January

The name January is the English variant of Januaria or Januarius.

What does the name January mean?

Originally, the first name January was given to newborns who were born in the month of January. Translated, it means 'the one born in January', 'January', or 'the doorkeeper'. This refers to the Latin word Iānus, which encompasses terms like 'arcade', 'covered passage', 'door', and 'entrance'. The name may also be derived from the Roman god Janus, who represents doors and entrances. January is considered the first month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars as well as in ancient Roman mythology. The name gained recognition through actress January Jones, who was named after a fictional character. Since the 17th century, the name has occasionally been used, presumably as a derivation from the surname Januar.

Where does the name January come from?

The origin of the name January is Latin and is suitable for both women and men. The name derives from Iānus or Iānŭārĭus, which means 'the one born in January'. The Latin terms refer to 'arcade', 'covered passage', 'door', and 'entrance', while 'january' in Old English stands for 'January'.

How do you pronounce January?

Dschä-nuh-ri

When is the name day of January?

The name day for January is celebrated on September 19.

Popularity

In Germany, January is considered a rare first name. In 2015, it ranked 4,092nd on the list of the most common female first names. Over the last ten years, the name has been given less than ten times and ranks 9,317th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it is placed 11,574th. Information on the global popularity and frequency of January shows its rankings in the name charts of various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Jani

Famous people

• January Jones (actress)