Jan is a unisex name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Jan means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Jan across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Jan has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Jan is a unisex name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious”. A short form of Janet or Jane, also a European form of John.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 76,934 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 3,055 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 647 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 82 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 746 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 1,587 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Jan per year, United States (1902 to 2025). United States peaked in 1954 (3,761/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2017 (238/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2012 (62/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1976 (35/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2010 (9/yr).
Jan has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 1954, when it ranked #207 nationally (given to 3,761 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1950s.
John · Joan · Jean · Jane · June · Juan · Joann · Joanne
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →