Given name & surname
Jensen
“God is gracious”·“the son of Jan”
Jensen is a variant of Jane. In Hebrew use, Jane carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” Jensen is a variant of Janson. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Jan.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Jensen is a variant of Jane. In Hebrew use, Jane carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” Jensen is a variant of Janson. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Jan.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Jensen is a variant of Janson. An origin associated with Janson is Scandinavian.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Danish usage, Jensen as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Jens.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1927. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Jensen is a variant 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
Jensen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,268
- 17,347 boys · 2,921 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 1,288 babies
- 2025
- 1,288
- #282 for boys · #2,266 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 94% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,207 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 282 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 3.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 81 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (126). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 12,687 as a first name in 2020; 114,314 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.
Jensen’s family of names
In Danish usage, Jensen as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Jens. Jensen has a related form in Jane. Jensen has a related form in Jens.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Jensen has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Jensen
- Jensen AcklesAmerican actorborn 1978
- Jensen HuangAmerican entrepreneur and businessman; co-founder and CEO of Nvidiaborn 1963
- Jensen Daggettactressborn 1969
- Jensen PlowrightAustralian cyclist (born 2000)
- Jensen AtwoodAmerican actorborn 1976
- Jensen LewisAmerican baseball player (born 1984)
- Jensen WeirEnglish / Scottish association football player (born 2002)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Jensen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Holden
“one who is willing and eager” · “from the hollow in the valley”
99% boys · 1% girls
Romeo
“pilgrim to Rome”
>99% boys
Julian
Julian is used as a given name and a surname. One Greek interpretation is “the child of Jove; one who is vouthful Julien, Julira.uscant eni Jaun., ilano blyon,.”
>99% boys
Rhett
“a well-spoken man”
99% boys · 1% girls
Lando
“a manly man”
>99% boys
Hansel
“God is gracious”
>99% boys
Pierce
“as solid and strong as a rock”
96% boys · 4% girls
Jerrileen
“one who rules with the spear”
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