Given name
Janai
“God has answered our prayers”
Janai is a variant of Janae. One Hebrew interpretation is “God has answered our prayers.”
Original Hebrewיעני
Meaning & origin
What it means
Janai is a variant of Janae. One Hebrew interpretation is “God has answered our prayers.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Janai is a variant of Janae. An origin associated with Janae is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb 'ana (ענה), “to correspond, be busy with, afflict or sing.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1960. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Janai appears in 1 Chronicles 5:12.
From biblical name research
Janai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,193
- 94 boys · 3,099 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 118 babies
- 2025
- 47
- #3,670 for girls · #11,232 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 41 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,670 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 20.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 113 in 2006. It also appeared in 6 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,524 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 13
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Janai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jahni
10% boys · 90% girls
Jaeli
>99% girls
Jadelynn
>99% girls
Jamiah
8% boys · 92% girls
Janiyah
“a lively woman; one who gives life”
>99% girls
Jaylynn
“resembling a jaybird”
7% boys · 93% girls
Jahdae
>99% girls
Jazlyn
Jazlyn is a feminine given name.
>99% girls