Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Jan

Jan

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced JAN /ˈdΚ’Γ¦n/Low

Meaning: God is gracious; form of John from Hebrew Yochanan, common in Slavic, Dutch, and Scandinavian use.Low

In 30 seconds: Jan is a European form of John, meaning 'God is gracious', from Hebrew Yochanan.
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Origin LowSlavic, Hebrew, Dutch
MeaningGod is gracious; form of John from Hebrew Yochanan, common in Slavic, Dutch, and Scandinavian use.
U.S. rank (2024)#2211 β†˜ Falling
2024 U.S. births65 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1954
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 22,355

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 195419022024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

The name descends from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious', the source of John across Europe. As Jan it is especially common in Slavic, Dutch, and Scandinavian use, a short and direct version of the longer name. The single syllable makes it one of the leanest forms in the John family.

Dutch history alone supplies bearers like Jan Jacob Rochussen (1797-1871), a Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, and the liberal statesman Jan Kappeyne van de Coppello (1822-1895). The name's brevity lets it slot easily into many European languages.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Jan is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Jan β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Jan Jacob Rochussen (1797-1871)
    Dutch politician; Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies (1845-1851) and finance minister.
  • β˜…Jan Kappeyne van de Coppello (1822-1895)
    Dutch liberal politician who served as the equivalent of Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1877-1879).

If you like Jan…

Johanβ€” A fuller Scandinavian and Dutch form of the same John name that Jan shortens.
Johnβ€” The English form of the same Yochanan name, sharing Jan's 'God is gracious' meaning.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jan mean?

Jan is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Jan?

It's commonly said JAN /ˈdΚ’Γ¦n/.

Is Jan a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Jan is used as a boy name.

How popular is Jan?

In 2024, Jan ranked #2211 in the U.S. for boys, with 65 births recorded.