The name Janeiro is of Portuguese origin and means "January" in English. It is derived from the Latin word "ianuarius," which itself comes from the Latin god Janus, who was known as the god of beginnings and gates. In Roman culture, January was considered the first month of the year.
In Portugal, Janeiro has been used as a given name since at least the 16th century. It was typically given to boys born in January or as a way to honor Saint Januarius, a Christian martyr who is celebrated on January 19th.
Over time, Janeiro has become more commonly associated with Brazil due to its largest city, Rio de Janeiro, which translates to "January River" in English. The name of the city originates from the Portuguese prince Juan de Santo Alberto, who founded it in 1565 and named it after the month of his discovery of the bay on January 1st.
Today, Janeiro is still used as a given name in Portugal and Brazil, but it is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world. It remains a unique and distinctive name with a rich historical significance behind it.
"The name Janeiro has been a rare choice for babies born in the United States, with only six births recorded in the year 1974. Over time, this number has remained consistently low, indicating that the name is not widely popular among parents in the U.S."