Jens Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jens is a name of Danish, Norwegian, and German origin, derived from Johannes, with roots tracing back to the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.' The name evolved through various historical forms, maintaining its graceful connotation. It has gained popularity in Scandinavia since the Middle Ages and is associated with positive traits such as reliability. There is no direct biblical relevance, but its etymological roots are linked to a biblical name. Today, it is perceived as a traditional name in Scandinavian culture.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jens"
Pronunciation
/jɛns/
Origin
Danish, Norwegian, and German
Etymology
Jens is a derivative of Johannes, which is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.'
Meaning
God is gracious
Language Evolution
Yochanan (Hebrew), Iohannes (Latin), Johannes (Old High German), Jens (Danish/Norwegian)
Historical Usage
The name Jens gained popularity in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, particularly in Denmark and Norway, as a common counterpart to Johannes.
Variants & Derivatives
Jenssen, Jensy, Jensine
Modern Popularity & Image
Jens is viewed as a traditional and strong name in Scandinavian countries, often associated with reliability and warmth.
Famous People
Jens Stoltenberg, former Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Voigt, professional cyclist, Jens Lekman, Swedish musician
📊 Jens Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Jens Name Visualizations
✨ Jens Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 39 peak births in 1966
Geographic Spread
Popular across 10 US states, with strongest presence in Utah
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jens"
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 "Jens"
"Jens" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1882nd of 7545 | 277 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2333rd of 6773 | 189 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2009th of 7552 | 302 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1712th of 10718 | 435 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2139th of 16616 | 500 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3559th of 24088 | 427 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4556th of 23106 | 263 |
Regional Popularity of "Jens" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
48.18% 1337th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- |
30.89% 1249th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
45.70% 1684th/3685 |
- | - |
28.75% 1816th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
47.95% 2197th/4582 |
- |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
37.29% 2783rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
65.76% 2620th/3984 |
- | - |
56.56% 3550th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jens" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jens"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jens" 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 "Jens" in the United States
The name Jens is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jens has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Jens' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1882nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2333rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2009th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1712th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2139th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3559th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4556th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Jens' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.