Janet
Girl name · #2781 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Janet? In official American birth records, Janet has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 61 baby girls were named Janet, placing it at #2781 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1477, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 29,508 girls born in 2025 was named Janet.
The 145-year story
Janet first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 28 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1954, when 18,477 girls were named Janet — good for #19 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 Janet per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Janet against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Janet in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Janet is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Janet will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Janet is most common
State-level data for Janet 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 Janet
Statistically, parents drawn to Janet tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Janice, Jayne, Joanne, Joann, and Diane.
JaniceJayneJoanneJoannDianeJackieLornaMona
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Janet | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | #2778 |
| 2024 | 74 | #2434 |
| 2023 | 97 | #2020 |
| 2022 | 104 | #1918 |
| 2021 | 92 | #2071 |
| 2020 | 93 | #2005 |
| 2019 | 123 | #1700 |
| 2018 | 159 | #1406 |
| 2017 | 171 | #1353 |
| 2016 | 162 | #1425 |
| 2015 | 155 | #1477 |
| 2014 | 168 | #1376 |
| 2013 | 189 | #1260 |
| 2012 | 212 | #1158 |
| 2011 | 269 | #952 |
| 2010 | 298 | #889 |
| 2009 | 353 | #804 |
| 2008 | 415 | #717 |
| 2007 | 449 | #658 |
| 2006 | 523 | #561 |
| 2005 | 512 | #562 |
| 2004 | 672 | #452 |
| 2003 | 565 | #507 |
| 2002 | 630 | #456 |
| 2001 | 696 | #412 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Janet?
In official American birth records, the name Janet first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 28 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Janet a popular girl name?
Janet ranked #2781 among girls in 2025 with 61 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1477.
When was the name Janet most popular?
Janet peaked in 1954, when 18,477 American girls received the name (ranked #19 that year). Since 1954 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Janet?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 29,508 newborn American girls was named Janet. 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.