Jane
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /d͡ʒeɪn/
rhymes: -eɪn
homophone: Jain
Forms: form: Janes
form: Jayne
form: Jaine
Etymology: Variant of Jeanne, from French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets. As a placeholder name, cf. similar use of John and Jack and earlier use of Joan in the same role.
Doublet of Gianna, Ivana, Jana, Janice, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.
Senses: examples: text: In latter years some of the better and nicer sort, misliking Joan, have mollified the name of Joan into Jane, as it may seem, for that Jane is never found in old Records; and as some will, never before the time of King Henry the eight.
ref: 1605, William Camden, Remains Concerning Britain, John Russell Smith, published 1870, pages 103–104:
text: People will please their fancies, and every lady has favourite names. I myself have several, and they are mostly short and simple. Jane, that queenly name! Jane Seymour, Jane Grey, 'the noble Jane de Montford;' - - -
ref: 1830, Mary Russell Mitford, Our Village: Fourth Series: Cottage Names::
text: "What I mean is," said Mrs. Riversedge, "that when I get maids with unsuitable names I call them Jane; they soon get used to it."
"An excellent plan," said the aunt of Clovis coldly; "unfortunately I have got used to being called Jane myself. It happens to be my name."
ref: 1912 Saki (H.H.Munro), The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope
text: In the amended complaint, Carter is accused of raping the then-13-year-old Jane Doe at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards in the year 2000.
ref: 2024 December 14, Elizabeth Wagmeister, “Jay-Z says inconsistencies in rape accuser’s story proves her attorney was looking for ‘money and fame’”, in CNN:
glosses: A female given name from French, the standard feminine form of John since the 17th century.
glosses: A surname originating as a patronymic derived from a Middle English variant of John.
Derived terms: Hanoi Jane
Jane 50
Janey
Janice
Janie
Janis
Jenny
Jumeirah Jane
Related terms: sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jan
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janeka
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janelle
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janet
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janette
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janice
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janine
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Janis
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jean
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jeanette
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jeanne
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jeannette
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jenna
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jennie
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jenny
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jessie
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jo
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Joan
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Joann
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Joanna
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Joanne
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jodi
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jodie
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Jody
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Johanna
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Juana
sense: variants and pet forms
word: Juanita