Jeni
Jeni was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 1122nd; the most babies were born in 1982 (123). More babies were named Jeni in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Jenny) pet form of Janet or Jennifer · English, Hebrew, Welsh
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1982123 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,856babies recorded
What does the name Jeni mean?
Jeni is a spelling of Jenny, pronounced the same way, so it shares Jenny's meaning and origin.
Jenny was historically a pet form of Janet and Jane, and now more often of Jennifer, as Wiktionary notes. Jane and Janet come from Johanna, the feminine of John (Hebrew 'YHWH is gracious'); Jennifer is the Cornish form of Guinevere, from Welsh gwen 'white, fair'. The Swedish singer Jenny Lind's American tour of 1850 made the name very popular.
יוֹחָנָן (Yoḥanan) (Biblical Hebrew, “YHWH is gracious”)gwen (Welsh, “white, fair”)
How sure is this? Well established. Which full name a Jenny comes from varies.
Related names: Jennifer, Jane, Janet, Jen, Jenna.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jenny', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Joan', DMNES (Durham University)
Jeni popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #16,191 | 5 |
| 2010 | #10,077 | 11 |
| 2000 | #5,054 | 23 |
| 1990 | #2,710 | 43 |
| 1980 | #1,519 | 78 |
| 1970 | #1,521 | 65 |
| 1960 | #1,706 | 44 |
| 1950 | #3,533 | 10 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Jeni, counting every spelling?
Jeni is a spelling of Jenny, a name family that ranked #1,013 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 234 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Jeni?
About 2,600 people born in the US named Jeni are alive today, with a median age of 47; half are between 39 and 55. That makes Jeni mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jeni by state
How common Jeni was among girls born in each state in 1980–1984, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (5.6×), Washington (2.8×). In 36 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jeni: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jeni, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Jeni
What does Jeni mean?
Jeni is a spelling of Jenny, which means “pet form of Janet or Jennifer” (English, Hebrew, Welsh origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Jeni?
Jeni was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 1122nd; the most babies were born in 1982 (123). More babies were named Jeni in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Jeni a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Jeni in the US.
Where was Jeni most popular?
In 1980–1984, Jeni was most common in Utah (0.32 per 1,000 girls), followed by Washington and Oklahoma.