The first name Jan
A unisex name from Dutch meaning “john”.
Pronounced /d͡ʒæn/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Dutch origin
Jan means “john” in Dutch.
From Old French Jehan (“John”). Doublet of John.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 57 boys were named Jan, making it the 639th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 238 births (#226).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Jan with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Jan at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 47 boys born in the United States were named Jan, the 2,731st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1956, when 3,201 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Jan
780 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Jan HusCzech theologian, philosopher and preacher (1369-1415)
- Jan van EyckFlemish painter (c.1390–1441)
- Jan TinbergenDutch economist (1903–1994)
- Jan NerudaCzech poet, theater reviewer, publicist, journalist and writer (1834-1891)
- Jan PalachCzech student who killed himself by self-immolation in protest (1948–1969)
- Jan VertonghenBelgian association football player (born 1987)
- Jan Hendrik OortDutch astronomer (1900–1992)
- Jan ŽižkaCzech Hussite military leader (circa 1360 - 1424)
- Jan ŽeleznýCzech javelin thrower and sports official, born 1966
- Jan KollerCzech footballer, born 1973
- Jan Evangelista PurkyněCzech biologist, physiologist, doctor, inventor and politician (1787–1869)
- Jan FischerCzech politician (born 1951)
More Dutch unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Jan mean?
- Jan means “john” in Dutch.
- What is the origin of the name Jan?
- From Old French Jehan (“John”). Doublet of John.
- How popular is the name Jan?
- In 2025, 57 boys born in England and Wales were named Jan, ranking 639th. Its peak was 2017, with 238 births.
- Is Jan a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 76,934 US babies named Jan since 1880, 71% were girls and 29% boys.
- When was Jan most popular?
- 1956 in the United States, when 3,201 babies were named Jan, its highest rank at 136th.
- How do you pronounce Jan?
- Jan is /d͡ʒæn/, one syllable.
- Is Jan also a surname?
- Yes. Jan is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.