Fun Facts About the Name Janet
- An established favorite: Janet held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 43 consecutive years, from 1928 through 1970.
- More than 558 thousand babies named Janet: U.S. records list 558,285 babies given the name Janet from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,515 boys received the name Janet - about 1 boy for every 368 girls.
What Does the Name Janet Mean?
Janet is an English feminine name formed as a diminutive of Jane. Jane comes from the Old French Jehanne, the feminine of Jehan, which descends from the Latin Iohannes and the Greek Iōannēs, and ultimately from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious" or "God is gracious." The ending -et is a French diminutive suffix, the same one seen in names such as Juliet and Harriet, so Janet literally suggests "little Jane" while carrying the inherited meaning of the parent name. Its meaning is therefore not a separate etymology but the sense of John/Jane with a diminutive ending attached.
Janet Name History & Origins
Jane and its diminutive Janet came into English from French after the Norman Conquest. The -et ending was a working French diminutive, and forms such as Janet, Jannet, and Jonet appear in medieval English and Scottish records. In Scotland the name took hold strongly and was written in several spellings, including Jonet and Jannet, through the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Because the name was so familiar in Scotland, "Janet" became a stock name for a young woman in ballads and folk tradition; the heroine of the ballad "Tam Lin" is called Janet. That is a literary and traditional use of an already common name, not its origin. The name was carried to North America by English and Scottish settlers and has remained in general use in the English-speaking world. Short forms and related pet names include Jan, Janie, and Janny.
How Popular is the Name Janet?
Janet remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1928 to 1970. Its highest annual birth count was in 1954, and people born that year turn 72 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,791 | 61 | 0.0038% |
| 2024 | #2,441 | 74 | 0.0046% |
| 2023 | #2,027 | 97 | 0.0061% |
| 2022 | #1,935 | 103 | 0.0063% |
| 2021 | #2,077 | 92 | 0.0056% |
| 2020 | #2,024 | 92 | 0.0057% |
| 2019 | #1,703 | 123 | 0.0073% |
| 2018 | #1,408 | 159 | 0.0094% |
| 2017 | #1,358 | 171 | 0.0099% |
| 2016 | #1,427 | 162 | 0.0091% |
| 2015 | #1,489 | 154 | 0.0086% |
| 2014 | #1,378 | 168 | 0.0094% |
| 2013 | #1,261 | 189 | 0.0108% |
| 2012 | #1,160 | 212 | 0.0120% |
| 2011 | #953 | 269 | 0.0153% |
| 2010 | #890 | 298 | 0.0168% |
| 2009 | #805 | 353 | 0.0192% |
| 2008 | #718 | 415 | 0.0219% |
| 2007 | #660 | 449 | 0.0234% |
| 2006 | #562 | 523 | 0.0275% |
| 2005 | #562 | 512 | 0.0277% |
| 2004 | #452 | 672 | 0.0366% |
| 2003 | #508 | 565 | 0.0309% |
| 2002 | #457 | 630 | 0.0351% |
| 2001 | #412 | 696 | 0.0387% |
| 2000 | #412 | 686 | 0.0378% |
| 1999 | #430 | 646 | 0.0364% |
| 1998 | #373 | 759 | 0.0430% |
| 1997 | #365 | 757 | 0.0435% |
| 1996 | #338 | 827 | 0.0472% |
| 1995 | #298 | 928 | 0.0528% |
| 1994 | #277 | 1,007 | 0.0564% |
| 1993 | #259 | 1,068 | 0.0590% |
| 1992 | #230 | 1,197 | 0.0649% |
| 1991 | #236 | 1,186 | 0.0633% |
| 1990 | #223 | 1,285 | 0.0677% |
| 1989 | #227 | 1,210 | 0.0656% |
| 1988 | #220 | 1,179 | 0.0662% |
| 1987 | #204 | 1,313 | 0.0755% |
| 1986 | #214 | 1,236 | 0.0720% |
| 1985 | #207 | 1,242 | 0.0722% |
| 1984 | #207 | 1,266 | 0.0752% |
| 1983 | #190 | 1,398 | 0.0837% |
| 1982 | #182 | 1,499 | 0.0885% |
| 1981 | #176 | 1,568 | 0.0940% |
| 1980 | #172 | 1,610 | 0.0970% |
| 1979 | #160 | 1,747 | 0.1088% |
| 1978 | #159 | 1,730 | 0.1129% |
| 1977 | #147 | 1,944 | 0.1268% |
