National Jane Day – June 13, 2026

History of National Jane Day

Jane is a female given name and the English version of ‘Jehanne,’ the Old French feminine form of ‘Iohannes,’ the Latin form of the Greek ‘Iōannēs’ that derives from the Hebrew name ‘Yochanan.’ This Hebrew variation is the short form of ‘Yehohanan,’ which means ‘Yahweh is merciful.’

In the mid-sixteenth century, the name was often used in England by aristocratic families for their daughters and as an alternative to the more usual variation, Joan. The name Jane has been around in England since Tudor times, moving in and out of fashion. Jean and Joan have alternated in a contest of popularity. The nineteenth century saw Martha Jane Cannary, better known as ‘Calamity Jane,’ a woman famous for her shooting and horse-riding skills, which she displayed to much applause at the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

The name has star quality, and during the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking in the twentieth century, glamour, style, and luxury reigned. We find Jane Russell, a dark-haired beauty and foil for the blonde Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, and Jane Powell. In the early, to mid-twentieth century Joan became more popular and ranked in the top 500 most popular names given to girls in the U.S. However, the name was replaced by Jane on the popularity charts in the twenty-first century.

Jane is not considered to be too plain. Even though it is a short one-syllable name, it packs a surprising amount of punch, compared to the related Jean and Joan. Jane was once so universal that it became generic, as in the term Jane Doe and the movie about a female naval military officer “G.I. Jane,” then for a time as the back end of such blends as Maryjane, Bettyjane, and Sarajane.