Jeanie is a feminine given name of English origin. It is essentially a diminutive form of the name Jane or Jeanne. The name Jane is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, which means "grace." Therefore, Jeanie also carries the meaning of "graceful" or "graced by God."
The name Jane has been popular throughout history, particularly in England. It was borne by several historical figures, such as Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI, and Jane Austen, the renowned English novelist. The name Jeanne is similarly prominent in French history, notably with Joan of Arc.
The use of Jeanie as an independent given name is a more recent phenomenon. It gained popularity during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, often used as a pet form or a playful alternative to Jane or Jeanne. However, it has since fallen out of fashion and is now considered somewhat old-fashioned.
Today, Jeanie is not widely used as a given name but may still be encountered occasionally, particularly among older generations. It could also make a unique choice for parents looking for a distinctive yet classic name for their daughter.
Here are some fascinating statistics about the name Jeanie in the United States:
Over a span of 141 years (from 1882 to 2023), there have been a total of 17,109 babies named Jeanie born in the U.S. This demonstrates that the name has remained popular and relevant throughout different eras.
Looking at the data year by year reveals interesting trends:
* The name's popularity peaked during the post-World War II baby boom era. Between 1946 and 1953, there were an average of approximately 428 births per year with Jeanie as the first name.
* In contrast, recent years have seen a significant decrease in the number of newborn girls named Jeanie. Since 2008, the annual number of births has been less than 30 on average, with some years dropping as low as single digits.
* The most popular year for the name was 1957, with 499 babies named Jeanie born that year.
* On the other hand, 2023 saw only 11 births registered for girls named Jeanie up to this point.
These statistics highlight the evolution of naming trends over time and provide insight into how the name Jeanie has remained relatively consistent in popularity throughout American history.