Jannai as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jannai

What is the meaning of the name Jannai ?

The baby name Jannai is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced JAN-nai (/ˈdʒæn.aɪ/).

Jannai is Hebrew in Origin.

Jannai is a Hebrew given name known from the late Second Temple and early rabbinic eras. It enters English via Greek forms (Iannai/Ianna) and appears in Luke 3:24 within the genealogy of Jesus. The name is also associated with the Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus - called “Yannai” in Hebrew - and with the pioneering liturgical poet Yannai. While long uncommon in the diaspora, it has seen modern revival in Israel.

Scholars consider the etymology uncertain. Jannai may be a short form of Yohanan (“YHWH is gracious”) or of Yonatan (“YHWH has given”); others link it to a Semitic root meaning “to answer,” yielding readings like “he will answer.” Because of these strands, the name is often interpreted as conveying divine favor or gift. Variants and spellings include Yannai, Yanai, Jannay, and Janna; related forms are Yohanan/John and Jonathan. Usage is typically masculine, though contemporary parents sometimes adopt it as unisex.