Janice is a female given name of English origin. It was created as a diminutive of Jane, which itself is derived from the Latin personal name "Johanna," meaning "God is gracious" or "graced by God." The name Janice has been in use since the 19th century but gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century. It was particularly popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia during the 1940s to the 1960s. Today, it is considered a classic name that has maintained its popularity throughout the years.
"The name Janice experienced a dramatic increase in popularity over the early to mid-20th century, peaking at 8779 births in 1939 and remaining consistently high until the late 1950s, with over 10,000 births annually between 1946 and 1957. However, popularity began to decline steadily thereafter, reaching its lowest point in recent years with only 98 births in 2023."