UK girl's name
Jeni
Unusual English diminutive form of the feminine name Jennifer.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jeni is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Jeni popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 4 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1998 to 2023. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Jeni. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jeni ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 girls were registered as Jeni.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jeni as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
4 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Jeni mean?
The name Jeni is a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Jeniah, derived from the biblical name Jemimah. It has its origins in the Old Testament, where Jemimah is mentioned as one of the three beautiful daughters of Job. The name Jemimah is believed to mean "dove" or "pure" in Hebrew.
In the book of Job, Jemimah is described as being blessed with exceptional beauty and is regarded as a symbol of virtue and purity. This association with purity and innocence has carried over to the diminutive form, Jeni, which has been used as a given name in various cultures.
The earliest recorded use of the name Jeni can be traced back to the Middle Ages in certain European regions. One notable bearer of the name was Jeni of Treviso, an Italian nun and mystic who lived in the 14th century. She is known for her visions and spiritual writings, which were influential in her time.
Another historical figure with the name Jeni was Jeni Le Gon, a French poet and writer who lived in the 16th century. She was renowned for her romantic poetry and is considered one of the earliest female writers to gain recognition in France.
In the 19th century, Jeni Marvin Pattison was an American educator and author who wrote several books on teaching methods and education. She was a pioneer in the field of teacher training and her works were widely influential in the United States.
Jeni Lemond was a notable American painter and illustrator in the early 20th century. She was known for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, and her works were featured in various exhibitions and publications during her lifetime.
More recently, Jeni Britton Bauer is an American entrepreneur and chef, best known for founding the popular ice cream company Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Her innovative flavors and commitment to using high-quality ingredients have earned her widespread recognition in the culinary world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jeni over time
The chart below shows babies named Jeni registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jeni, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jeni by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jeni 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 | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3876 | 8 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3142 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Jeni
- 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
Jeni: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jeni in the UK right now?
In 2023, Jeni was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jeni most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Jeni in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jeni?
Unusual English diminutive form of the feminine name Jennifer.
How many people are called Jeni in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Jeni across the 5 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.