Janis is a feminine given name of Lithuanian origin, derived from the name Jane or Yana, which is ultimately derived from the Latin name Iohannes, meaning "God is gracious." It gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and was notably associated with Janis Joplin, an American rock singer-songwriter who became known as one of the premier female vocalists of her generation. However, it's important to note that this name does not have any specific association with festivals or personality traits related to those bearing this name.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Janis has seen a significant fluctuation in popularity over the past century in the United States.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1927 with 197 births that year. It continued to gain traction throughout the 1930s, with the number of births increasing each year until it peaked at 1128 births in 1945.
Interestingly, after World War II, the popularity of the name Janis began to decline. Between 1947 and 1965, there was a steady decrease in the number of babies named Janis, with only 345 births recorded in 1966.
Despite the decline, the name Janis remained relatively popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with an average of around 150 births per year. However, this number continued to drop in the following decades, reaching a low point of just 9 births in 2020.
In recent years, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Janis, with 23 births recorded in 2016 and 30 births in 2015. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues in the coming years.
Overall, while the name Janis may not be as popular as it once was, its fluctuating popularity over the past century reflects the ever-changing landscape of naming trends in the United States.