| 1976 | #142 | 1,879 | 0.1282% |
| 1975 | #139 | 1,950 | 0.1338% |
| 1974 | #130 | 2,175 | 0.1482% |
| 1973 | #119 | 2,521 | 0.1729% |
| 1972 | #111 | 2,954 | 0.1942% |
| 1971 | #112 | 3,394 | 0.2040% |
| 1970 | #96 | 4,159 | 0.2379% |
| 1969 | #84 | 4,381 | 0.2597% |
| 1968 | #73 | 4,838 | 0.2949% |
| 1967 | #61 | 5,657 | 0.3426% |
| 1966 | #57 | 6,434 | 0.3802% |
| 1965 | #55 | 7,654 | 0.4336% |
| 1964 | #48 | 9,249 | 0.4881% |
| 1963 | #40 | 10,666 | 0.5534% |
| 1962 | #35 | 12,255 | 0.6231% |
| 1961 | #32 | 13,932 | 0.6903% |
| 1960 | #32 | 14,249 | 0.7047% |
| 1959 | #28 | 14,962 | 0.7394% |
| 1958 | #28 | 14,817 | 0.7366% |
| 1957 | #23 | 15,753 | 0.7704% |
| 1956 | #21 | 16,758 | 0.8347% |
| 1955 | #20 | 17,920 | 0.9165% |
| 1954 | #19 | 18,477 | 0.9515% |
| 1953 | #19 | 17,771 | 0.9446% |
| 1952 | #19 | 17,921 | 0.9664% |
| 1951 | #19 | 16,947 | 0.9410% |
| 1950 | #18 | 16,193 | 0.9453% |
| 1949 | #23 | 14,859 | 0.8685% |
| 1948 | #24 | 13,977 | 0.8232% |
| 1947 | #23 | 15,236 | 0.8595% |
| 1946 | #21 | 14,142 | 0.9000% |
| 1945 | #20 | 12,326 | 0.9430% |
| 1944 | #21 | 12,592 | 0.9488% |
| 1943 | #20 | 13,316 | 0.9544% |
| 1942 | #19 | 13,064 | 0.9672% |
| 1941 | #18 | 11,137 | 0.9218% |
| 1940 | #19 | 10,105 | 0.8837% |
| 1939 | #17 | 10,120 | 0.9228% |
| 1938 | #16 | 9,870 | 0.8945% |
| 1937 | #18 | 9,363 | 0.8800% |
| 1936 | #21 | 8,081 | 0.7767% |
| 1935 | #22 | 7,856 | 0.7492% |
| 1934 | #21 | 8,070 | 0.7728% |
| 1933 | #25 | 7,342 | 0.7284% |
| 1932 | #35 | 5,786 | 0.5422% |
| 1931 | #45 | 4,948 | 0.4647% |
| 1930 | #53 | 4,602 | 0.4087% |
| 1929 | #82 | 3,050 | 0.2732% |
| 1928 | #95 | 2,782 | 0.2412% |
| 1927 | #111 | 2,546 | 0.2135% |
| 1926 | #110 | 2,468 | 0.2082% |
| 1925 | #111 | 2,428 | 0.1994% |
| 1924 | #118 | 2,293 | 0.1836% |
| 1923 | #121 | 2,221 | 0.1841% |
| 1922 | #129 | 2,004 | 0.1669% |
| 1921 | #124 | 2,123 | 0.1722% |
| 1920 | #124 | 2,057 | 0.1717% |
| 1919 | #126 | 1,864 | 0.1649% |
| 1918 | #129 | 1,812 | 0.1565% |
| 1917 | #136 | 1,585 | 0.1466% |
| 1916 | #142 | 1,449 | 0.1387% |
| 1915 | #158 | 1,173 | 0.1192% |
| 1914 | #163 | 883 | 0.1159% |
| 1913 | #162 | 712 | 0.1140% |
| 1912 | #177 | 553 | 0.0991% |
| 1911 | #186 | 386 | 0.0923% |
| 1910 | #217 | 296 | 0.0747% |
| 1909 | #232 | 242 | 0.0697% |
| 1908 | #226 | 231 | 0.0691% |
| 1907 | #238 | 197 | 0.0618% |
| 1906 | #282 | 139 | 0.0471% |
| 1905 | #263 | 154 | 0.0528% |
| 1904 | #278 | 128 | 0.0465% |
| 1903 | #289 | 119 | 0.0454% |
| 1902 | #294 | 115 | 0.0435% |
| 1901 | #288 | 108 | 0.0451% |
| 1900 | #326 | 108 | 0.0360% |
| 1899 | #337 | 80 | 0.0343% |
| 1898 | #277 | 122 | 0.0471% |
| 1897 | #279 | 103 | 0.0440% |
| 1896 | #290 | 102 | 0.0429% |
| 1895 | #302 | 92 | 0.0394% |
| 1894 | #293 | 89 | 0.0399% |
| 1893 | #318 | 72 | 0.0338% |
| 1892 | #308 | 78 | 0.0367% |
| 1891 | #269 | 84 | 0.0453% |
| 1890 | #287 | 76 | 0.0399% |
| 1889 | #327 | 57 | 0.0320% |
| 1888 | #284 | 68 | 0.0381% |
| 1887 | #281 | 58 | 0.0397% |
| 1886 | #278 | 56 | 0.0387% |
| 1885 | #294 | 46 | 0.0346% |
| 1884 | #308 | 40 | 0.0310% |
| 1883 | #272 | 44 | 0.0392% |
| 1882 | #297 | 35 | 0.0325% |
| 1881 | #294 | 29 | 0.0315% |
| 1880 | #299 | 28 | 0.0308% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | #8,241 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #6,053 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #6,359 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #3,898 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #5,559 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #2,942 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #3,782 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #2,885 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #2,386 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1985 | #3,131 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #4,733 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #3,505 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #3,185 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,110 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #3,334 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #5,065 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #3,706 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #4,353 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,590 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #5,075 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #3,217 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #2,926 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #3,464 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #2,499 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #3,161 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #1,584 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #2,384 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #2,079 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #1,737 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1965 | #1,646 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1964 | #1,596 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #1,523 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #1,441 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #1,504 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1960 | #1,641 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #1,480 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1958 | #1,385 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1957 | #1,331 | 35 | 0.0016% |
| 1956 | #1,272 | 37 | 0.0017% |
| 1955 | #1,471 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1954 | #1,396 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1953 | #1,296 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1952 | #1,420 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1951 | #1,504 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #1,328 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1949 | #1,419 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1948 | #1,474 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1947 | #1,348 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1946 | #1,287 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1945 | #1,092 | 36 | 0.0027% |
| 1944 | #1,116 | 36 | 0.0026% |
| 1943 | #989 | 46 | 0.0032% |
| 1942 | #1,099 | 39 | 0.0028% |
| 1941 | #1,220 | 30 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,038 | 39 | 0.0034% |
| 1939 | #1,209 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1938 | #1,158 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1937 | #973 | 42 | 0.0039% |
| 1936 | #1,109 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1935 | #1,236 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1934 | #1,341 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1933 | #1,429 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1932 | #1,276 | 29 | 0.0028% |
| 1931 | #1,514 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1930 | #2,524 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,682 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,948 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #3,627 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #3,943 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #2,845 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1924 | #4,657 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1919 | #3,938 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,266 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
