Jeanine is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the French word "jeune," which means "young." The name has been popular in France for centuries and has also gained recognition internationally, particularly in Canada and some European countries.
The name Jeanine does not have a specific meaning beyond its derivation from the French word for young. However, it has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. For instance, Jeanine Boitard was a famous French opera singer during the 19th century, while Jeanine Aime-Morrison was an American actress who appeared in several Hollywood films in the mid-20th century.
The name Jeanine has also been used as a literary character in various works. In Marcel Proust's seminal novel "In Search of Lost Time," there is a character named Jeanine who plays a significant role in the narrative. Additionally, Jeanine appears as a protagonist in the 1958 French novel "The Plague" by Albert Camus.
Despite its historical and literary significance, Jeanine remains relatively uncommon compared to other names of French origin, such as Marie or Anne. Nevertheless, it continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its unique sound and French heritage. Today, Jeanine is more commonly found in Francophone countries but can also be encountered in English-speaking nations where there is a significant French influence.
Based on the provided statistics, we can analyze the popularity of the name Jeanine over time in the United States.
The earliest data point is from 1916 with only 10 births that year. The number of births increased slowly over the next few years, reaching 68 births in 1928 and peaking at 850 births in 1960. This suggests that Jeanine was not a very popular name early on but gained popularity during the mid-20th century.
The peak period for Jeanine seems to be between 1952 and 1970, with a significant number of babies named Jeanine born each year. During this time, the name reached its highest point of popularity, with over 700 births per year from 1959 to 1964.
However, after reaching its peak in the late 1960s, the popularity of Jeanine began to decline steadily. By the 1980s and 1990s, there were fewer than 300 births per year on average, indicating that Jeanine had become less popular as a baby name.
This downward trend continued into the 21st century, with fewer than 50 births per year occurring from 2000 onwards. The most recent data point shows only 12 births in 2023.
In conclusion, while Jeanine was once a popular girl's name in the United States during the mid-20th century, it has since declined in popularity and is now relatively uncommon. Over time, there have been a total of 23,790 babies named Jeanine born in the U.S., according to these statistics.