The first name Janus
A unisex name from Latin meaning “the roman god janus”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒeɪnəs/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Janus means “the roman god janus” in Latin.
From Latin Iānus (“the Roman god Janus”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Janus at birth, 1880–2025
In 2019, 5 boys born in the United States were named Janus, the 12,967th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1956, when 16 were.
GirlsBoys
168
babies named Janus since 1880
#12,967
rank in 2019
1956
peak year
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 Janus
6 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Janus FriisDanish entrepreneur, born 1976
- Janus TheeuwesDutch archer (1886-1975)
- Janus DjurhuusFaroese poet, 1881–1948
- Janus Metz PedersenDanish filmmaker, born 1974
- Janus Henricus Donker CurtiusDutch diplomat (1813–1879)
- Janus KambanFaroese sculptor (1913-2009)
More Latin unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Janus mean?
- Janus means “the roman god janus” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Janus?
- From Latin Iānus (“the Roman god Janus”).
- Is Janus a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 168 US babies named Janus since 1880, 76% were girls and 24% boys.
- When was Janus most popular?
- 1956 in the United States, when 16 babies were named Janus, its highest rank at 2,976th.
- How do you pronounce Janus?
- Janus is /ˈd͡ʒeɪnəs/, 2 syllables.
- Is Janus also a surname?
- Yes. Janus is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.