Jehan is a male given name of French origin. It is derived from the Hebrew name John, which means "God is gracious" or "God has shown favor." In France, Jehan was a common form of the name John during the Middle Ages.
The name Jehan is most famously associated with the French poet François Villon, who wrote under the pseudonym of Jean le Fou (Jean the Mad). Villon's most famous work, the Testament, was written in the 15th century and is considered one of the masterpieces of French literature. In the Testament, Villon refers to himself as Jehan.
Today, Jehan is still used as a given name in France and other French-speaking countries. It has also been adopted by some English speakers who are drawn to its unique sound and historical significance. While it may not be as widely used as John or Jean, Jehan remains a distinctive and meaningful choice for parents seeking a unique name with a rich history.
Jehan is a unique and distinctive name that has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1976 and 2019, there were a total of 347 babies born with the first name Jehan.
The year with the highest number of births for this name was 1988, with a notable 27 newborns named Jehan. This is quite an impressive figure considering the overall low popularity of the name throughout these years. Interestingly, there were also two periods where the name gained some traction: between 1980 and 1985, where it consistently maintained around 9 to 15 births per year, and more recently from 2016 onwards, with 9 births each in 2016 and 2018.
It is worth noting that there were several years where the name Jehan was barely heard, with only 5 or fewer babies receiving this name. These include 1984, 1990 to 1993, 1995, 2002, and every year from 2005 to 2015 except for 2008 and 2016.
Despite its fluctuations in popularity, the name Jehan carries a certain charm that has appealed to parents over these decades. With a total of 347 births since 1976, it is clear that this name has made its mark on American culture, even if only for a select few each year.