Jeannette is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the French name Jeanne, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Johanna or Johanne. The meaning of Jeannette is "God is gracious" or "graced by God". This name has been used throughout history and was particularly popular in France during the Middle Ages.
The most famous person named Jeannette is likely Joan of Arc, also known as the Maid of Orleans, who played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Born in the late 14th century, she claimed to have heard divine voices that told her to drive out the English occupiers from French soil. Despite being illiterate herself, Joan led an army of thousands and helped lift the siege of Orleans in 1429. She was later captured by the Burgundians who were allied with the English, and sadly burned at the stake on charges of heresy in 1431.
The name Jeannette has also been used in literature and art throughout history. For instance, French author Victor Hugo included a character named Jeannette in his novel "Les Misérables". In addition, American artist Norman Rockwell featured a girl named Jeannette in one of his paintings titled "Jeannette" from the 1950s.
Overall, while the name Jeannette may not be as widely used today as it once was, it still carries a rich history and meaning that continues to captivate people around the world.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Jeannette in the United States:
Between 1930 and 1969, a total of 49 babies were named Jeannette in the U.S., with the highest number of births recorded in 1940 at nine newborns.
The years with the most occurrences of the name were:
- 1930: 6 births
- 1932: 6 births
- 1935: 6 births
While these years saw an equal number of Jeannettes being born, there was a significant drop in popularity between 1942 and 1962:
- 1942: 6 births
- 1962: 5 births
The name regained some popularity in the late 1960s with six babies named Jeannette in 1969. These statistics demonstrate how the name's popularity fluctuated over time, with peaks and valleys throughout this period.
Despite these variations, it's clear that the name Jeannette has had a consistent, albeit modest, presence in the U.S. baby naming landscape from the early 1930s to the late 1960s.