Janet as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Janet

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The baby name Janet is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈdʒænət/ (JAN-it).

Janet is English in Origin.

Gender: Female

Syllables: 2.0

Origin: English

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒænət/ (JAN-it)

What is the meaning of the name Janet ?

The baby name Janet is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈdʒænət/ (JAN-it).

Janet is English in Origin.

Janet is the medieval diminutive of Jane/Jeanne, built with the Old French suffix -et and carried into Middle English and Scots. Its lineage runs from Hebrew Yōḥānān via Greek Iōánnēs and Latin Iohannes, yielding feminine forms Joan, Jane, and Jeanne; all share the meaning “God is gracious.” In Scotland, Janet became a standard vernacular form by the 15th century and long remained common.

Usage broadened in England and later North America, where Janet peaked in the mid-20th century before declining after the 1970s. Related forms include Janette and Jeanette; spellings such as Jannet, Jennet, and Janett occur historically, while Spanish-influenced variants include Yanet and Janeth. Short forms and nicknames include Jan, Netta, Nettie, and the Scots Jinty. Cultural touchpoints range from the Scots ballad Tam Lin to modern figures like Janet Jackson, Dame Janet Baker, and writer Janet Frame.

Janet has the following similar or variant Names

Janet Jackson Actor · Born 1966 · United States Janet Jackson is most famous for being a pop icon and influential singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is known for hit songs like "Nasty," "Rhythm Nation," and "Together Again," as well as for bold, socially aware music and elaborate live performances.	Janet Yellen Politician · Born 1946 · United States Janet Yellen is best known as an American economist who served as U.S. Treasury secretary from 2021 to 2025. She also led the Federal Reserve as chair from 2014 to 2018.	Janet Gaynor Actor · Born 1906 · United States Janet Gaynor was an American actress best known as one of the biggest stars of early Hollywood and as the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress. She started out as an extra in silent shorts and films, and is especially remembered for movies like 7th Heaven, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, and A Star Is Born.
Janet Leigh Actor · Born 1927 · United States Janet Leigh was an American actress best known for her iconic role in Psycho and for becoming one of Hollywood’s earliest scream queens. Born Jeanette Helen Morrison, she also starred in films like Touch of Evil and The Manchurian Candidate, and later worked as an author and businesswoman.	Janet McTeer Actor · Born 1961 · United Kingdom Janet McTeer is an English actress best known for acclaimed roles on stage and screen, including Tumbleweeds, Albert Nobbs, and Ozark. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she built a career playing a wide range of characters in both period dramas and modern stories.	Janet Napolitano Politician · Born 1957 · United States Janet Napolitano is best known as an American politician who served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and as governor of Arizona. She is also a lawyer, and since 2015 she has been on the faculty at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy.

Janet Montgomery

Actor · Born 1985 · United Kingdom

Janet Montgomery is an English actress best known for playing Ames on Human Target and Dr. Lauren Bloom on New Amsterdam. She also appeared in the horror film The Hills Run Red.

Janet Ågren

Actor · Born 1949 · Sweden

Janet Ågren is best known as a Swedish actress and model who became a familiar face in Italian exploitation films. Born Lena Janet Yvonne Ågren on 6 April 1949, she is a former actress known for films including The Big Racket, City of the Living Dead, and Hands of Steel.

Janet Blair

Actor · Born 1921 · United States

Janet Blair was best known as an American film and television actress, though she first found success as a big-band singer. She appeared in films like My Sister Eileen and The Fabulous Dorseys and later became a familiar face on television.

Janet Varney

Actor · Born 1976 · United States

Janet Varney is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer best known for voicing Korra in The Legend of Korra. She also played Sheriff Evie Barret in Stan Against Evil and had a recurring role as Becca Barbara in You're the Worst.

Janet Jones

Actor · Born 1961 · United States

Janet Jones is an American actress and dancer, best known for appearing in films like A League of Their Own and Alpha Dog. Born Janet Marie Gretzky, she is also widely known as the wife of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Janet Hubert

Actor · Born 1956 · United States

Janet Hubert is an American actress and dancer best known for playing the original Vivian Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She appeared on the sitcom from its 1990 debut through the end of season three in 1993.

Janet Mbugua

Actor · Born 1984 · Kenya

Janet Mbugua is a well-known Kenyan media personality and actress, famous for her role in the television series 'Rush'. She has also been a prominent news anchor on Citizen TV in Kenya.

