Is Jana a boy's or girl's name?

Jana is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 39 recorded births.

When was Jana most popular?

Jana reached its peak popularity in 1961 with 1,457 births that year. It is currently ranked #1335 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Jana?

Jana is currently ranked #1335 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 46,004 babies since 1921.

Jana

A Czech name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysCzechDeclining Also a pet name

#1335▼ 134in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Czech.

Jana is a girl's and boy's baby name of Czech and Hebrew origin, the Slavic feminine form of Jan (John), from Hebrew Yohanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' Jana is one of the most common female names across Central and Eastern Europe.

Used widely in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Germany, and Scandinavia, Jana has a clean, simple elegance that crosses cultural borders effortlessly. It's familiar enough in English-speaking countries to require no explanation yet retains its distinctly Central European character — the kind of name that sounds at home in Prague or Pittsburgh.

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Popularity Over Time

Jana was #959 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1335, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jana
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,046	#1166	▼
2010s	2,531	#1026	▲
2000s	2,395	#1006	▼
1990s	2,952	#750	▼
1980s	7,267	#345	▼
1970s	9,168	#277	▼
1960s	11,613	#257	▲
1950s	7,084	#339	▲
1940s	1,661	#663	▲
1930s	223	#1887	▲
1920s	64	#4208	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(103 years, 1921–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jana
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	171	#1335	-29 (-14.5%)
2023	200	#1201	-14 (-6.5%)
2022	214	#1140	-13 (-5.7%)
2021	227	#1091	-7 (-3.0%)
2020	234	#1062	-3 (-1.3%)
2019	237	#1066	-32 (-11.9%)
2018	269	#981	-23 (-7.9%)
2017	292	#916	-9 (-3.0%)
2016	301	#916	+35 (13.2%)
2015	266	#1009	+37 (16.2%)
2014	229	#1110	-15 (-6.1%)
2013	244	#1020	+6 (2.5%)
2012	238	#1058	+25 (11.7%)
2011	213	#1150	-29 (-12.0%)
2010	242	#1032	+3 (1.3%)
2009	239	#1069	+13 (5.8%)
2008	226	#1140	-21 (-8.5%)
2007	247	#1062	+2 (0.8%)
2006	245	#1047	-7 (-2.8%)
2005	252	#972	+2 (0.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Jana as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Jana has also been given to 39 boys in the U.S. since 1963.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

1963

Peak year

Compare Jana as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Jana be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Jana is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1335. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Jana has two lives

Jana, the baby name

#1335girls

46,004 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1921–2024) · Methodology