Unisex name · since 1911

Jan

Jan has 54,531 recorded births since 1911 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1956 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.

54,531
total births
1911–2025
years on record
1950s
peak decade
48%
born in that decade

54,531 girls have been named Jan since 1911, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Jan has been recorded 54,531 times among girls since 1911, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1911 to 2025.

  • 54,531 total births
  • 1911–2025 years on record
  • 1950s peak decade
  • 48% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

54,531 girls have been named Jan since 1911, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2025.

54,531
total births
1911–2025
years on record
1950s
peak decade
48%
born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade

48% of everyone ever named Jan was born in this single decade.

1956
Single peak year

3,201 babies were named Jan in 1956 - its busiest year on record.

Jan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Jan's SSA record in two at 1965 and the more recent half accounts for 15% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 85%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2010, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1956 peak of 3,201, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Jan at a glance

Last recorded 2025

Total births

54,531

Since 1911

115 years of records

Peak year

1956

3,201 births that year

Strongest decade: 1950s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 2025

Active since

1911

Recorded for 115 years

Last year on file: 2025

Jan popularity over time - girls

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–2025

Last recorded 2025
Peak year (1956)
3,201
Annual births at peak, across 115 years of records
-1,00001,0002,0003,0004,000 191119251939195319671981199520102025 5

Jan popularity over time - boys

22,403 total births recorded since 1902 (Jan as boys' name)

Unisex variant - 22,403 births
-20002004006008001,000 190219231938195319681983199820132025 47

Jan by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1950s was Jan's strongest decade.

26,169 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.

Jan births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1950s at 26,169 births (48% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Jan compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Jan's total volume

Jan vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Jan vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%2%4%6%8%10%12% 6080100120140160 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Jan
Jan vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Jan by state

Where Jan concentrates geographically, total births since 1911

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Jan
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 California
5,314 9.7%
#2 Texas
4,269 7.8%
#3 Illinois
2,764 5.1%
#4 New York
2,478 4.5%
#5 Michigan
2,465 4.5%
#6 Ohio
2,463 4.5%
#7 Pennsylvania
2,137 3.9%
#8 Georgia
1,835 3.4%
California share of Jan's total US births 9.7%
Even split

5,314 of 54,531 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 51 reporting states.

Jan appears in 51 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Jan? ▼
54,531 babies have been named Jan since 1911. It was last recorded in 2025. The peak year was 1956 with 3,201 births.
When was Jan most popular? ▼
Jan was most popular in the 1950s decade with 26,169 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
Where is Jan most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Jan are California (5,314 births), Texas (4,269 births), Illinois (2,764 births).
Is Jan a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Jan is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 54,531 births, and as a boy's name it has 22,403 births.
How long has the name Jan been used? ▼
Records for Jan go back to 1911, giving 115 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Jan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Janet, Janice, Jane, Janie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Jan's data

  • Jan's decade-level peak was the 1950s (26,169 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • California records the most Jans (5,314 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Jan

Nearby Names Like Jan

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Jan

Janet Girl
#2435 556,776 births
Janice Girl
#2250 406,448 births
Jane Girl
#269 379,876 births
Janie Girl
#1536 75,598 births
Janelle Girl
#776 56,881 births

Compare Jan side by side: Jan vs Janet Jan vs Janice Jan vs Jane

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Aimee #1472
54,685 births · Peak 1977
Johanna #848
54,247 births · Peak 1984
Muriel #3177
54,884 births · Peak 1922
Erma #7596
54,949 births · Peak 1920
Bernadette #1242
54,973 births · Peak 1958
Alejandra #578
54,015 births · Peak 1994
Gretchen #3463
53,799 births · Peak 1973
Lacey #745
53,774 births · Peak 1984

Data Sources

Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1911–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Jan: Baby Name Since 1911 - 54,531 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/jan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Jan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.