Fun Facts About the Name Jean
- Decades of popularity: Jean stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 59 consecutive years, from 1906 through 1964.
- More than 483 thousand babies named Jean: U.S. records list 483,477 babies given the name Jean from 1880 through 2025. Even 25,039 boys received the name Jean - about 1 boy for every 18 girls.
What Does the Name Jean Mean?
Jean is the French form of John, and its established meaning is "God is gracious" or "the Lord is gracious." The name descends from Hebrew Yôḥānān (יוֹחָנָן), which was carried into Greek as Iōannēs and then into Latin as Johannes. The Hebrew name joins a shortened form of the divine name, Yô, with a root meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor," so the whole name is a statement about God's favor rather than a description of the person who bears it.
In French, Jean is a masculine name. In English, the same spelling is normally a woman's name, and it belongs to the same family of names derived from John, alongside Joan, Jane, and Joanna. The two uses share the same Hebrew source but reached English by different routes, so a Frenchman named Jean and an Englishwoman named Jean are not using the name in the same way.
Jean Name History & Origins
The path from Hebrew to French runs through Greek and Latin: Yôḥānān became Greek Iōannēs, which Latin speakers wrote as Johannes. In Old French the name had two case forms, a nominative Jehans and an oblique Jehan, and the modern French Jean continues the oblique form. Old French also had a feminine Jehane, which became Jeanne, along with diminutives such as Jeannette.
Because John the Baptist and John the Apostle were widely venerated, the Latin name took a separate form in each European language: English John, French Jean, Italian Giovanni, Spanish Juan, German Johannes and Hans. In France, Jean was for centuries one of the most frequently given male names, and it appears constantly in compounds such as Jean-Baptiste, Jean-Jacques, Jean-Paul, and Jean-Pierre. French colonists, missionaries, and later French-speaking immigrants carried it to the Americas and elsewhere, and it remains a standard masculine name throughout the Francophone world.
English speakers use the spelling in a second, separate way. As an English woman's name, Jean is pronounced JEEN and is one of the feminine forms of John, together with Joan and Jane. It was long established in Scotland, where Jean served as the everyday equivalent of Joan, and from there it entered wider English use. A man named Jean in an English-speaking country is usually French or of French background, and his name keeps the French pronunciation.
How Popular is the Name Jean?
Jean recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1927. Its best rank was #12 in 1926.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,130 | 88 | 0.0055% |
| 2024 | #2,411 | 75 | 0.0046% |
| 2023 | #2,629 | 67 | 0.0042% |
| 2022 | #2,474 | 73 | 0.0045% |
| 2021 | #2,240 | 83 | 0.0051% |
| 2020 | #2,357 | 75 | 0.0046% |
| 2019 | #2,098 | 90 | 0.0054% |
| 2018 | #2,393 | 76 | 0.0045% |
| 2017 | #2,473 | 73 | 0.0042% |
