Jen
Below 5 births
Below 5 births
About Jen
Jen is a short, crisp feminine name that originated primarily as a diminutive of Jennifer, though it can also be a nickname for names like Jenna, Jenny, or Genevieve. The root name Jennifer comes from the Welsh 'Gwenhwyfar,' meaning 'white wave' or 'fair spirit.' Jen gained independent usage during the 1970s and 1980s when Jennifer was at peak popularity, with some parents choosing to put just 'Jen' on the birth certificate. Its simplicity and directness appeal to those preferring unpretentious, straightforward names. While Jen's popularity as a stand-alone name has declined since the 1990s, it maintains appeal for its brevity and friendly, approachable quality. The name carries a casual confidence and remains recognizable without being overly common as a formal name.
Jen is also given to boys.
Pronounced JEN.
As of October 2026, Jen ranked #18552 in US births in 2009 SSA, peaked at #3106 in 1952.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
Similar names
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Jen on lists
Famous Jens
- Jennifer Ann "Jen" KirkmanGirl
American comedienne
- Jennifer "Jen" LancasterGirl
American author
- Jennifer Carole "Jen" LedgerGirl
English drummer of band Skillet
- Reverend Jennifer "Jen" MillerGirl
American performance artist
- Jennifer Rene "Jen" PsakiGirl
U.S. White House Communications Director
- Jennifer "Jen" ButtonGirl
Canadian swimmer
- Jen SoskaGirl
Canadian film producer, twin sister of Sylvia Soska
- Jen RuggirelloGirl
Buzzfeed producer
Jen in pop culture
- Jennifer "Jen" LindleyGirl
a main character on TV's "Dawson's Creek"
- Jen BarberGirl
character on British TV series "The IT Crowd"
- Jen HandleyGirl
character on Australian soap "Neighbours"
- Jen CarcettiGirl
character on TV's "The Wire"
- JenGirl
character in movie "The Dark Knight Rises"
- Jennifer "Jen"Girl
character in novel series "Real Friends"
- Jennifer "Jen K" KenneyGirl
character in series "Greek"
- Jennifer "Jen" Ann MastersonGirl
a main character in series "6teen"
- Jen HardingGirl
a main character in series “Dead to Me”