Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1979

Janell

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #6,418
Rank 2025
#6,418
among girls · ↓2,347 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
18
named Janell · -50% vs 2024
How common
1 in 89,293
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1979
421 babies
All-time total
15,756
#1,245 all-time among girls
First recorded
1914
in Social Security records

Janell popularity over time

15,756 babies have been named Janell since 1914, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s 35 – 35 4 – #3,376
1920s 296 – 296 30 +746% #752
1930s 601 – 601 60 +103% #714
1940s 1,031 – 1,031 103 +72% #642
1950s 2,034 – 2,034 203 +97% #548
1960s 2,537 – 2,537 254 +25% #563
1970s 2,852 5 2,857 286 +13% #490
1980s 2,756 13 2,769 277 -3% #549
1990s 1,732 – 1,732 173 -37% #866
2000s 1,128 5 1,133 113 -35% #1,462
2010s 569 – 569 57 -50% #2,064
2020s (to 2025) 162 – 162 27 -53% #3,806

The story of Janell

Janell is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,418 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1914, 15,756 American babies have been named Janell. Its peak came in 1979, when 421 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Janell stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Janell?

The median living Janell is about 47 years old; half are between 35 and 61. An estimated 14 thousand people named Janell are alive in the United States today.

median 47 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Janell year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 18 #6,418 – –
2024 36 #4,071 – –
2023 20 #6,050 – –
2022 23 #5,536 – –
2021 27 #4,896 – –
2020 38 #3,806 – –
2019 40 #3,747 – –
2018 32 #4,401 – –
2017 37 #4,027 – –
2016 42 #3,675 – –
2015 44 #3,555 – –
2014 54 #3,094 – –
2013 59 #2,880 – –
2012 77 #2,411 – –
2011 88 #2,166 – –
2010 96 #2,064 – –
2009 131 #1,700 – –
2008 123 #1,788 – –
2007 119 #1,795 – –
2006 117 #1,778 – –
2005 85 #2,171 – –
2004 120 #1,622 – –
2003 94 #1,932 5 #11,653
2002 111 #1,658 – –
2001 102 #1,756 – –
2000 126 #1,462 – –
1995 147 #1,173 – –
1990 227 #866 – –
1985 260 #686 5 #6,988
1980 340 #549 – –
1975 298 #563 – –
1970 274 #621 – –
1965 286 #563 – –
1960 234 #665 – –
1955 199 #663 – –
1950 158 #677 – –
1945 80 #846 – –
1940 83 #775 – –
1935 70 #817 – –
1930 30 #1,417 – –
1925 23 #1,819 – –
1920 18 #2,118 – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Janell, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Janell?

The median living Janell is about 47 years old. Half of all living Janells are between 35 and 61 years old.

How many people named Janell are alive today?

An estimated 14 thousand people named Janell are alive in the United States, based on 15,756 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Janell in 2025?

Janell ranked #6,418 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Janell?

15,756 babies have been named Janell in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Janell most popular?

Janell peaked in 1979, when 421 newborns received the name.

Is Janell a boy or girl name?

Janell is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Janell rising or falling?

Janell is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Janell

Names that sound and feel close to Janell: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Janell with similar names → More names starting with J →