Janea is a unique and captivating female name of African origin. It is derived from the Swahili word "jane," which means "graceful." The name Janea is believed to have been coined by American author Zora Neale Hurston in her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," published in 1937. In the story, the protagonist's friend is named Janie, but Hurston later stated that she intended the character's name to be Janea. Although not widely recognized as a separate name, Janea has gained some popularity due to its association with this influential literary figure and its beautiful meaning.
The name Janea has seen a varied trend in its popularity over the past seven decades in the United States. Between 1953 and 2023, there were a total of 2010 births recorded for this name.
The first notable spike in popularity occurred between 1973 and 1979, with the number of births ranging from 36 to 46 each year. This period saw the highest frequency of the name Janea being given to newborns during these years.
From 1980 onwards, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name, with fewer than 50 births recorded annually until 1987 when it jumped up to 56 births. This trend continued, with fluctuations between 48 and 76 births per year until 2005.
After 2005, there was a significant drop in the popularity of the name Janea. From 2006 onwards, fewer than 50 births were recorded annually, with the exception of 2009 when it peaked at 45 births. Since then, the number of births has continued to decrease, reaching as low as 7 births in 2021 and 8 births in 2023.
This data illustrates how the popularity of a name can change significantly over time, with Janea experiencing periods of both high and low popularity throughout these seven decades.