UK girl's name
Janella
A feminine diminutive of Jane, meaning "little gracious one.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Janella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Janella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 5 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Janella. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Janella ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 5 girls were registered as Janella.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Janella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
5 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Janella mean?
The name Janella is believed to have its origins in the Latin language, derived from the feminine form of the name Januarius, which means "of January." This connection to the month of January suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals born or celebrated during that time of year in ancient Roman culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Janella can be found in medieval Italian documents, where it was used as a variant spelling of the name Gianella. This Italian form is thought to have evolved from the Latin name Johannella, which itself is a diminutive form of the name Johannes, meaning "God is gracious."
While the name Janella does not appear to be explicitly mentioned in ancient religious texts or historical records, its roots can be traced back to the widespread use of names derived from Johannes, which was a popular name among early Christians inspired by John the Baptist and John the Apostle.
One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the name Janella was Janella de' Bardi (c. 1300-1370), an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist from Florence. She was known for her charitable works and her support of the arts, including her patronage of the renowned painter Giotto di Bondone.
Another historical figure named Janella was Janella Torriani (1499-1568), an Italian Renaissance poet and author from Milan. Her works, which included sonnets and madrigals, were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and emotional depth.
In the 17th century, Janella Micheli (1610-1678) was a notable Italian botanist and naturalist from Florence. She contributed significantly to the study of plant taxonomy and is considered one of the pioneers of modern botany.
Janella Salgado (1759-1843) was a Spanish painter and printmaker from Seville. Her works, which often depicted religious and mythological themes, were highly regarded for their technical mastery and attention to detail.
Janella Crema (1869-1942) was an Italian opera singer and vocal teacher from Milan. She performed leading roles in operas across Europe and is remembered for her exceptional vocal range and expressive performances.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Janella, each contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and artistic traditions associated with this name of Latin and Italian origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Janella over time
The chart below shows babies named Janella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Janella, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Janella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Janella 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4843 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4096 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Janella
- Jessica 105,041
- Jasmine 35,227
- Jade 19,646
- Julia 11,780
- Jennifer 11,529
- Jodie 9,357
- Jemima 6,454
- Josephine 5,889
- Jessie 5,418
- Josie 5,284
- Jasmin 4,706
- Jenna 4,646
FAQ
Janella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Janella in the UK right now?
In 2024, Janella was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Janella most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 5 babies registered as Janella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Janella?
A feminine diminutive of Jane, meaning "little gracious one.".
How many people are called Janella in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Janella across the 2 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.