"God is gracious"
Origin: Hebrew via Latin and French
Language: English
Janice
Pronunciation: [ j-AN-uhs ]
Does Janice flow with your last name?
Graceful mid-century classic ready for rediscovery
American
English
Australian
Vintage
Classic
Traditional
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Janice
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Janice
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Janice
See all →What the Janice report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Janice the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Janice
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Janice head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Janice actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated with the Friends character Janice Litman-Goralnik, known for her nasal laugh — this association is inescapable for millennials and Gen Z
The Story of Janice
Janice is an English elaboration of Jane, itself derived from the Old French Jehanne, from the Latin Iohannes, from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious. The -ice suffix (as in Candice, Bernice) was fashionable in English naming from the late 19th through mid-20th century, giving classic names a more feminine, elaborate feel.
Janice was extremely popular in the United States and UK from the 1930s through 1960s, peaking around the 1950s. Its association with that era has made it feel dated to younger parents, though it may be due for a retro revival as grandparent names come back into fashion.
Janice represents the naming trends of mid-20th century America, when -ice and -ine endings were fashionable feminine suffixes. Rock legend Janis Joplin (a variant spelling) gave the name a countercultural edge in the 1960s.
Historical Record
Janice first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 222,917 babies have been named Janice in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Janice is past its peak , currently ranked #2,252 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Janis Joplin (1943-1970) was ranked the 46th greatest artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine
- The Friends character Janice, famous for saying Oh my God and her distinctive laugh, is one of the most memorable recurring TV characters of the 1990s
Janice in Other Languages
French
Janice
German
Janice
English
Janice
Spanish
Janice
Popularity Over Time
#2,252
Current Rank
Peaked 1951
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Janice
J
Janis Joplin
Musician
1943
American rock and blues singer considered one of the greatest vocalists in rock history, known for Piece of My Heart
J
Janice Litman-Goralnik Fictional
Other
Recurring character from the TV sitcom Friends (1994-2004), famous for her nasal Oh my God catchphrase
Names You Might Also Love
See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,252
- Total SSA Count
- 83
- Cultural Origins
- American English Australian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Jan
Janie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Janice
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Janice fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Janice is also used as a boy name, ranked #31553.
View Janice as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Janice →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Janice with...
Same Origin Names (American)
See all American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Janice
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Janice and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Janice sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Weslie
Girl
Old English origin
"west meadow"
#2,256 in US
Mona
Girl
Italian origin
"my lady (title)"
#2,220 in US
Tinley
Girl
Old English surname origin
"Tinsley's field or meadow"
#2,356 in US
Elliette
Girl
Hebrew origin
"my God is Yahweh"
#2,079 in US
Zaliyah
Girl
Arabic origin
"ascending, rising above"
#2,210 in US
Reverie
Girl
Old French rever origin
"state of dreamy meditation"
#2,292 in US
Lillith
Girl
Hebrew origin
"screech owl (ancient folk etymology)"
#2,224 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Janice's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Janice
What does the name Janice mean?
"God is gracious" (from Hebrew via Latin and French). Janice is an English elaboration of Jane, itself derived from the Old French Jehanne, from the Latin Iohannes, from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning God is gracious. The -ice suffix (as in Candice, Bernice) was fashionable in English naming from the late 19th through mid-20th century, giving classic names a more feminine, elaborate feel.
What is the origin of the name Janice?
Janice has Hebrew via Latin and French, American, English, and Australian origins. In Hebrew via Latin and French, it means "God is gracious".
Is Janice a boy or girl name?
Janice is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2252. As a boy name, it is ranked #31553. Janice is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Janice?
Janice is pronounced j-AN-uhs.
How popular is the name Janice?
Janice is currently ranked #2252 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Janice?
Common nicknames for Janice include Jan and Janie.
What are good middle names for Janice?
Popular middle name pairings include Janice Marie, Janice Louise, Janice Ann, Janice Kay, Janice Lynn, Janice Lee, and Janice Claire.
What are good sibling names for Janice?
Names that pair well with Janice as siblings include Donna, Carol, Linda, Dennis, Gary, and Michael.
How many syllables does Janice have?
Janice has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Janice a common or rare name?
Janice is an uncommon name, ranked #2252 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Janice?
About the Name Janice
Janice is a girl name with American, English, and Australian origins . The name means "God is gracious" in Hebrew via Latin and French .
Is Janice a boy or girl name? Janice is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,252 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #31,553. Janice is more commonly used as a girl name.
Janice is currently ranked #2,252 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Janice has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-AN-uhs, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Janice include Jan and Janie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Janice include Janiyah, Janie, Janiya, Janiah, Jania . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew via Latin and French Names
Browse all names with this origin
J
Names Starting with J
More girl names like Janice
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis