January Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
January is a name derived from the Latin 'Ianuarius', named after Janus, the Roman god. It signifies the month of the new year. The name has evolved through various languages over time. It gained popularity as a given name in the 20th century. January is often associated with new beginnings and has variants like Jan and Janice. It does not have biblical relevance.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "January"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒæn.juː.ɛr.i/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name January is derived from the Latin word 'Ianuarius', which is named after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates.
Meaning
The month of the new year.
Language Evolution
Ianuarius (Latin), Ianuar (Old French), Gennario (Italian), Gennaio (Italian)
Historical Usage
January became commonly used as a given name in English-speaking countries beginning in the 20th century as a reflection of the growing popularity of month names as personal names.
Variants & Derivatives
Jan, Janie, Janice
Modern Popularity & Image
January is often perceived as a fresh start and new beginnings, associated with the New Year and winter in many cultures.
Famous People
January Jones, January LaVoy
📊 January Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More January Name Visualizations
✨ January Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 257 peak births in 1978
Geographic Spread
Popular across 27 US states, with strongest presence in California
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 5 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "January"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "January"
"January" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7387th of 12526 | 43 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1429th of 19264 | 1,171 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3394th of 27321 | 476 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 7832nd of 35406 | 226 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6059th of 30306 | 244 |
Regional Popularity of "January" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "January" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
40.93% 1202nd/2937 |
38.67% 1347th/3483 |
33.66% 1184th/3518 |
36.13% 1461st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
65.63% 2937th/4475 |
69.48% 3609th/5194 |
54.88% 3467th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
87.11% 6501st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
94.39% 5924th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "January"
This map shows the relative popularity of "January" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "January" in the United States
The name January is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, January has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'January' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7387th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1429th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3394th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7832nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6059th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'January' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.