Janus - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's name Janus \j(a)-nus\ is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "gateway". Janus was the Roman guardian of doors as well as of beginnings and endings. He had two faces, one of which looked forward and the other backward, and gave his name to the first month of the year, January. A Saint Januarius was martyred in the fourth century AD.

Janus has 9 variant forms: Gennadi, Gennaro, Janan, Janiusz, Januarius, Janusz, Jenaro, Jenarius and Jennaro.

Baby names that sound like Janus are Janos, Janse, Jens, Jonas, Jones and Junius.

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