Jean
Jean: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /d͡ʒiːn/ · /ʒɑːn/
Meaning and origin of Jean
- A female given name from French.
- A male given name from French.
Etymology
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān). Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena. The unincorporated community in Nevada, originally named Goodsprings Junction, was renamed Jean on 28 June 1905 by postmaster George Arthur Fayle in honor of his wife.
How popular is Jean?
Since 1880, 458,436 girls and 25,039 boys in the U.S. have been named Jean (95% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #12 in 1926. Its highest rank for boys was #309 in 1928. In 2025, 264 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Jean
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More French girl names
Sibling name ideas for Jean
Sister and brother names that share Jean's French roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Jean FAQ
What does the name Jean mean?
A female given name from French. A male given name from French. Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān). Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena. The unincorporated community in Nevada, originally named Goodsprings Junction, was renamed Jean on 28 June 1905 by postmaster George Arthur Fayle in honor of his wife.
What is the origin of the name Jean?
Jean is listed as a name of French origin.
How popular is the name Jean?
Since 1880, 458,436 girls and 25,039 boys in the U.S. have been named Jean (95% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #12 in 1926. Its highest rank for boys was #309 in 1928. In 2025, 264 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Jean a boy or girl name?
Jean is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 458,436 girls and 25,039 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.