Given name & surname
Janet
“God is gracious”
In English use, Janet is a diminutive of Jane. In Hebrew use, Jane carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Scottish use, Janet carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” In English use, Janet is a diminutive of Jane. In Hebrew use, Jane carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
How it developed
In English use, Janet is used as a diminutive of Jane. Janet is used as a feminine counterpart of John.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Janet is a diminutive of Jane. The history of Jane gives this family its wider story. Lady Jane Grey is one of the name’s historical bearers. In fiction, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre gave it a lasting nineteenth-century association; the novel appeared in 1847.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Janet through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 558,291
- 1,515 boys · 556,776 girls
- Most popular year
- 1954
- 18,507 babies
- 2025
- 61
- #2,791 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −40%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 61 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,791 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 39.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 18,477 in 1954. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 429,159 as a first name in 2020; 614 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Janet’s family of names
Janet is a diminutive of Jane. Janet is a feminine form of John. In English usage, Janet has a conventional naming counterpart in the Spanish form Juanita.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Janet has relatives in 8 languages.
29 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 32
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Johnmasculine form
- Jessiedoublet · English
- Jennadoublet · English
- Janelledoublet · English
- JanaCzech
- Jennydoublet · English
- Ivankadoublet · English
- Jeanettedoublet · English
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Joaniedoublet · English
- Juanitaequivalent · Spanish, English
- Vannadoublet · English
- Jodydoublet · English
- Janeydoublet · English
- Jodoublet · English
- JeanneFrench
- Jeannetteequivalent · French, English
- Janinedoublet · English
- Jeaniedoublet · English
- Sineaddoublet · English
- Jeanninedoublet · English
- Shanaedoublet · English
- Jendoublet · English
- Jonetequivalent
- Janeteequivalent
- Jennateequivalent
- ДженетRussian
- Sionedborrowing · Welsh
- Žanetaequivalent
- Żanetaequivalent
- Jonnetequivalent
- Gianettiequivalent
- Zsanettequivalent
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Janet
- Janet JacksonAmerican singer, songwriter, dancer and actress (born 1966)
- Janet Yellen78th United States Secretary of the Treasuryborn 1946
- Janet GaynorAmerican actress (1906–1984)
- Janet LeighAmerican actress (1927–2004)
- Janet McTeerBritish actressborn 1961
- Janet NapolitanoAmerican politician, lawyer, and academic administrator (born 1957)
- Janet Renoformer Attorney General of the United States (1938-2016)
- Janet Jaganpresident of Guyana, prime minister of Guyana, nurse (1920-2009)
- SabahLebanese & Egyptian singer and actress (1927–2014)
Characters named Janet: Janet Fraiser (Stargate SG-1).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Janet, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Bonnie
“a pretty and charming girl”
>99% girls
McBeth
“the son of Beth”
—
Janice
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Myrna
“one who is much loved”
>99% girls
Heeney
“God is gracious”
—
Jayne
“God is gracious”
1% boys · 99% girls
Janie
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Joni
“God is gracious”
14% boys · 86% girls