Janne is a common given name in the Nordic countries and Estonia. In Denmark, Norway and Estonia it is considered a feminine name (a short form of Johanne), while in Sweden and Finland it is considered masculine. In Sweden and Finland it is often used as a nickname for people with related (male) names based on Johannes such as Jan, JeanorJohan.[1]
The name's origins lie in the ancient Hebrew names Yohanah/Yohanan (feminine/masculine), meaning "Yahweh (God) is gracious". The name spread to Greece along with Christianity, and became Ioanna/Ioannes. In the original, Greek version of the Bible both John the Baptist and John the apostle are referred to as "Ioannes", and the feminine version of the name appears in "Ioanna, the wife of Chuza". The names then, through Latin Vulgate, became Joanna/Johanna/Johanne (feminine), and Johannes (masculine).
As the names spread through Europe along with Christianity, a number of simplified derivatives appeared, resulting in the large family of names to which Janne belongs: Johanna, John, Jan, Joan, Jahn, Johan, Juan, Jane, Jean (male) and Jean (female), Jeanne, Jonas, Janusz, Hannes, Hans and so forth.
A selection of people carrying the name (or nickname):
