Jean

English and Scottish, from French variation of Johanna

"God is gracious"

Jean Origin and Meaning

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

Originally a feminine of John, Jean was popular in Scotland long before it found favor elsewhere, and had its most shining moment here in the era of Jean Harlow (born Harlean), ultimate symbol of silver screen glamour. Now, though there are many grandmas and even moms with the name, it doesn't seem all that baby-friendly. Though that could change, and Jean could join Jane.

A perennial on the popularity list until it finally dropped off in 1994, Jean was in the Top 20 from 1922 to 1936 and ranks among the 100 most common names for girls of the past century. It was extremely well-used as a middle name, as in Michael Jackson's song "Billie Jean" and tennis champ Billie Jean King, not to mention Hermione Jean Granger from Harry Potter/. It was also the actual first name of Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Maggie Smith shone in the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and nickname Jeanie was commemorated in the Stephen Foster classic song "I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair," as well as in the early sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie.

Jean Rank in US Top 1000

# 988 in the US

Jean Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 478 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Jean

• 478 Nameberry 2025

20 Names Similar to Jean

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

• Ginny
• Sally
• Betsy
• Nancy
• Gretchen
• Peggy
• Wendy
• Gloria
• Joan
• Dora
• Lois
• Connie
• Beth
• Virginia
• Pauline
• Shirley
• Susanna
• Susie
• Francine
• Maxine

Famous People Named Jean

• Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene) American actress
• Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter) American actress
• Jean Merilyn Simmons English actress
• Jean Dorothy Seberg American actress
• Jean Stapleton American actress
• Jean Bartel Miss America 1943
• Jean Rhys (born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams) Dominican novelist
• Jean Shrimpton English supermodel
• Jean Marsh English actress
• Jean Casarez American lawyer and news correspondent
• Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin American comedienne
• (Jean) Paige Turco American actress

The name Jean in Pop Culture

• Jean Fordham character in "August: Osage County" by Tracy Letts
• Jean Louise "Scout" Finch character in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
• Jean Bueller character in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
• Jean Meecher character in "Breathless"
• Jean Elaine Grey Summers, character in Marvel Universe
• "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie " novel by Muriel Spark
• Jean character in video game Lunar 2 Eternal Blue
• Priscilla Jean Henrietta "Tulip" O'Hare, character in DC Universe's "Preacher"
• Hermione Jean Granger character in the Harry Potter series
• "Billie Jean " 1983 song by Michael Jackson
• "Jean " 1969 song by Oliver
• "Cheer up Sleepy Jean", chorus in Daydream Believer by The Monkees

International Variations of the name Jean

• Janne Finnish
• Jasia Polish
• Sine Irish Gaelic
• Jonnanina Polish
• Jena Polish
• Ivana Slavic
• Janina Polish
• Janka Polish
• Jennice Scottish Gaelic
• Janeska Polish
• Jana Latvian
• Sina Irish Gaelic
• Jeanne French