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Jane

Heart
English
"God is gracious"

Jane Origin and Meaning

The name Jane is a girl's name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

No, we don't consider Jane too plain. In fact, for a venerable and short one-syllable name, we think it packs a surprising amount of punch, as compared to the related Jean and Joan.

A very old name, Jane has been around since Tudor times, in this country moving in and out of fashion. Jane was once so common that it became generic—as in Jane Doe and G.I. Jane—then spent a considerable time as the back end of such smooshes as Maryjane, Bettyjane, and Sarajane.

We think it's time for a fresh look at Jane—and not only in the middle place. Just think of all the awesome Janes of the past, both real and fictive—from Austen to Addams to Eyre to Fonda.

Jimmy Kimmel recently named his baby girl Jane.

# 290 in the US

Jane Rank in US Top 1000

# 69 on Nameberry

Jane Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Jane Popularity

20 Names Similar to Jane

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Jane.

Famous People Named Jane

  • Janes Means PierceWife of President Franklin Pierce
  • Jane Seymourthird Queen consort of Henry VIII of England
  • Jane GreyQueen of England for nine days
  • Jane AustenEnglish novelist
  • Jane AddamsAmerican settlement worker
  • Jane Wyman (born Sarah Jane Mayfield)American singer/actress
  • (Ernestine) Jane Geraldine RussellAmerican actress
  • Jane Sanderswife of Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders
  • Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce)American dancer, singer, and actress
  • Jane AsherEnglish actress, one,time fiancee of musician Paul McCartney
  • Jane Seymour FondaAmerican actress
  • (Valerie) Jane Morris GoodallEnglish primatologist
  • Jane WithersAmerican actress
  • Jane Margaret Lakes Harmanformer U.S. Congresswoman from California
  • Jane Seymour (born Joyce Frankenberg)English actress
  • Jane Dee HullAmerican politician, 20th governor of Arizona
  • Jane CliftonAustralian actress
  • Jane MorganAmerican singer
  • Jane Marian JosephEnglish composer
  • (Emma) Jane Catherine CobdenEnglish radical politician
  • Jane KrakowskiAmerican actress
  • Jane Frances KaczmarekAmerican actress
  • Jane Colburn LevyAmerican actress
  • Jane LeevesEnglish actress
  • Jane Marie LynchAmerican actress/comedienne
  • Jane ElliottAmerican educator and activist
  • Jane EspensonAmerican TV writer and producer
  • Jane PorterScottish novelist and playwright
  • Jane BoleynViscountess Rochford, sister,in,law of Queen Anne Boleyn
  • Jane AdamsAmerican actress
  • Jane "Poni" Adams (born Betty Jane Bierce)American actress
  • Jane AdamsEnglish novelist
  • Calamity Jane (born Martha Jane Canary)American frontierswoman
  • Jane UssherNew Zealand photographer
  • Jane PrattAmerican magazine and website editor (Jane Magazine)
  • Jane DornackerAmerican musician, comedienne and journalist
  • Jane UrquhartCanadian novelist and poet
  • Jane Moore SibbettAmerican actress
  • Jane AlexanderAmerican author and actress
  • Jane Ira BloomAmerican jazz musician
  • Jane GreenEnglish novelist
  • Jane OlivorAmerican cabaret singer
  • (Elizabeth) Jane CampionNew Zealand screenwriter
  • Jane Hyatt YolenAmerican novelist
  • Jane MonheitAmerican jazz singer
  • Jane Nossette JarvisAmerican jazz pianist
  • (Margaret) Jane PauleyAmerican news anchor and journalist
  • Jane LauderAmerican businesswoman of Estee Lauder
  • Jane Jensen (born Jane Elizabeth Smith)American video game designer
  • Jane Therese CurtinAmerican actress/comedienne
  • Jane Mallory BirkinEnglish model and originator of Hermes Birkin bag
  • Jane SmileyAmerican novelist
  • Jane GrybennikovaUkrainian model
  • Jane Zhang (born Zhang Liangying)Chinese pop singer
  • Jane Erin Carreydaughter of actor Jim Carrey
  • Jane Kimmel (b. 2014)daughter of comedian Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney

