Meaning: Its source is Yochana, a Hebrew name meaning "God's grace."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Polish, Croatian and Czech.

Compound Forms: Janalee, Janalisa and Janalyn

Alternative Spellings: Yana

Variant Forms: Janaca, Janika, Jayna and Jaana

Popularity: The name Jana ranked 449th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: The Hebrew Yochana was translated into Latin as Joanna or Johanna. Over time these developed into the Old French Jehan(n)e. At various points this string of ancestors spun off many modern variations that have enjoyed a great deal of popularity.

Most of them share the quality of simplicity. Whether we call to mind the fictitious Jane Q. Public or the legendary Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc in French), these names seem to emerge from the heart of the people.