Janaki is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin. Its meaning can be translated as "she who has won the heart" or "she who has conquered the heart". This name is often found in Indian literature and mythology, notably in the story of Janaki, also known as Sita, the wife of Rama, the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The name Janaki is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "Janaka", which means "one who generates" or "one who gives birth". In the Ramayana, King Janaka of Mithila was childless for a long time. However, he found a baby girl abandoned in a furrow (janaka) in his field one day. He adopted her and named her Sita Janaki, which means "Sita, she who has won the heart".
The name Janaki is also associated with the Hindu goddess Janki, an avatar of Goddess Durga, who is worshipped as the mother of the universe. She is believed to be the source of all creation and the sustainer of life.
In modern times, Janaki continues to be a popular name among Hindus, especially in India and other parts of South Asia. It is often given to girls with the hope that they too will grow up to be as beloved and virtuous as the mythical Sita Janaki or the goddess Janki.
The name Janaki has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. The data shows that there were 5 births with the name Janaki in 1978, marking the beginning of our recorded statistics.
The name gained some traction in the early 1980s, with 7 births in 1980 and reaching a peak of 9 births in 1981. However, this popularity was short-lived as the number of births dropped to 6 in 1986 before slightly rebounding to 7 births each in 1988 and 1989.
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a consistent number of Janaki births, with 6 births per year from 1991 to 1993. There was another dip in popularity with only 5 births in 1995, followed by a brief resurgence with 6 births each in 1997 and 1999.
The early 2000s saw some fluctuations in the number of Janaki births. There were 9 births in 2001, but this was followed by only 5 births in 2002. However, there was another peak in 2003 with 9 births before dropping back down to 5 births in 2004.
Since 2007, the name Janaki has maintained a steady level of popularity, with between 5 and 8 births per year. The most recent data shows that there were 7 births each in 2016 and 2017, dropping to 6 births in 2022 before rebounding to 7 births in 2023.
In total, over the past four decades, there have been 182 babies named Janaki born in the United States. Despite the fluctuations in popularity, the name Janaki has maintained a consistent presence among newborns in the country.