Janelle
Every Janelle since 1912 — 56,967 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Janelle
Janelle is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #801 in 2025 with 340 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 56,967 American babies have been named Janelle. Its peak came in 1979, when 1,421 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Janelle stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Janelle year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 340 | #801 | — | — |
| 2024 | 363 | #777 | — | — |
| 2023 | 418 | #693 | — | — |
| 2022 | 435 | #671 | — | — |
| 2021 | 448 | #663 | — | — |
| 2020 | 427 | #671 | — | — |
| 2019 | 549 | #553 | — | — |
| 2018 | 527 | #584 | — | — |
| 2017 | 628 | #499 | — | — |
| 2016 | 667 | #477 | — | — |
| 2015 | 680 | #474 | — | — |
| 2014 | 713 | #451 | — | — |
| 2013 | 777 | #397 | — | — |
| 2012 | 739 | #426 | — | — |
| 2011 | 813 | #391 | — | — |
| 2010 | 813 | #394 | — | — |
| 2009 | 781 | #405 | — | — |
| 2008 | 884 | #373 | — | — |
| 2007 | 817 | #399 | — | — |
| 2006 | 824 | #390 | — | — |
| 2005 | 571 | #517 | 5 | #12,199 |
| 2004 | 526 | #545 | — | — |
| 2003 | 606 | #484 | — | — |
| 2002 | 585 | #480 | — | — |
| 2001 | 588 | #473 | — | — |
| 2000 | 591 | #470 | — | — |
| 1995 | 779 | #339 | — | — |
| 1990 | 1,106 | #258 | — | — |
| 1985 | 1,360 | #198 | 5 | #6,989 |
| 1980 | 1,395 | #194 | 7 | #5,183 |
| 1975 | 733 | #311 | — | — |
| 1970 | 606 | #387 | — | — |
| 1965 | 472 | #435 | — | — |
| 1960 | 442 | #465 | — | — |
| 1955 | 419 | #435 | — | — |
| 1950 | 275 | #486 | — | — |
| 1945 | 138 | #618 | — | — |
| 1940 | 102 | #688 | — | — |
| 1935 | 91 | #707 | — | — |
| 1930 | 45 | #1,106 | — | — |
| 1925 | 20 | #1,970 | — | — |
| 1920 | 22 | #1,848 | — | — |
| 1915 | 14 | #2,185 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Janelle
- Janelle Monáe Actor · b. 1985
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Janelle in 2025?
Janelle ranked #801 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 340 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Janelle?
56,967 babies have been named Janelle in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Janelle most popular?
Janelle peaked in 1979, when 1,421 newborns received the name.
Is Janelle a boy or girl name?
Janelle is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Janelle rising or falling?
Janelle is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Janelle?
Well-known people named Janelle include Janelle Monáe (actor).