Unisex name · Hebrew
Jean
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: God is graciousJean is a gender-neutral name that comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in English, Scottish and French.
- Meaning
- God is gracious
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #2130 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Jean
As a girl's name, Jean comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in English and Scottish.
As a boy's name, Jean comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It is used in French.
In French, say ZHAHN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Jean is also a surname: the 1,401st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 24,740 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Jean on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Jean on 4 lists.
“God is gracious; Hebrew. Say ZHAHN”
From French boy names, classic male French names
“God is gracious; Hebrew. Scottish form of Jane”
From Girl middle names, one-syllable girl middle names
“From Jehanne, God is gracious; the name of Robert Burns's wife.”
From Scottish girl names, scottish girl names from history
“God is gracious; Hebrew. A medieval form of Jane, revived from Scotland”
From Vintage girl names, old fashioned girl names from the 1900s to 1920s
How popular is Jean?
In 2025, 88 girls and 176 boys in the US were named Jean.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #2,130
- 88 babies, 55 per million girls
- Best rank
- #12 in 1926
- Most babies: 12,512 in 1927
- Babies since 1880
- At least 458,436
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 762 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,079 per million |
| 1900s | 2,026 per million |
| 1910s | 4,816 per million |
| 1920s | 8,868 per million |
| 1930s | 8,833 per million |
| 1940s | 5,548 per million |
| 1950s | 3,757 per million |
| 1960s | 2,041 per million |
| 1970s | 714 per million |
| 1980s | 283 per million |
| 1990s | 103 per million |
| 2000s | 45 per million |
| 2010s | 40 per million |
| 2020s | 47 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,451 | #2,474 | #2,396 | #2,099 | #2,358 | #2,241 | #2,476 | #2,631 | #2,425 | #2,130 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,172
- 176 babies, 103 per million boys
- Best rank
- #309 in 1928
- Most babies: 428 in 1993
- Babies since 1880
- At least 25,039
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 139 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 162 per million |
| 1900s | 197 per million |
| 1910s | 202 per million |
| 1920s | 270 per million |
| 1930s | 194 per million |
| 1940s | 106 per million |
| 1950s | 75 per million |
| 1960s | 95 per million |
| 1970s | 135 per million |
| 1980s | 142 per million |
| 1990s | 152 per million |
| 2000s | 131 per million |
| 2010s | 97 per million |
| 2020s | 85 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,083 | #1,160 | #1,248 | #1,300 | #1,420 | #1,592 | #1,385 | #1,266 | #1,142 | #1,172 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Jean
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ElchananGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- EoinGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- EvanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GiannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- GianniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GiannisGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- GiovannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- GiovanniGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- HannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- HansGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IainGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- IanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Jean
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JoanGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JianHealthy, strong; to build (depends on characters) (Chinese, boy)
- JuanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JanaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JensGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JohanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JunTalented, handsome (depends on characters) (Chinese, boy)
- JahanWorld (Persian, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MilanGracious, dear; a short form of Slavic Mil- names (Slavic, unisex)
- MilaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
- JackGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JohannaGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JohannesGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- MilenaGracious, dear (Slavic, girl)
- GiaPet form of Gianna, God is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- IbanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JanetGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JeanetteGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Jean
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- AnnaFavor, grace (Hebrew, girl)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- EvaLiving, life (Hebrew, girl)
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- SarahPrincess, noblewoman (Hebrew, girl)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
Jean: common questions
What does the name Jean mean?
Jean comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language. Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Jean a boy or girl name?
Jean is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 88 girls and 176 boys in the US were named Jean, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Jean come from?
Jean comes from Hebrew and means "God is gracious". Today it is used in English, Scottish and French.
How popular is the name Jean?
Jean ranked #2,130 in the US in 2025, with 88 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Jean?
Forms of Jean with the same meaning and origin include Elchanan (Hebrew), Eoin (Irish), Evan (English), Gianna (English) and Gianni (Italian).
What middle names go with Jean?
Middle names that flow well with Jean include Alistair, Anastasia, Blair, Conrad and Daisy. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.