The name Jane is of English origin and is a feminine given name. It is derived from the medieval female personal name Janet, which was in turn derived from the male name John. The name John comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."
The name Jane has been used in England since the Middle Ages. It gained popularity during the Tudor period, with Queen Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII, being one of the most notable bearers of the name. The name continued to be popular throughout the centuries and was often used as a pet name or diminutive form of Joan or other similar names.
In literature, Jane is perhaps best known for being the protagonist of Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre," published in 1847. This classic work of English literature has helped to popularize the name further and has influenced many people's perceptions of it.
Overall, the name Jane has a long and rich history, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages in England. It is associated with several notable historical figures and literary characters, making it a well-known and respected name throughout English-speaking countries.
The statistics show a significant rise and fall in the number of girls named Jane over the 142-year period from 1880 to 2022. The name's popularity peaked in the late 1940s with over 9,900 births each year between 1946 and 1952. However, it steadily declined afterwards, reaching a low of around 600 births per year by the late 1970s. Since then, Jane's popularity has fluctuated but remained relatively stable, with around 1,000 to 1,200 births annually in recent years. Overall, there were a total of 377,294 girls named Jane born during this period.