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Jane is a common name for girls across the globe. It’s so common that terms like “Jane Doe” and “Plain Jane” are used as generic terms for women. The name Jane is of English origin and means “God is gracious.”

Jane has roots in the Old French name Jehanne, which is thought to be derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan which means “Yahweh is merciful.” Jane first became popular in the mid-16th century when it was used as an alternative to the name Joan. 

Jane is also a common middle name and is sometimes used as the second name for a double name, such as Mary Jane or Eliza Jane.

Origin: The name Jane can be traced to English, French, and Hebrew origins.

Gender: Jane has traditionally been a girl’s name but can be given to kids of any gender. 

Pronunciation: Ja-yn

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Jane? 

Jane used to be a wildly popular name in the United States. From 1911 until 1965 it stayed on the top 100 charts of most popular names for girls. Its popularity peaked in 1946 when it was the 35th most common name for American girls. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Jane was the 269th most popular name for girls in the United States in 2024, up twelve spots from the previous year.

Name Variations 

Jane has numerous spelling and pronunciation variations in different cultures and languages worldwide. Some of the most common name variations you are likely to come across include:

Similar Names

If you like a short and sweet name like Jane, you’ll may also like these simple names:

Alice 

Anne

Blaire

Clara 

Elle

Eve

Faith

Grace

Gwen

Jay

Jean

June

Kim

Lisa 

Lucy 

Rose

Ruth

Shea

Sue

Zoe

Suggested Sibling Names 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a sibling name that doesn’t go well with Jane, but here are some options if you are looking for sibling names that pair well:

Belle

Blake

Chad

Finn

Frank

James

Jake

John

Jude

Luke

Max

Neil

Queen

Rain

Seth

Tess

Todd

Troy

Famous People Named Jane 

Many strong and influential people have been given the name Jane.

Calamity Jane, American frontierswoman and sharpshooter 

Jane Austen, British author known for the wildly popular books Pride and Prejudice and Emma

Jane Badler, American actress and singer 

Jane Campion, New Zealand filmmaker

Jane Curtin, American actress and comedian 

Jane Fonda, American actress and political activist 

Jane Goodall, British primatologist and anthropologist

Jane Krakowski, American actress 

Jane Lynch, American actress 

Jane Roe, the pseudonym for Norma McCorvey who was the plaintiff in the landmark case Roe v. Wade

Jane Russell, American actress

Jane Seymour, third wife of King Henry VIII of England

Jane Seymour, English actress 

Jane Siberry, Canadian singer, and songwriter 

Jane Wiedlin, American singer and member of the Go-Go’s

Jane Yolen, American writer

Fictional Janes

Jane is also often used in many literary pieces and great works of art. Some of the most popular include: 

Baby Jane Hudson, a character in the novel and film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane 

G.I. Jane, the main character in the 1997 movie of the same name, played by Demi Moore

Jane Bennet, the eldest of the Bennet sisters in the book Pride and Prejudice

Jane Eyre, the lead character in the popular Charlotte Brontë novel of the same name 

Jane Jetson, a character in the animated show, The Jetsons 

Jane Lane, a character in the television show Daria 

Jane Porter, a character in the Tarzan books and films

Jane Studdock, a main character in the novel That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis   

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: