Jana
Girl name · Hebrew · Russian · Slavic
MeaningGod is gracious · Slavic
- US rank
- #1,241
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #226 in 1979
181 babies were named Jana in the US in 2025. It has dropped 182 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1921–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Jana you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Jana
Jana Novotná
Czech tennis player (1968–2017)
Choose Jana and your child shares a first name with Jana Novotná, a Czech tennis player. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Jana, like who?” Jana Novotná's Wikipedia article is available in 53 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Jana Novotná on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 8,881 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Jana, 181 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Jana would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryJana first shows up in US birth records in 1921, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 104 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1979, when it ranked #226. Today it's #1,241, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendJana has slipped 182 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,241. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedJana is most popular in Illinois, where it ranks #709, followed by Minnesota (#835) and Virginia (#843). It's in the top 1,000 in 7 states.
- MeaningIn Slavic, Jana means “God is gracious”. Our records link it to Hebrew, Russian and Slavic roots.
About the name Jana
Jana is a girl name of Hebrew, Russian and Slavic origin meaning “God is gracious”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with J and ending in “-ana”. US birth records list Jana for girls from 1921 to 2025, in 104 of those 105 years. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked #226 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #1,241, with 181 babies.
Origin:Hebrew namesRussian namesSlavic names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6.0 | 166,976 girls |
| 1930s | 21 | 47,893 girls |
| 1940s | 109 | 9,137 girls |
| 1950s | 363 | 2,753 girls |
| 1960s | 636 | 1,573 girls |
| 1970s | 592 | 1,689 girls |
| 1980s | 426 | 2,346 girls |
| 1990s | 163 | 6,132 girls |
| 2000s | 130 | 7,711 girls |
| 2010s | 145 | 6,911 girls |
| 2020s | 126 | 7,926 girls |
Other spellings of Jana
More Hebrew girl names
- Girl name: Mia · possibly beloved
- Girl name: Isabella · God is my oath
- Girl name: Ava · possibly bird, or life
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Aria · solo melody
- Girl name: Ella · possibly all, entirely
- Girl name: Gianna · God is gracious
- Girl name: Sadie · princess
Questions about the name Jana
What does the name Jana mean?
Jana means “God is gracious” in Slavic.
What is the origin of the name Jana?
Jana has Hebrew, Russian, Slavic roots in our records. Other Hebrew names include Mia, Isabella, Ava.
Is Jana a boy or girl name?
Jana is a girl name.
How popular is the name Jana?
Jana ranked #1,241 for US girls in 2025, given to 181 babies. Its best year was 1979 (#226).