Jan
Say it: YAN
BoyMeans a form of John, which means "God is gracious"3 letters1 syllable
#372
in Ireland (2025)
#360 with spellings combined
10
babies in 2025
#114
best rank (2012)
710
babies since 1967
Down 220
10-year rank change
Jan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | #360 |
| 2024 | 9 | #379 |
| 2023 | 12 | #319 |
| 2022 | 9 | #393 |
| 2021 | 16 | #270 |
| 2020 | 27 | #183 |
| 2019 | 28 | #190 |
| 2018 | 33 | #172 |
| 2017 | 36 | #166 |
| 2016 | 33 | #177 |
| 2015 | 45 | #140 |
| 2014 | 40 | #164 |
| 2013 | 56 | #120 |
| 2012 | 62 | #114 |
| 2011 | 46 | #152 |
| 2010 | 55 | #139 |
| 2009 | 38 | #163 |
| 2008 | 30 | #191 |
| 2007 | 28 | #180 |
| 2006 | 14 | #247 |
| 2005 | 6 | #370 |
| 2004 | 6 | #352 |
| 2003 | 3 | #500 |
| 2002 | 3 | #451 |
| 2000 | 6 | #274 |
| 1999 | 4 | #330 |
| 1996 | 5 | #295 |
| 1991 | 4 | #288 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1981 | 4 | #292 |
| 1979 | 5 | #269 |
| 1975 | 7 | #236 |
| 1974 | 3 | #321 |
| 1973 | 5 | #268 |
| 1972 | 4 | #279 |
| 1971 | 4 | #280 |
| 1969 | 3 | #291 |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Jan mean?
A form of John, which means "God is gracious"
Polish, Czech, Dutch, German and Scandinavian, a form of John.
Say it right
YAN
As a boys' name from Poland, the Netherlands or Scandinavia it is said YAN. As an English girls' name it rhymes with man.
The story of Jan
Jan is the form of John used in Polish, Czech, Dutch, German and the Scandinavian languages. Like John, it goes back to a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious”. In English Jan has a separate life as a girls’ name, a short form of Janet, Janice and similar names.
Both uses show up in Ireland. A few girls were named Jan between the 1960s and the 1990s, but none in recent years.
For boys the story is newer. Jan was rare in the CSO records until the 2000s, then grew quickly. Its best year was 2012, with 62 boys, which put it at number 114 in 2012. Numbers have come down since, with 10 boys named Jan in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Jan (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Jan (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | 710 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #222 (2010); 82 babies since 2005.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Jan is also given to girls: 36 since 1964.