Jhana

♀ Girl

Pronounced JAH-nuh /ˈdʒɑː.nə/Medium

Meaning: Jhana is the Pali term for meditative absorption — the deep, settled states of concentration described in Buddhist practice (Sanskrit dhyana). As an American given name it also reads simply as a spelling of Jana, a form of Jane/John, 'God is gracious'. Both readings are live, and we note the Buddhist term respectfully.Low

In 30 seconds: A word of stillness: jhana is the Buddhist term for deep meditative absorption; the name also reads as a spelling of Jana (said 'JAH-nuh').

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Origin LowPali, American

MeaningJhana is the Pali term for meditative absorption — the deep, settled states of concentration described in Buddhist practice (Sanskrit dhyana). As an American given name it also reads simply as a spelling of Jana, a form of Jane/John, 'God is gracious'. Both readings are live, and we note the Buddhist term respectfully.

U.S. rank (2024)#14201 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1996

Total births (all-time)≈ 107

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Jhana is, first, a word of great weight in Buddhism: the Pali jhana (Sanskrit dhyana) names the settled states of meditative absorption, and the same root traveled through Chinese Chan into Japanese Zen. As an American girls' name it more often functions as a spelling of Jana, itself from Jane and John, 'God is gracious'. Families choosing it should know both senses (said 'JAH-nuh').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, still, and thoughtful.

Did you know? In Buddhist practice, jhana names the deep states of meditative absorption a practitioner may enter — the Pali form of Sanskrit dhyana, the word that traveled east and became Chan and then Zen. We note the term respectfully (said 'JAH-nuh').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Jhana — Pali jhana (Sanskrit dhyana), meditative absorption; also Jana variant

Variations

JanaDhyanaJhanna

Nicknames

JayNana

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If you like Jhana…

Jana— the everyday name Jhana echoes

Dhyana— the Sanskrit form of the same word

Zenia— a like name touched by the Zen root

Maya— a like short name with Indic resonance

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jhana mean?

Jhana is the Pali word for meditative absorption in Buddhist practice (Sanskrit dhyana). As an American name it also reads as a spelling of Jana, from Jane and John.

How do you pronounce Jhana?

It's said JAH-nuh /ˈdʒɑː.nə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jhana a boy or girl name?

Jhana is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Jhana?

Jhana is a rare name for girls in the U.S.