Where does the name Janet come from?

Janet is a girl name of Scottish origin.

Is Janet a boy or a girl name?

Janet is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Janet are girls and 0% are boys.

How popular is the name Janet in 2023?

Janet ranks #2027 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1954 with 18,507 babies.

How do you pronounce Janet?

Janet is pronounced JAN-et (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Janet?

Janet is also written as Janette, Janett, Janetta.

A name from Scottish · Girl

Janet

Originally a Scottish diminutive of Jane (from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'). Used independently since the late Middle Ages and a fixture of mid-20th-century American names.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

556,641 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

97 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

JOriginally a Scottish diminutive of Jane (from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'). Used independently since the late Middle Ages and a fixture of mid-20th-century American names.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Janet".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Janette Most common Janett Janetta

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Janet.

J
Janet Jackson (singer)
J
Janet Leigh (actress)
J
Janet Reno (U.S. Attorney General)

Quick answers

People often ask about Janet.

What does the name Janet mean?: Janet means originally a Scottish diminutive of Jane (from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'). Used independently since the late Middle Ages and a fixture of mid-20th-century American names.
Where does the name Janet come from?: Janet is a girl name of Scottish origin.
Is Janet a boy or a girl name?: Janet is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Janet are girls and 0% are boys.
How popular is the name Janet in 2023?: Janet ranks #2027 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1954 with 18,507 babies.
How do you pronounce Janet?: Janet is pronounced JAN-et (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Janet?: Janet is also written as Janette, Janett, Janetta.

Similar names

If you love Janet, also consider…

Scott

#599

Boy ·Scottish

From the surname referring to a Scot — a Gaelic-speaking inhabitant of Scotland

Douglas

#744

Boy ·Scottish

From Scottish Gaelic dubh ('dark') + glas ('stream' or 'water'); originally a place name on the River Douglas, then a powerful Scottish clan surname

Logan

#39

Boy ·Scottish

Little hollow; from a Scottish place name

Bruce

#542

Boy ·Scottish

From the Norman-French family name de Brus, brought to Britain after 1066 and ultimately from a place name in Normandy

Jamie

#601

Unisex ·Scottish

Scottish diminutive of James, used since the 16th century

Cameron

#58

Boy ·Scottish

Crooked nose; a clan name

Craig

#1531

Boy ·Scottish

From the Scottish Gaelic creag meaning 'rock' or 'crag' — originally a surname for someone who lived near a prominent rock

Ian

#69

Boy ·Scottish

Scottish Gaelic form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.