1881 43 0 43
1880 34 0 34

Top States for Jeannette (2022)

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
CA 7
100%