Jan
Boy name · #2726 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jan? In official American birth records, Jan has been tracked continuously since 1902, giving it 123 years of documented American history.
Jan ranks #2726 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 47 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1677, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 boys born in 2025 was named Jan.
The 123-year story
Jan first appears in the Social Security records in 1902, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1954, when 768 boys were named Jan — good for #252 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Jan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jan is most common
State-level data for Jan is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Jan
Statistically, parents drawn to Jan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Van, Von, Allan, Ike, and Daron.
VanVonAllanIkeDaronTheronDanLoren
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #2718 |
| 2024 | 66 | #2190 |
| 2023 | 69 | #2113 |
| 2022 | 68 | #2150 |
| 2021 | 62 | #2253 |
| 2020 | 69 | #2046 |
| 2019 | 54 | #2464 |
| 2018 | 82 | #1838 |
| 2017 | 63 | #2154 |
| 2016 | 84 | #1799 |
| 2015 | 93 | #1677 |
| 2014 | 84 | #1781 |
| 2013 | 112 | #1468 |
| 2012 | 107 | #1498 |
| 2011 | 116 | #1425 |
| 2010 | 135 | #1284 |
| 2009 | 160 | #1143 |
| 2008 | 206 | #968 |
| 2007 | 189 | #1014 |
| 2006 | 279 | #758 |
| 2005 | 215 | #854 |
| 2004 | 235 | #774 |
| 2003 | 191 | #884 |
| 2002 | 175 | #917 |
| 2001 | 214 | #788 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jan?
In official American birth records, the name Jan first appeared in 1902 (over 123 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 123 years.
Is Jan a popular boy name?
Jan ranked #2726 among boys in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1677.
When was the name Jan most popular?
Jan peaked in 1954, when 768 American boys received the name (ranked #252 that year). Since 1954 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American boys was named Jan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.