The story behind Jean
Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān). Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Jane, Janice, Janis, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena. The unincorporated community in Nevada, originally named Goodsprings Junction, was renamed Jean on 28 June 1905 by postmaster George Arthur Fayle in honor of his wife.
Other language forms and explanations (6)
English entry
From French Jean, from Old French Jehan, from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוחנן (Yôḥānān, literally “God is gracious”). Doublet of John, Jack, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Sean, Shaun, Shane, Ian, Evan, Ivan, Juan, and Giovanni.
French entry
a male given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English John, traditionally very popular in France, also common as the first part of hyphenated given names
Italian entry
Borrowed from French Jean.
Italian entry
Borrowed from English Jean.
Portuguese entry
Unadapted borrowing from French Jean. Doublet of João, Ivan, Ian, Ruan, and Geovane.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Jean, variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Old French Jehane, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /d͡ʒiːn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ʒɑːn/
- French; Belgium; France: /ʒɑ̃/
- French: /ʒãᵑ/
- French; Quebec: /ʒã/
- Italian: /ˈʒan/
- Italian: /ˈd͡ʒin/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ʒeˈɐ̃/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈʒɐ̃/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈd͡ʒin/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈd͡ʒɪn̪]
- Tagalog: /ˈdjin/
- Tagalog: [ˈd̪jɪn̪]
Popularity
Jean ranked #2130 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Jean
Jan
From Old French Jehan (“John”). Doublet of John. Czech Jan Inherited from Old Czech Jan, borrowed from Latin Iōannēs. From Middle Dutch jan, from Latin Iōhannēs, from Ancient…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jhon
Misspelling of English John. Compare Spanish Jhon. Misspelling of English John. Compare Portuguese Jhon.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joan
A clipped or hypochoristic form of Joanna, from Latin Joanna, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joann
A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Joan or Joanne.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
JoAnn
A female given name from Hebrew, variant of Joanne.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
John
From Middle English John, Johan, Johannes, from Anglo-Norman Jehan, Johan, and also Old English Iohannes, both from Late Latin Iōhannēs, variant of Latin Iōannēs, from Koine…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Jean
Ari
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish: Lew,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ary
A male given name from Hebrew, of Jewish usage, variant of Arieh.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Asa
Via Late Latin Asa from Koine Greek Ἀσά (Asá) from Biblical Hebrew אָסָא (ʾĀsāʾ), from Aramaic אָסְיָא (ʾāsyā, “physician, doctor, healer”), from Akkadian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /asû/)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Jean
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adah
From Hebrew עָדָה (adá, “Adah”, literally “ornament, dawn”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection