January
January: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈd͡ʒæn.jʊ.ə.ɹi/ · /ˈd͡ʒæn.jə.ɹi/
Meaning and origin of January
Root meaning: “(month) of Janus”
- A female given name transferred from the month name [in turn from English].
Etymology
From Middle English Januarie, januari, re-latinised forms of Middle English Janevere, Ieneuer, from Anglo-Norman genever, from Latin Iānuārius (“(month) of Janus”), a compound of Iānus ("Janus") + -ārius (adjectival suffix), with the first element perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *yeh₂- (“to go”). Doublet of Gennaro.
How popular is January?
Since 1880, 2,170 girls in the U.S. have been named January. Its highest rank for girls was #638 in 1978. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to January
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for January
Sister and brother names that share January's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
January FAQ
What does the name January mean?
January traces back to a root meaning "(month) of Janus". A female given name transferred from the month name [in turn from English]. From Middle English Januarie, januari, re-latinised forms of Middle English Janevere, Ieneuer, from Anglo-Norman genever, from Latin Iānuārius (“(month) of Janus”), a compound of Iānus ("Janus") + -ārius (adjectival suffix), with the first element perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *yeh₂- (“to go”). Doublet of Gennaro.
What is the origin of the name January?
January is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name January?
Since 1880, 2,170 girls in the U.S. have been named January. Its highest rank for girls was #638 in 1978. In 2025, 9 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is January a boy or girl name?
January is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 2,170 girls and 0 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.