Janice is a female given name of English origin. It was created as a diminutive of Jane, which itself is derived from the Latin personal name "Johanna," meaning "God is gracious" or "graced by God." The name Janice has been in use since the 19th century but gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century. It was particularly popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia during the 1940s to the 1960s. Today, it is considered a classic name that has maintained its popularity throughout the years.
The name Janice has been quite popular among parents in the United States for over a century, with its usage varying over time.
At the turn of the 20th century, Janice was a relatively rare name. Between 1894 and 1903, there were fewer than 50 births each year with the name Janice. However, the popularity of the name began to increase significantly in the early 1900s.
Between 1906 and 1929, the number of Janice births ranged from around 50 to nearly 2,000 per year, indicating a steady rise in popularity during this period. The peak of this trend occurred in 1937 when there were 8,711 births with the name Janice.
The popularity of the name Janice continued to grow throughout the mid-20th century, reaching its apex in 1951 with a total of 16,958 births. From this point forward, however, the usage of Janice began to decline.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the number of Janice births had fallen significantly, with fewer than 1,000 births each year. This downward trend continued throughout the remainder of the century and into the new millennium.
Since the turn of the 21st century, Janice has become increasingly rare as a given name in the United States. Between 2000 and 2023, there have been fewer than 500 births each year with the name Janice, with an average of approximately 178 births per year.
In total, between 1894 and 2023, there were 406,291 babies born in the United States with the name Janice. While its popularity has waned over time, it remains a name that has been shared by many throughout history.