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Home › Baby Names Directory › Janus

Janus

♂ Boy

Pronounced JAY-nus /ˈdʒeɪ.nəs/High

Meaning: From the Latin ianus, 'a doorway; an archway/gate'; the two-faced Roman god of doorways, beginnings, and transitions (the source of the month January); we note the godLow

In 30 seconds: A doorway; an archway/gate: Janus is the Roman god of beginnings. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'JAY-nus'). We note the god.
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Origin LowRoman, Latin
MeaningFrom the Latin ianus, 'a doorway; an archway/gate'; the two-faced Roman god of doorways, beginnings, and transitions (the source of the month January); we note the god
U.S. rank (2019)#12959 ↗ Rising
2019 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1997
Total births (all-time)≈ 41

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199719222019

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Janus comes from the Latin ianus, 'a doorway; an archway/gate'; the two-faced Roman god of doorways, beginnings, and transitions (we note the god). A crisp, classic name (said 'JAY-nus').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name (the source of the month January). Rare, a-doorway at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Janus is 'a doorway; an archway/gate' in Latin — the two-faced Roman god of doorways, beginnings, and transitions (the source of January) — a crisp, storied name (we note the god; said 'JAY-nus').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Janus — Roman mythology; god

Variations

Ianus

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Janus…

Terminus— a fellow Roman boundary-god
Jupiter— a companion Roman god
Saturn— a kin Roman god
Remus— another mythology pick
Bacchus— the same mythology feel

Explore names like Janus

By thememythologyromangod

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Janus mean?

Janus is Latin for 'a doorway; an archway/gate'; the two-faced Roman god of beginnings (the source of January). We note the god.

How do you pronounce Janus?

It's said JAY-nus /ˈdʒeɪ.nəs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Janus a boy or girl name?

Janus is a boy's name.

How popular is Janus?

Janus is a very rare name in the U.S.

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