| 2016 | #2,451 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 2015 | #2,664 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 2014 | #2,380 | 77 | 0.0043% |
| 2013 | #2,740 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 2012 | #2,916 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 2011 | #2,966 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 2010 | #2,624 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 2009 | #3,535 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2008 | #2,905 | 61 | 0.0032% |
| 2007 | #2,262 | 86 | 0.0045% |
| 2006 | #2,522 | 73 | 0.0038% |
| 2005 | #2,268 | 80 | 0.0043% |
| 2004 | #2,272 | 77 | 0.0042% |
| 2003 | #2,022 | 89 | 0.0049% |
| 2002 | #2,008 | 87 | 0.0048% |
| 2001 | #1,634 | 112 | 0.0062% |
| 2000 | #1,537 | 118 | 0.0065% |
| 1999 | #1,552 | 109 | 0.0061% |
| 1998 | #1,218 | 151 | 0.0085% |
| 1997 | #1,284 | 137 | 0.0079% |
| 1996 | #1,250 | 140 | 0.0080% |
| 1995 | #1,115 | 159 | 0.0090% |
| 1994 | #980 | 189 | 0.0106% |
| 1993 | #902 | 214 | 0.0118% |
| 1992 | #923 | 211 | 0.0114% |
| 1991 | #753 | 274 | 0.0146% |
| 1990 | #772 | 265 | 0.0140% |
| 1989 | #610 | 348 | 0.0189% |
| 1988 | #610 | 329 | 0.0185% |
| 1987 | #529 | 381 | 0.0219% |
| 1986 | #517 | 400 | 0.0233% |
| 1985 | #461 | 466 | 0.0271% |
| 1984 | #409 | 519 | 0.0308% |
| 1983 | #411 | 525 | 0.0314% |
| 1982 | #381 | 603 | 0.0356% |
| 1981 | #380 | 605 | 0.0363% |
| 1980 | #347 | 682 | 0.0411% |
| 1979 | #353 | 658 | 0.0410% |
| 1978 | #334 | 652 | 0.0426% |
| 1977 | #311 | 765 | 0.0499% |
| 1976 | #281 | 812 | 0.0554% |
| 1975 | #272 | 883 | 0.0606% |
| 1974 | #261 | 960 | 0.0654% |
| 1973 | #231 | 1,110 | 0.0761% |
| 1972 | #212 | 1,300 | 0.0855% |
| 1971 | #173 | 1,776 | 0.1067% |
| 1970 | #159 | 2,111 | 0.1208% |
| 1969 | #167 | 1,908 | 0.1131% |
| 1968 | #158 | 2,079 | 0.1267% |
| 1967 | #136 | 2,546 | 0.1542% |
| 1966 | #123 | 2,919 | 0.1725% |
| 1965 | #112 | 3,365 | 0.1906% |
| 1964 | #100 | 4,097 | 0.2162% |
| 1963 | #97 | 4,483 | 0.2326% |
| 1962 | #95 | 4,879 | 0.2481% |
| 1961 | #92 | 5,366 | 0.2659% |
| 1960 | #86 | 5,639 | 0.2789% |
| 1959 | #77 | 6,234 | 0.3081% |
| 1958 | #73 | 6,520 | 0.3241% |
| 1957 | #67 | 7,049 | 0.3447% |
| 1956 | #65 | 7,174 | 0.3573% |
| 1955 | #60 | 7,480 | 0.3826% |
| 1954 | #56 | 7,665 | 0.3947% |
| 1953 | #52 | 7,571 | 0.4024% |
| 1952 | #50 | 7,511 | 0.4050% |
| 1951 | #49 | 7,627 | 0.4235% |
| 1950 | #48 | 7,432 | 0.4338% |
| 1949 | #45 | 7,760 | 0.4536% |
| 1948 | #47 | 7,774 | 0.4579% |
| 1947 | #40 | 8,940 | 0.5043% |
| 1946 | #37 | 8,555 | 0.5445% |
| 1945 | #38 | 7,428 | 0.5683% |
| 1944 | #37 | 7,650 | 0.5764% |
| 1943 | #36 | 8,096 | 0.5802% |
| 1942 | #36 | 8,257 | 0.6113% |
| 1941 | #32 | 7,840 | 0.6489% |
| 1940 | #29 | 8,064 | 0.7052% |
| 1939 | #32 | 7,292 | 0.6650% |
| 1938 | #27 | 7,764 | 0.7036% |
| 1937 | #23 | 8,392 | 0.7887% |
| 1936 | #20 | 8,536 | 0.8205% |
| 1935 | #18 | 8,852 | 0.8442% |
| 1934 | #16 | 9,718 | 0.9306% |
| 1933 | #14 | 9,966 | 0.9888% |
| 1932 | #15 | 10,670 | 0.9999% |
| 1931 | #13 | 11,013 | 1.0344% |
| 1930 | #14 | 11,986 | 1.0646% |
| 1929 | #12 | 11,865 | 1.0626% |
| 1928 | #12 | 12,209 | 1.0586% |
| 1927 | #14 | 12,512 | 1.0493% |
| 1926 | #12 | 12,168 | 1.0265% |
| 1925 | #14 | 11,598 | 0.9527% |
| 1924 | #16 | 10,721 | 0.8585% |
| 1923 | #19 | 9,511 | 0.7884% |
| 1922 | #20 | 9,109 | 0.7585% |
| 1921 | #25 | 8,592 | 0.6968% |
| 1920 | #33 | 7,714 | 0.6438% |
| 1919 | #37 | 6,799 | 0.6016% |
| 1918 | #37 | 6,600 | 0.5701% |
| 1917 | #40 | 5,692 | 0.5264% |
| 1916 | #45 | 5,081 | 0.4865% |
| 1915 | #48 | 4,603 | 0.4679% |
| 1914 | #54 | 3,281 | 0.4308% |
| 1913 | #60 | 2,545 | 0.4075% |
| 1912 | #64 | 2,056 | 0.3684% |
| 1911 | #74 | 1,381 | 0.3301% |
| 1910 | #77 | 1,246 | 0.3142% |
| 1909 | #90 | 940 | 0.2707% |
| 1908 | #91 | 852 | 0.2549% |
| 1907 | #96 | 770 | 0.2417% |
| 1906 | #100 | 666 | 0.2255% |
| 1905 | #115 | 548 | 0.1879% |
| 1904 | #122 | 483 | 0.1754% |
| 1903 | #121 | 462 | 0.1764% |
| 1902 | #138 | 408 | 0.1545% |
| 1901 | #149 | 329 | 0.1375% |
| 1900 | #132 | 473 | 0.1578% |
| 1899 | #147 | 318 | 0.1365% |
| 1898 | #147 | 341 | 0.1318% |
| 1897 | #172 | 258 | 0.1102% |
| 1896 | #173 | 255 | 0.1072% |
| 1895 | #177 | 232 | 0.0993% |
| 1894 | #167 | 242 | 0.1086% |
| 1893 | #171 | 215 | 0.1010% |
| 1892 | #182 | 194 | 0.0914% |
| 1891 | #178 | 181 | 0.0976% |
| 1890 | #187 | 160 | 0.0840% |
| 1889 | #173 | 171 | 0.0959% |
| 1888 | #185 | 145 | 0.0812% |
| 1887 | #187 | 112 | 0.0767% |
| 1886 | #182 | 124 | 0.0858% |
| 1885 | #189 | 99 | 0.0744% |
| 1884 | #173 | 103 | 0.0798% |
| 1883 | #183 | 83 | 0.0739% |
| 1882 | #223 | 60 | 0.0556% |
| 1881 | #237 | 44 | 0.0479% |
| 1880 | #203 | 59 | 0.0648% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,172 | 176 | 0.0103% |
| 2024 | #1,139 | 184 | 0.0107% |
| 2023 | #1,265 | 152 | 0.0089% |
| 2022 | #1,385 | 135 | 0.0077% |
| 2021 | #1,592 | 108 | 0.0062% |
| 2020 | #1,420 | 122 | 0.0071% |
| 2019 | #1,300 | 143 | 0.0080% |
| 2018 | #1,248 | 148 | 0.0082% |
| 2017 | #1,160 | 162 | 0.0088% |
| 2016 | #1,083 | 182 | 0.0096% |
| 2015 | #1,202 | 154 | 0.0080% |
| 2014 | #1,066 | 184 | 0.0096% |
| 2013 | #1,042 | 185 | 0.0098% |
| 2012 | #1,027 | 190 | 0.0100% |
| 2011 | #951 | 209 | 0.0110% |
| 2010 | #800 | 272 | 0.0142% |
| 2009 | #959 | 210 | 0.0106% |
| 2008 | #921 | 222 | 0.0109% |
| 2007 | #863 | 241 | 0.0116% |
| 2006 | #722 | 299 | 0.0145% |
| 2005 | #798 | 242 | 0.0121% |
| 2004 | #687 | 294 | 0.0148% |
| 2003 | #705 | 267 | 0.0135% |
| 2002 | #695 | 262 | 0.0135% |
| 2001 | #648 | 288 | 0.0148% |
| 2000 | #629 | 292 | 0.0149% |
| 1999 | #685 | 246 | 0.0128% |
| 1998 | #806 | 190 | 0.0099% |
| 1997 | #660 | 249 | 0.0132% |
| 1996 | #681 | 240 | 0.0127% |
| 1995 | #602 | 291 | 0.0153% |
| 1994 | #607 | 297 | 0.0154% |
| 1993 | #489 | 428 | 0.0218% |
| 1992 | #533 | 364 | 0.0182% |
| 1991 | #577 | 306 | 0.0151% |
| 1990 | #522 | 357 | 0.0174% |
| 1989 | #609 | 262 | 0.0131% |
| 1988 | #540 | 289 | 0.0151% |
| 1987 | #542 | 283 | 0.0152% |
| 1986 | #551 | 260 | 0.0141% |
| 1985 | #557 | 250 | 0.0135% |
| 1984 | #524 | 268 | 0.0148% |
| 1983 | #501 | 280 | 0.0156% |
| 1982 | #516 | 271 | 0.0149% |
| 1981 | #543 | 241 | 0.0135% |
| 1980 | #590 | 214 | 0.0120% |
| 1979 | #596 | 206 | 0.0120% |
| 1978 | #619 | 182 | 0.0111% |
| 1977 | #627 | 180 | 0.0110% |
