Jane - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Jane \j(a)-ne\ is pronounced jayn. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "the Lord is gracious". Originally a feminine form of John. A longtime popular girl's name. It is not a royal name, but has been borne by the 16th century's Lady Jane Grey who was unwillingly proclaimed queen. It was influenced by the 19th-century use as the name of the central character in Charlotte Brontė's "Jane Eyre". In the 1940s, the name was borne by statuesque American film star Jane Russell. Often used as a middle name, Jane is also the basis of many variants and as the second element in combinations such as Sarah-Jane. See also Jenny, Jiana, Seana, Sian, and Siobhan. Author Jane Austen; actresses Jane Fonda, Jane Seymour, Jayne Mansfield, Jane Wyman, Janeane Garofalo, Jane Kaczmarek; TV newswoman Pane Pauley.

Jane has 93 variant forms: Gene, Gianina, Gianna, Giovanna, Iva, Ivana, Ivancka, Ivanka, Ivanna, Jaina, Jaine, Jainee, Jan, Jana, Janae, Janaye, Jandy, Janeczka, Janeen, Janel, Janela, Janelba, Janella, Janelle, Janean, Janeane, Janee, Janene, Janerita, Janessa, Janet, Janeta, Janeth, Janetta, Janette, Janey, Jania, Janica, Janice, Janie, Janina, Janine, Janique, Janis, Janise, Janit, Janka, Janna, Jannel, Jannelle, Janney, Janny, Jany, Jayna, Jayne, Jaynell, Jayni, Jaynie, Jean, Jeanelle, Jeanette, Jeanie, Jeanne, Jeannette, Jeannine, Jenda, Jenella, Jenelle, Jenica, Jeniece, Jeni, Jenie, Jensina, Jensine, Jess, Jinna, Joan, Joana, Joanna, Johanna, Johnetta, Johnna, Jonella, Jonelle, Joni, Jonie, Juana, Juanita, Sheena, Shene, Sinead, Vania and Vanya.

For more information, see also the related name Shanae.

Baby names that sound like Jane are Janne, Jann, Janea, Jeane, Jone, Joane and June.

Jane is a very popular female first name and a common surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Jane. Click here to compare Jane with related baby names.