Janet – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country	Gender	Year	Rank	Born	of
Ireland	Girls	2018	#1	—	934
GH	Girls	0	#15	1,927	6,973
ET	Girls	0	#16	1	372
BW		0	#19	1	960
JM	Girls	0	#22	527	7,507
BN		0	#31	2	2,297
NA		0	#32	2	2,537
GH		0	#34	388	5,396
MT		0	#35	9	1,767
MV	Girls	0	#35	1	2,021
BW	Girls	0	#38	131	4,216
JM		0	#38	51	3,714
ID		0	#39	1	2,238
GE		0	#44	1	997
MO		0	#44	9	2,706
NG	Girls	0	#47	5,691	15,093
PR		0	#49	7	1,497
CM		0	#56	1	2,592
CY		0	#56	5	1,632
SG	Girls	0	#57	1,655	18,916
PR	Girls	0	#62	120	3,171
PH		0	#64	33	5,607
CN		0	#65	21	3,857
LU		0	#66	1	2,830
BN	Girls	0	#70	37	5,459
TW		0	#70	31	4,523
JP		0	#71	7	4,057
HK	Girls	0	#73	2,046	16,104
BG		0	#77	6	1,799
PH	Girls	0	#78	475	13,098
CY	Girls	0	#85	37	3,755
QA		0	#89	12	7,011
MT	Girls	0	#90	63	3,773
KZ		0	#94	1	1,452
OM		0	#97	20	6,215
ID	Girls	0	#99	4	3,319
SD		0	#102	1	2,130
KW		0	#105	12	5,216
PE	Girls	0	#106	5,433	14,861
MO	Girls	0	#107	168	7,056
GE	Girls	0	#108	1	1,564
EC		0	#114	8	2,502
TW	Girls	0	#114	187	8,139
HU		0	#115	1	1,675
SG		0	#115	175	11,010
HK		0	#120	310	8,483
QA	Girls	0	#121	214	15,378
CR		0	#124	35	5,526
GR		0	#130	6	3,911
KW	Girls	0	#130	517	19,177
CY	Boys	0	#131	1	3,473
PA		0	#133	6	3,797
EE	Girls	0	#137	6	1,888
JO		0	#137	4	2,158
MU		0	#137	1	3,613
RS	Girls	0	#137	1	1,651
Norway	Girls	1991	#139	4	564
NA	Girls	0	#142	84	7,146
MY	Girls	0	#148	2,328	24,821
BW	Boys	0	#151	4	4,685
AE		0	#157	21	10,220
CN	Girls	0	#157	251	8,829
MY		0	#162	182	12,352
PE		0	#167	159	6,350
AE	Girls	0	#170	470	20,968
OM	Girls	0	#171	242	15,987
BG	Girls	0	#173	52	3,559
UY		0	#174	9	2,477
AR		0	#176	11	2,915
Sweden	Girls	2022	#178	2	1,568
NG		0	#179	87	5,926
CZ		0	#184	3	3,154
LU	Girls	0	#185	6	4,850
EC	Girls	0	#191	49	3,650
RU		0	#193	2	3,641
DK		0	#199	8	5,198
JP	Girls	0	#199	47	6,592
AO	Girls	0	#200	10	4,575
LT	Girls	0	#200	1	1,904
PS		0	#201	18	5,692
GR	Girls	0	#204	39	6,293
PL		0	#209	4	2,600
UY	Girls	0	#214	438	6,731
BG	Boys	0	#220	1	3,850
HU	Girls	0	#221	5	3,308
MX	Girls	0	#225	4,200	17,781
AL	Girls	0	#227	1	4,141
IR		0	#230	2	4,221
MO	Boys	0	#232	3	5,842
NL	Girls	0	#232	1,634	5,933
BD		0	#239	3	5,992
CL	Girls	0	#245	1,479	14,098
PT		0	#245	6	4,161
JO	Girls	0	#247	81	7,570
IL		0	#249	26	6,291
ZA	Girls	0	#250	2,515	25,928
NA	Boys	0	#253	1	6,830
TW	Boys	0	#256	1	7,111
Germany	Girls	0	#264	1,158	4,949
ZA		0	#266	183	14,421
DK	Girls	0	#267	50	7,429
SA		0	#268	28	10,560
AF	Boys	0	#274	1	3,535
MX		0	#275	144	8,339
NL		0	#279	113	2,481
Canada	Girls	2024	#280	6	2,795
CR	Girls	0	#281	295	11,342
JM	Boys	0	#287	7	6,876
GT		0	#293	22	5,948
HR	Girls	0	#293	2	3,687
BO	Girls	0	#294	421	9,488
GH	Boys	0	#295	52	8,138
JP	Boys	0	#303	1	7,909
KZ	Girls	0	#306	15	5,862
SD	Girls	0	#322	24	7,678
CZ	Girls	0	#325	17	5,378
Finland	Girls	0	#325	67	1,368
CN	Boys	0	#326	6	9,639
SA	Girls	0	#327	808	25,931
PS	Girls	0	#332	210	10,981
IL	Girls	0	#334	342	11,648
MU	Girls	0	#337	15	8,539
PL	Boys	0	#340	1	6,459
CL		0	#342	71	6,867
BO		0	#345	37	6,868
EG		0	#354	47	6,387
AR	Girls	0	#355	308	8,289
BR		0	#359	2	5,969
Germany		0	#359	80	2,542
PL	Girls	0	#359	6	5,096
Austria	Girls	0	#361	60	1,885
PA	Girls	0	#372	112	9,861
BD	Girls	0	#376	11	8,413
JO	Boys	0	#387	3	7,057
Spain	Girls	0	#390	958	5,561
Spain		0	#392	61	2,326
YE		0	#393	6	8,639
France	Girls	2021	#398	8	3,185
PH	Boys	0	#401	8	11,440
PT	Girls	0	#411	41	7,952
UY	Boys	0	#411	3	5,922
CO	Girls	0	#413	1,253	16,140
CO		0	#422	59	7,768
GT	Girls	0	#423	83	7,500
IQ	Girls	0	#423	82	11,303
BH		0	#424	130	17,937
CM	Girls	0	#437	104	11,671
SY		0	#444	321	11,684
EG	Girls	0	#448	729	14,742
RU	Girls	0	#453	46	11,913
SD	Boys	0	#466	1	10,523
AR	Boys	0	#478	6	7,628
LB		0	#490	171	13,263
LY		0	#495	41	12,703
GT	Boys	0	#499	1	7,625
IR	Girls	0	#501	30	8,334
PA	Boys	0	#503	3	9,305
CR	Boys	0	#510	1	10,188
HK	Boys	0	#510	18	12,905
Finland	Girls	2026	#553	210	3,895
PS	Boys	0	#558	4	10,655
CM	Boys	0	#572	4	12,054
TN		0	#585	265	13,765
IN	Girls	0	#591	41	13,121
BD	Boys	0	#602	4	10,045
IT	Girls	0	#608	1,317	9,415
BO	Boys	0	#618	5	9,244
IL	Boys	0	#620	6	10,983
IT		0	#636	79	4,183
IQ	Boys	0	#657	11	13,071
SG	Boys	0	#684	14	17,960
CL	Boys	0	#693	8	13,390
QA	Boys	0	#741	3	18,093
KW	Boys	0	#746	24	18,755
PE	Boys	0	#822	57	14,506
United States	Girls	2024	#843	74	8,487
EG	Boys	0	#860	27	15,035
NG	Boys	0	#861	91	16,906
OM	Boys	0	#862	20	17,948
CO	Boys	0	#897	24	15,656
BR	Girls	0	#898	44	12,708
MX	Boys	0	#937	46	16,355
TR		0	#1,002	210	19,440
IN	Boys	0	#1,038	2	16,750
MA		0	#1,057	72	20,986
AE	Boys	0	#1,079	14	22,615
DZ		0	#1,079	98	20,130
MY	Boys	0	#1,088	24	25,439
ZA	Boys	0	#1,142	37	25,619
IT	Boys	0	#1,459	13	10,046
SA	Boys	0	#1,561	54	28,008

Janet is popular in 87 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland

France

Norway

Canada

Scotland, United Kingdom

United States

Sweden

Austria

Germany

Spain

Finland

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Janet as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Janet

What is the meaning of the name Janet ?

Janet has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Janet

Janet Montgomery

Janet Ågren

Janet Blair

Janet Varney

Janet Jones

Janet Hubert

Janet Mbugua

Janet – Popularity by country

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