Janelle is of French origin, derived from the masculine given name Jean, which means "God is gracious." It was traditionally used as a feminine diminutive form of Jean in France during the Middle Ages. In English-speaking countries, Janelle gained popularity during the mid-20th century and has since been widely accepted as a distinctively feminine given name. Spelling variations include Janel and Janell, but Janelle remains the most popular and recognized version.
The name Janelle experienced fluctuations in popularity between 1976 and 2005, with the highest number of births occurring in 1982 (10 births) and the lowest in 1976, 1978, and 1979 (each with 5 births). There was a notable decline after 1989, with only one year above five births between then and 2005. Overall, there were 86 Janelle births during this period.