Janet
From Jane + -et, q.v. Chiefly Scottish until the 19th century.
Every Janet since 1880 — 558,291 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Janet
Janet is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,791 in 2025 with 61 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 558,291 American babies have been named Janet. Its peak came in 1954, when 18,507 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Janet stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Janet 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 | 61 | #2,791 | — | — |
| 2024 | 74 | #2,448 | — | — |
| 2023 | 97 | #2,027 | — | — |
| 2022 | 104 | #1,923 | — | — |
| 2021 | 92 | #2,078 | — | — |
| 2020 | 93 | #2,011 | — | — |
| 2019 | 123 | #1,704 | — | — |
| 2018 | 159 | #1,408 | — | — |
| 2017 | 171 | #1,358 | — | — |
| 2016 | 162 | #1,427 | — | — |
| 2015 | 155 | #1,481 | — | — |
| 2014 | 168 | #1,378 | — | — |
| 2013 | 189 | #1,261 | — | — |
| 2012 | 212 | #1,160 | — | — |
| 2011 | 269 | #953 | — | — |
| 2010 | 298 | #890 | — | — |
| 2009 | 353 | #805 | — | — |
| 2008 | 415 | #718 | — | — |
| 2007 | 449 | #660 | — | — |
| 2006 | 523 | #562 | — | — |
| 2005 | 512 | #562 | — | — |
| 2004 | 672 | #452 | — | — |
| 2003 | 565 | #508 | — | — |
| 2002 | 630 | #457 | — | — |
| 2001 | 696 | #412 | — | — |
| 2000 | 686 | #412 | — | — |
| 1995 | 928 | #298 | 6 | #8,243 |
| 1990 | 1,285 | #223 | 9 | #5,559 |
| 1985 | 1,242 | #207 | 15 | #3,131 |
| 1980 | 1,609 | #172 | 13 | #3,334 |
| 1975 | 1,950 | #139 | 6 | #5,075 |
| 1970 | 4,158 | #96 | 10 | #3,161 |
| 1965 | 7,654 | #55 | 23 | #1,645 |
| 1960 | 14,250 | #32 | 25 | #1,641 |
| 1955 | 17,920 | #20 | 28 | #1,471 |
| 1950 | 16,193 | #18 | 30 | #1,328 |
| 1945 | 12,326 | #20 | 36 | #1,092 |
| 1940 | 10,105 | #19 | 39 | #1,038 |
| 1935 | 7,856 | #22 | 30 | #1,236 |
| 1930 | 4,602 | #53 | 11 | #2,524 |
| 1925 | 2,428 | #111 | 10 | #2,845 |
| 1920 | 2,057 | #124 | — | — |
| 1915 | 1,173 | #158 | — | — |
| 1910 | 296 | #217 | — | — |
| 1905 | 154 | #263 | — | — |
| 1900 | 108 | #326 | — | — |
| 1895 | 92 | #302 | — | — |
| 1890 | 76 | #287 | — | — |
| 1885 | 46 | #294 | — | — |
| 1880 | 28 | #299 | — | — |
Famous people named Janet
- Janet Leigh Actor · 1927–2004
- Janet Gaynor Actor · 1906–1984
- Janet Yellen Politician · b. 1946
- Janet Jackson Singer · b. 1966
- Janet Frame Writer · 1924–2004
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Janet mean?
From Jane + -et, q.v. Chiefly Scottish until the 19th century.
How popular is the name Janet in 2025?
Janet ranked #2,791 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 61 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Janet?
558,291 babies have been named Janet in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Janet most popular?
Janet peaked in 1954, when 18,507 newborns received the name.
Is Janet a boy or girl name?
Janet is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Janet rising or falling?
Janet is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Janet?
Well-known people named Janet include Janet Leigh (actor), Janet Gaynor (actor), Janet Yellen (politician).