Jane
/dʒeɪn/noun
A female given name, originally a medieval English form of Johanna or Joan.
Did you know?Jane comes through medieval English from Johanne/Jane, ultimately from Hebrew Yehohanan, a theophoric name invoking divine favor rather than anything occult or dark.
Etymological Timeline
Hebrew Bible / Ancient Hebrew
Heb
Yəhōḥānān
““Yahweh has been gracious” or “God is gracious.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
Iōannēs
“A Greek form of the Hebrew name John.”
Late Latin
Latin
Iohannes
“The Christian male name John.”
Old French
OF
Jehanne
“A female form of John, used as a given name.”
Middle English
English
Jane
“A female personal name, especially a form of Joan/Johanna.”
Modern English
English
Jane
“A common female given name.”