NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Janell

A feminine name of English origin, a combination of Jane and Nell.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Janell is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Janell popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 5 births.

This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2004 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Janell. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Janell ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 5 girls were registered as Janell.
  • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Janell as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5591

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2008

5 births

Estimated living

24

2026

Meaning

What does Janell mean?

The name Janell is believed to have its origins in the French language, derived from the name Janelle, which itself is a feminine form of the name Jean. Jean is a French variant of the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Graced by God" or "God is gracious."

The name Janell is thought to have gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in France and other parts of Western Europe. It was often used as a diminutive or pet form of the name Janelle, serving as a more informal and affectionate version.

While there are no definitive historical references or appearances of the name Janell in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is likely that the name followed a similar trajectory to its parent name, Jean, which has a long and well-documented history dating back to biblical times.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Janell can be found in the 16th century, when it was used as a female given name in France. However, it remained relatively uncommon until the 20th century when it gained broader popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Janell, including:

1. Janell Burse Comisionado (born 1961), an American businesswoman and entrepreneur, co-founder of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

2. Janell Cannon (born 1957), an American author and illustrator of children's books, best known for her work "Stellaluna."

3. Janell Kempadoo (born 1980), a Guyanese-British actress known for her roles in TV series like "EastEnders" and "Doctors."

4. Janell Stephens (born 1956), an American R&B singer and songwriter, known for her work with the group Chanteuse.

5. Janell Mayo (born 1977), an American actress and model, best known for her role in the TV series "Family Time."

These individuals, spanning various fields and time periods, have helped to establish and perpetuate the name Janell, contributing to its continued use and recognition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Janell over time

The chart below shows babies named Janell registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Janell, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Janell
01345200420112019

Decades

Janell by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Janell was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #5488 16 5
2000s #4229 8 2

Related

Names similar to Janell

FAQ

Janell: questions and answers

How popular is the name Janell in the UK right now?

In 2019, Janell was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Janell most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 5 babies registered as Janell in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Janell?

A feminine name of English origin, a combination of Jane and Nell.

How many people are called Janell in the UK?

A total of 24 babies have been registered as Janell across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.