Jean is a masculine given name of French origin and Hebrew meaning. It translates to "God is gracious" in English. The name Jean is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means "Yahweh has been gracious." In French, the name evolved from Jehan, which was used during the Middle Ages.
The name Jean has a long history and has been used by many notable figures throughout time. Some famous bearers of this name include Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher and writer; Jean-Paul Sartre, an influential French philosopher and existentialist; and Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American artist known for his graffiti art and Neo-expressionism.
In the English-speaking world, Jean is often used interchangeably with John, as both names have similar origins and meanings. However, Jean tends to be more commonly associated with French culture and heritage. The name Jean was particularly popular in France during the 19th century but has since declined in usage. Despite this, Jean remains a classic choice for parents looking for a traditional yet distinctive name for their son.
In literature and art, Jean has been used as a character name in various works, such as "Jean Valjean" from Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables and "Jean Brodie" from Muriel Spark's novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. These fictional characters have further popularized the name Jean and contributed to its enduring appeal.
In summary, Jean is a classic French masculine given name with Hebrew origins that translates to "God is gracious." Throughout history, notable figures such as philosophers, writers, and artists have borne this name, which has also been used prominently in literature and art. Although its usage has declined over time in France, Jean remains an attractive choice for parents seeking a traditional yet distinctive name for their son.
Based on the statistical data provided, we can observe several trends regarding the number of births with the given name Jean in the United States over time:
From the late 19th century (1880) to the early mid-20th century (around 1950), the annual number of births named Jean fluctuated quite a bit. The lowest point was in 1881 with only 9 births, while the highest point during this period was in 1896 with 27 births.
After World War II (around 1945), there was an increase in popularity for the name Jean, reaching its peak in 1965 and 1966 with 201 and 207 births respectively. This trend continued until around 1970 when it began to decline.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the popularity of the name Jean stabilized somewhat, with an average of about 250-300 births per year. However, there was a notable spike in 1990 with 357 births.
Since the turn of the century (2000), the name Jean has experienced a steady decrease in popularity among parents choosing names for their newborns. In 2020 and 2021, only 108 and 122 babies named Jean were born respectively, marking a significant drop from previous decades.
In conclusion, while the name Jean was once quite popular during certain periods, its overall popularity has declined in recent years, with fewer than 200 births per year since around 2010.