Dictionary

Janice en · PROPN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈd͡ʒænɪs/

Etymology

Variant of Jane under apparent influence from Alice, Bernice, Eunice, etc., from French Jeanne, from Middle French Jehanne, from Medieval Latin Johanna, variant of Latin Ioanna under influence from Latin Iōhannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννα (Iōánna), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָה (Yôḥānāh, literally “God is gracious”), the feminized form of יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān) which produced John and its many doublets. As a placeholder name, cf. similar use of John and Jack and earlier use of Joan in the same role. Doublet of Ivana, Jana, Janis, Jean, Jeanne, Jen, Joan, Joanna, Joanne, Johanna, Juana, Shavonne, Sian, Siobhan, Shane, Shaun, Shauna, and Sheena.

Meanings

1. A female given name.
   • "Now class," she said, "my name is Mrs. Chubbie. I know how most of you would like to pronounce it, but the correct pronunciation is Mrs. Shew-bay." "It's Jan-eece," the goth-girl says. "Pardon me?" Mrs Shew-bay asks very properly. "My name is pronounced Jan-eece. Not Janice." The whole class tries to stop from laughing out loud at this. "I've changed since last year. Janice is the name of some average, boring student. Do I look average to you?" 1999, Peter McPhee, Runner, →ISBN, pages 37–8:
   • "Yes, Mommy," answered Janice. Then she turned to her friend and asked, "Shall I wear my light chintz and kenton kerchief, or my purple and white striped Persian?" "Sufficiently smart for a country lass, Jan," cried her friend. 1899, Paul Leicester Ford, chapter I, in Janice Meredith:

Forms

Janice en · PROPN · etymology 2

Etymology

Possibly an altered spelling of Jannis; see Janes.

Meanings

1. A surname.

Forms