Jane is a feminine given name. It is the English form of the Old French name Jehanne, which was an old feminine form of the male name Johannes or Ioannes (also the source of the English name John), a Latin form of the Greek name Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs), which is derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan), a short form of the name יְהוֹחָנָן (Yehochanan), meaning "Yahweh is merciful".
The name was first used in large numbers in the mid-16th century for the daughters of aristocrats as an alternative to the more commonplace Joan. The two names have alternated popularity. In the early 19th century, Jane was again seen as a name with a certain amount of glamour. Joan became more popular in the early to mid-20th century, when it was ranked in the top 500 most popular names given to girls in the United States, but the name has again been displaced by Jane on the popularity charts in the 21st century.
Alternate forms include:
Asia (Polish, Italian)
Gianna (Italian)
Gianetta (Italian)
Giannetta (Italian)
Giannina (Italian)
Giovanna (Italian)
Hana (Czech)
Hanna (Hungarian)
Hanne (German)
Hannele (Finnish)
Hannie (Dutch)
Hansine (German)
Hansje, Hanna, Hannie (Dutch)
Ioana (Romanian)
Ioanna (Greek, Russian)
Ionna (Greek)
Ionela (Romanian)
Iva (Slavic, Portuguese)
Ivana (Czech, Croatian)
Ivanna (Russian, Slavic)
Ivanka (Czech)
Ivanka (Czech, Slavic)
Jaana (Finnish)
Jaapje (Dutch)
Jana (Czech, Latvian, Polish, Albanian)
Janae (Modern American, English)
Janeczka (Polish)
Jane (Estonian)
Jane (Circassian: Жьанэ and Джэнэ)
Janelle (American)
Janes (Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish)
Janet (English, Scots)
Janete (Portuguese)
Janice (English, Portuguese)
Janica (Czech)
Janina (Polish)
Janine (English, Portuguese)
Janka (Czech, Hungarian)
Janna (Dutch, English, Swedish)
Janne (Norwegian)
Janneke (Dutch)
Janneth (Scots)
Jannetje (Dutch)
Jannie (Dutch)
Jannike (Scandinavian)
Janotje (Dutch)
Jans (Hebrew)
Jansje (Dutch)
Jante (Dutch)
Jantina (Dutch)
Jantine (Dutch)
Jantje (Dutch)
Januszy (Slavic)
Jasia (Polish)
Jayna (English)
Jayne (English)
Jean (English, Scots)
Jeanette (French)
Jeanna (English)
Jeanne (French)
Jeannie (English, Scots)
Jehanne (French)
Jenica (Romanian)
Jenka (Czech)
Jenne (Dutch)
Jennet (Scots)
Jenni (English)
Jennie (English)
Jenny (English)
Jensine (Danish, Norwegian)
Jerneese (Puerto Rican)
Jinn (Manx)
Jinty (Scots)
Joan (English, Manx)
Joana (Catalan, Portuguese)
Joanka (Polish)
Joanna (English, Polish)
Joanne (English)
Joannia (Manx)
Joasia (Polish)
Johana (Dutch)
Johanka (Czech)
Johanna (Czech, Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Hungarian)
Jóhanna (Icelandic)
Johanne (Danish, Norwegian)
Johanneke (Dutch)
Johna (English)
Johnet (Manx)
Johnna (English)
Johnnie (English)
Joan (English)
Joina (Danish
Jóna (Icelandic)
Jone (Basque)
Jonee (Manx)
Joney (Manx)
Jonie (English)
Jovana (Serbian: Јована)
Jovanka (Serbian: Јованка)
Juana (Spanish)
Juanita (Spanish)
Jutta (German)
Kini (Hawaiian)
Nana (Greek: Νανα)
Oana (Romanian)
Ohanna (Armenian)
Seanna (English)
Seini (Tongan)
Seona (Scots)
Seonag (Scottish Gaelic)
Seónaid (Scottish Gaelic)
Shana (English)
Shauna (English)
Shavonne (English)
Shawn (Irish)
Shawna (English)
Sheena (Scots)
Shena (Irish)
Shona (Scots)
Siân (Welsh)
Siâni (Welsh)
Sina (Irish Gaelic)
Sinéidin (Irish)
Síne (Irish Gaelic)
Sinéad (Irish Gaelic)
Síneag (Scottish)
Siobhán (Irish Gaelic)
Sion (Welsh)
Sioned (Welsh)
Siubhan (Scottish Gaelic)
Vanda (Portuguese)
Vanja (Scandinavian, Slovenian)
Vanna (Italian)
Xoana (Galician)
Yana (Russian),(Slavic)
Yanick (Breton, French)
Yanna (Greek)
Yannic (Breton, French)
Yannick (Breton, French)
Yochanna (Hebrew)
Zaneta (Russian)
Zanna (Latvian)
Zhanna (Russian)
Zhannochka (Russian: Жанночка)
Zsanett (Hungarian)
Jhane Barnes, fashion designer ("h" added as adult)
Jane Burden (1839–1914), pre-Raphaelite model and muse, known for her beauty
Jane Antonia Cornish (born 1975), British Contemporary classical music composer
Jane Dyer, children's book illustrator
Jane Frank (1918–1986), American artist
Jane Kelly (born 1956), artist and journalist
Jane Adams (born 1965), American actress
Jane "Poni" Adams (born 1921), American actress
Jane Asher (born 1946), English actress and author
Jane Badler (born 1953), actress
Jane Birkin (born 1946), actress and singer
Jane Bryan (1918–2009), American actress
Jane Curtin (born 1947), American actress and comedian
Jane Fonda (born 1937), American actress, former fitness instructor, and daughter of actor Henry Fonda
Jane Foole (fl. 1558), English court jester
Jane Garvey (born 1964), British radio presenter
Jane Goldman (born 1970), British writer and television presenter; wife of Jonathan Ross
Ellie Goulding (born 1986 as Elena Jane Goulding), British singer
Jane Kaczmarek (born 1955), American actress
Jane Krakowski (born 1968), American actress
Jane Lapotaire (born 1944), English actress
Jane Lynch (born 1960), American actress
Jane March (born 1973), English actress
Jane McDonald (born 1963), English singer and television star
Jane McGrath (born 1988), Irish actress
Jane McGregor (born 1983), Canadian actress
Jane Monheit (born 1977), American singer
Jane Novak (1896–1990), American actress
Jane Pickens, American singer and leader of The Pickens Sisters
Jane Powell (born 1929), American actress and singer
Jane Russell (1921–2011), American actress and sex symbol
Jane Seymour (born 1951), English actress
Jane Siberry (born 1955), Canadian singer/songwriter, has changed her name to "Issa"
Jane Taylor (born 1972), English musician
Jane Wiedlin (born 1958), American singer and rhythm guitarist, sometime member of the Go-Go's
Jane Winton (1905–1959), American actress, writer, dancer, painter and opera Soprano
Jane Withers (born 1926), American actress, model and singer
Jane Wyatt (1910–2006), American actress
Jane Wyman (1917–2007), American actress and ex-wife of President Ronald Reagan
Calamity Jane (1852–1903), U.S. frontierswoman
Jane Addams (1860–1935), American Nobel Peace Prize-winning social worker and co-founder of Hull House
Jane Horney (born 1918), Swedish spy during WWII
Jane Roe, alias of Norma Leah McCorvey, plaintiff in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the United States
Jane Austen (1775–1817), British novelist, known for Emma and Pride and Prejudice
Jane Louise Curry (born 1932), American writer
Jane Lindskold (born 1962), American author
Jane Taylor (1783–1824), English poet and novelist
Jane Wilde Hawking (born 1944), ex-wife of Stephen Hawking
Jane Yolen (born 1939), American author
Jane Hamilton (born 1957), American author
Jane Eaton Hamilton (born 1954), Canadian author
Jane Hill (born 1969), British newsreader
Jane Pauley (born 1950), American television journalist
Jane Elliott (born 1933), American civil rights activist, known for "Blue eyes–Brown eyes" exercise.