Jane in Pop Culture

  • "Jane Eyre" novel by Charlotte Bronte and its main character
  • Jane Portercharacter in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan series
  • Jane Benneteldest sister in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"
  • Jane Fairfaxcharacter in Jane Austen's "Emma"
  • Jane "Eleven" Hoppercharacter on TV's "Stranger Things"
  • Mary Jane Watsoncharacter in the Marvel Universe
  • Jane Fostercharacter in the Thor series
  • Jane Chapmancharacter in "Big Little Lies"
  • Jane Gloriana Villanuevacharacter on TV's "Jane the Virgin"
  • Jane Kanocharacter in 2019's "Charlie's Angels"
  • Jane "Janie" Johnson aka Jennie Springmain character in Caroline B. Cooney's "The Face on the Milk Carton"
  • Jane Gallaghercharacter in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye"
  • Jane Marplecharacter in novels by Agatha Christie
  • Jane MurdstoneDavid Copperfield's step,aunt in Charles Dicken's "David Copperfield"
  • Jane Rizzolicharacter on TV's "Rizzoli & Isles"
  • Jane Penvellyncharacter in the HER Interactive video game, "Curse of Blackmoor Manor"
  • Jane Sloancharacter in "The Bold Type"
  • Jane Burnhamcharacter in movie "American Beauty"
  • JaneAnne Deveraux, character on TV's "The Originals"
  • Jane Quimbymain character on TV's "Jane by Design"
  • Jane Bingummain character on TV's "Drop Dead Diva"
  • Jane and the Dragonbook series by Martin Baynton and TV show
  • JaneWendy's daughter in Disney's "Return to Neverland'
  • Jane Penderwickcharacter in The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
  • "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"novel by Ernest J. Gaines and movie
  • Jane Sterlingcharacter on TV's "Mad Men"
  • Janecharacter in "Half,Magic" by Edward Eager
  • Jane Nicholsmain character in movie "27 Dresses"
  • Janecharacter in the Twilight Saga
  • Jane Moffatcharacter in "The Moffats" series by Eleanor Estes
  • Jane Margolischaracter on TV's "Breaking Bad"
  • Jane Andrewscharacter in "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery
  • Jane KerkovichWilliams, character on TV' "Happy Endings"
  • Jane Lanecharacter in animated series Daria
  • Jane Morgancharacter in movie "My Babysitter's a Vampire"
  • Jane Crockercharacter in web comic "Homestuck"
  • Jane Larkincharacter in "Call Him Demon"
  • Janecharacter in "Will Grayson, Will Grayson," by John Green and David Levithan
  • Patrick Janemain character on TV's "The Mentalist"
  • Blue "Jane" Sargentcharacter in "The Raven Cycle"
  • Jane Bankscharacter in "Mary Poppins"
  • Jane Bealecharacter in TV's "EastEnders"
  • JaneFairy Godmother's daughter in Disney's "Descendants"
  • Janemain character in "The Iron Dragon's Daughter"
  • Janemain character in Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lytton.
  • Sister Jane Ingallscharacter on Netflix's original series "Orange Is the New Black"
  • Janecharacter in the Line Webtoon "Winter Woods"
  • Jane "Janie" Scottcharacter in The Apothecary
  • Jane Boolittledaughter of Doctor Boolittle in "Monster High" show and series
  • Janecharacter in "On the Road"
  • Jane Normanclothing company
  • "Jane" song by the Barenaked Ladies
  • Mary Janeslang for marijuana
  • Plain Janeslang for an ordinary woman
  • Jane Doestand,in name for a woman
  • Jane's AddictionAmerican alternative rock band
  • Dear JaneHong Kong rock band
  • "G.I. Jane" 1997 movie
  • 'Soldier Jane'song by Beck
  • "Queen Jane Approximately" song by Bob Dylan
  • "JaneJane, Jane," song by the Kingston Trio
  • "Sweet Jane" song by the Velvet Underground
  • "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" 1962 film
  • Jane Cobaltcharacter in the Addicted Series
  • Jane Jetsonfrom the cartoon series "The Jetsons"
  • Jane Tiberia KirkStarship Captain in Star Trek comics by IDW Publishing, Jane Tiberia Kirk is a female version of Captain James Tiberius Kirk
  • Jane the KillerCreepypasta