Jane
Say it: JAYN/d͡ʒeɪn/
GirlMeans god is gracious4 letters1 syllable
#213
in Ireland (2025)
#217 with spellings combined
20
babies in 2025
#59
best rank (1964)
4,805
babies since 1964
Down 52
10-year rank change
Jane through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #217 |
| 2024 | 25 | #181 |
| 2023 | 18 | #227 |
| 2022 | 24 | #196 |
| 2021 | 20 | #233 |
| 2020 | 28 | #167 |
| 2019 | 38 | #143 |
| 2018 | 32 | #165 |
| 2017 | 46 | #126 |
| 2016 | 37 | #150 |
| 2015 | 35 | #165 |
| 2014 | 37 | #158 |
| 2013 | 51 | #119 |
| 2012 | 45 | #132 |
| 2011 | 52 | #124 |
| 2010 | 62 | #107 |
| 2009 | 64 | #106 |
| 2008 | 54 | #119 |
| 2007 | 62 | #97 |
| 2006 | 60 | #94 |
| 2005 | 94 | #65 |
| 2004 | 70 | #79 |
| 2003 | 73 | #70 |
| 2002 | 63 | #78 |
| 2001 | 68 | #78 |
| 2000 | 61 | #79 |
| 1999 | 66 | #68 |
| 1998 | 61 | #64 |
| 1997 | 92 | #62 |
| 1996 | 64 | #80 |
| 1995 | 84 | #64 |
| 1994 | 89 | #65 |
| 1993 | 82 | #76 |
| 1992 | 81 | #79 |
| 1991 | 83 | #78 |
| 1990 | 74 | #90 |
| 1989 | 82 | #82 |
| 1988 | 79 | #85 |
| 1987 | 92 | #80 |
| 1986 | 72 | #97 |
| 1985 | 95 | #79 |
| 1984 | 110 | #74 |
| 1983 | 109 | #75 |
| 1982 | 117 | #77 |
| 1981 | 125 | #69 |
| 1980 | 106 | #83 |
| 1979 | 132 | #69 |
| 1978 | 127 | #69 |
| 1977 | 124 | #74 |
| 1976 | 126 | #71 |
| 1975 | 121 | #72 |
| 1974 | 132 | #71 |
| 1973 | 126 | #74 |
| 1972 | 124 | #72 |
| 1971 | 111 | #78 |
| 1970 | 104 | #81 |
| 1969 | 94 | #82 |
| 1968 | 95 | #76 |
| 1967 | 86 | #81 |
| 1966 | 101 | #70 |
| 1965 | 94 | #67 |
| 1964 | 106 | #59 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Jane mean?
God is gracious
English, from Old French Jehanne, a feminine form of John.
Say it right
JAYN
The story of Jane
Jane comes from Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of John. John goes back to a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious”. Jane took over from the older Joan in England in the sixteenth century, and it has been the standard feminine form of John ever since. The Irish names Sinéad and Siobhán come from the same French source.
Famous bearers include Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII, the nine-day queen Lady Jane Grey, and the novelist Jane Austen.
Jane was already well established when the CSO records begin, at number 59 in 1964. It peaked in 1974, with 132 babies, and stayed in the top 100 for about four decades, a steady middle-of-the-list name rather than a fashionable one. In 2025 it was number 213, with 20 girls. In Northern Ireland its best recent year was 2000, at number 80.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Jane (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Jane (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Jane | 20 | 4,805 |
In Northern Ireland
#290 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #80 (2000); 303 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.