Jane Harman (born 1945), member of the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 36th congressional district
Jane Hill (born 1936), Australian politician
Jane Elizabeth Faulding (1843–1904), British Protestant Christian missionary
Jane Frances de Chantal (1572–1641), French saint
Royalty and nobility
Jane Loeau (1828–1873), Hawaiian noble lady
Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), Queen of England, also known as "Jane of England"
Jane Seymour (1508–1537), Queen and wife of King Henry VIII of England
Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill (1826–1900)
Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1505–1542)
Jane Wharton, 7th Baroness Wharton (1706–1761)
Jane Fellowes, Baroness Fellowes (born 1957)
Jane Lane, Lady Fisher (1626–1689), played a heroic role in the escape of Charles II in 1651
Jane Colden (1724–1766), American botanist
Jane Goodall (born 1934), English primatologist, known for studying chimpanzees and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute
Jane McGrath (1966–2008), co-founder of the McGrath Foundation
Jane Burley (born 1971), Scottish field hockey midfielder
Jane Frederick (born 1952), American heptathlete
Jane Haist (born 1949), Canadian discus thrower and shot putter
Jane Patterson, Canadian judoka
Jane Salumäe (born 1968), Estonian long-distance runner
Jayne Torvill (born 1957), British ice-dancer and 1984 Olympic gold medalist with partner Christopher Dean
(Jane Mbeha)born 2001,Botswana badminton player in Kasane.
Jane Doe or Jane Roe is used in American law as a placeholder name for anonymous or unknown female participants in legal proceedings. "Jane Roe" was the legal pseudonym used by Norma McCorvey when she was plantiff in the landmark American case Roe v. Wade.
Jane Doe is used in United States police investigations when the identity of a female victim is unknown or incorrect, and by hospitals to refer to a female corpse or patient whose identity is unknown.
Jane Doe, on the animated series Camp Lazlo
Jane Jetson, from the animated series The Jetsons
Jane Lane, on the television show Daria
Jane Dickey, on the short-lived series Welcome to Eltingville
Jane Foster, a Marvel Comics character
Painkiller Jane, a comic book character that spawned a made-for-TV movie and a TV series
Jane Crocker, a character in the webcomic Homestuck by Andrew Hussie
Dick and Jane, characters by Zerna Sharp
Jane, an entity resembling modern conceptions of AI, from the Ender's Game series
Jane, Wendy Darling's daughter from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan mythos; Jane was also the central character in the Disney Peter Pan movie sequel, Return to Neverland
Jane Banks, one of the Banks' children, a child of Mr. and Mrs. Banks in the Mary Poppins books, film, and stage musical
Jane Bennet, in Pride and Prejudice, the eldest sister of the Bennet family
Jane Eyre, the titular character of a famous novel by Charlotte Brontë and several film adaptations
Baby Jane Hudson, the titular character in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Jane Lambert, a character in the book series School 101
Miss Marple (first name Jane), an amateur detective created by Agatha Christie
Jane Porter, the sweetheart of Tarzan
Jane, a member of the Volturi guard in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga
Jayne Deverill, a Yorkshire witch in the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz
Jane Studdock, protagonist in That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
Characters in TV, film, and theater
Jane, on 7th Heaven
Jane Christie, from the TV series Coupling
Jane Beale (previously Collins), from the BBC soap opera EastEnders
Jayne Cobb, a male character on the sci-fi series Firefly
G.I. Jane, a 1997 war movie, with Demi Moore in the leading role
Jane Mancini, on Melrose Place and the 2009 remake
Jane Vaughn, in Degrassi: The Next Generation
Jane Margolis, in the television series Breaking Bad
Jane Rizzoli, in the television series Rizzoli & Isles
Jane, a minor female character in the Tekken video game series
Jane Shepard, a playable female version of Commander Shepard in the role-playing third-person shooter Mass Effect series; "Jane Shepard" is the default name for any new female Shepard character that is built in-game, although any name can be entered