| 1976 | #547 | 217 | 0.0138% |
| 1975 | #582 | 193 | 0.0124% |
| 1974 | #522 | 230 | 0.0146% |
| 1973 | #523 | 225 | 0.0144% |
| 1972 | #524 | 228 | 0.0141% |
| 1971 | #472 | 294 | 0.0166% |
| 1970 | #491 | 273 | 0.0147% |
| 1969 | #503 | 236 | 0.0132% |
| 1968 | #497 | 231 | 0.0133% |
| 1967 | #520 | 207 | 0.0119% |
| 1966 | #537 | 201 | 0.0113% |
| 1965 | #545 | 199 | 0.0107% |
| 1964 | #610 | 165 | 0.0083% |
| 1963 | #638 | 151 | 0.0074% |
| 1962 | #665 | 137 | 0.0066% |
| 1961 | #631 | 157 | 0.0074% |
| 1960 | #646 | 145 | 0.0068% |
| 1959 | #631 | 151 | 0.0071% |
| 1958 | #636 | 146 | 0.0069% |
| 1957 | #598 | 166 | 0.0077% |
| 1956 | #583 | 170 | 0.0080% |
| 1955 | #602 | 151 | 0.0073% |
| 1954 | #587 | 159 | 0.0078% |
| 1953 | #651 | 121 | 0.0061% |
| 1952 | #577 | 146 | 0.0075% |
| 1951 | #583 | 142 | 0.0075% |
| 1950 | #520 | 165 | 0.0092% |
| 1949 | #523 | 164 | 0.0092% |
| 1948 | #545 | 150 | 0.0085% |
| 1947 | #539 | 156 | 0.0085% |
| 1946 | #521 | 152 | 0.0094% |
| 1945 | #481 | 156 | 0.0116% |
| 1944 | #466 | 172 | 0.0126% |
| 1943 | #485 | 163 | 0.0114% |
| 1942 | #492 | 157 | 0.0114% |
| 1941 | #477 | 152 | 0.0124% |
| 1940 | #470 | 151 | 0.0130% |
| 1939 | #459 | 157 | 0.0142% |
| 1938 | #449 | 166 | 0.0150% |
| 1937 | #449 | 156 | 0.0146% |
| 1936 | #414 | 179 | 0.0173% |
| 1935 | #391 | 195 | 0.0187% |
| 1934 | #419 | 178 | 0.0172% |
| 1933 | #382 | 204 | 0.0206% |
| 1932 | #360 | 240 | 0.0230% |
| 1931 | #324 | 286 | 0.0275% |
| 1930 | #325 | 288 | 0.0262% |
| 1929 | #327 | 288 | 0.0268% |
| 1928 | #309 | 327 | 0.0295% |
| 1927 | #360 | 263 | 0.0233% |
| 1926 | #336 | 298 | 0.0268% |
| 1925 | #331 | 303 | 0.0272% |
| 1924 | #313 | 335 | 0.0296% |
| 1923 | #332 | 307 | 0.0280% |
| 1922 | #349 | 289 | 0.0266% |
| 1921 | #348 | 291 | 0.0264% |
| 1920 | #357 | 277 | 0.0260% |
| 1919 | #392 | 224 | 0.0229% |
| 1918 | #396 | 226 | 0.0223% |
| 1917 | #412 | 187 | 0.0202% |
| 1916 | #440 | 162 | 0.0182% |
| 1915 | #424 | 162 | 0.0191% |
| 1914 | #451 | 113 | 0.0173% |
| 1913 | #428 | 100 | 0.0195% |
| 1912 | #411 | 90 | 0.0209% |
| 1911 | #442 | 44 | 0.0195% |
| 1910 | #400 | 44 | 0.0227% |
| 1909 | #550 | 23 | 0.0140% |
| 1908 | #434 | 31 | 0.0201% |
| 1907 | #344 | 40 | 0.0272% |
| 1906 | #416 | 28 | 0.0210% |
| 1905 | #485 | 22 | 0.0166% |
| 1904 | #414 | 26 | 0.0203% |
| 1903 | #440 | 22 | 0.0185% |
| 1902 | #446 | 22 | 0.0179% |
| 1901 | #320 | 31 | 0.0291% |
| 1900 | #499 | 22 | 0.0146% |
| 1899 | #565 | 13 | 0.0122% |
| 1898 | #443 | 21 | 0.0171% |
| 1897 | #429 | 20 | 0.0177% |
| 1896 | #376 | 27 | 0.0226% |
| 1895 | #465 | 19 | 0.0162% |
| 1894 | #449 | 19 | 0.0164% |
| 1893 | #488 | 15 | 0.0134% |
| 1892 | #452 | 19 | 0.0156% |
| 1891 | #436 | 17 | 0.0168% |
| 1890 | #498 | 15 | 0.0135% |
| 1889 | #566 | 12 | 0.0109% |
| 1888 | #540 | 14 | 0.0116% |
| 1887 | #363 | 21 | 0.0207% |
| 1886 | #585 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1885 | #451 | 17 | 0.0158% |
| 1884 | #357 | 25 | 0.0218% |
| 1883 | #408 | 19 | 0.0182% |
| 1882 | #560 | 12 | 0.0106% |
| 1881 | #625 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1880 | #546 | 12 | 0.0109% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
