Origin and Meaning of the Jeanie

Jeanie is the feminine derivative of the French root name Jean. Jean, as a forename, was originally a loosely translated Hebrew variation of the name John, meaning God is Gracious. It was from this Hebrew translation that Jean passed into Latin and then into Old French vernacular. One of the colloquial Old French variations took on feminine characteristics to become the forename of Jehane. It was this version that moved into the Scottish vocabulary and eventually transformed into Jeanie and remains one of the modern variations.

Popularity

From data released by the Scottish Government, Jeanie was not in the top 100 most popular baby girl’s name in Scotland in 2012.

Famous Scots Called Jeanie

There are a couple of famous Scottish individuals, including literary heroines that have the name Jeanie. Portrayed as a virtuous and upstanding woman in a Sir Walter Scott novel, Jeanie Deans is a famous character from Scottish literature. In the ballad Bonnie Jeanie Cameron, she is a hero of the Jacobite uprising. While there is some speculation as to the actual existence of Jeanie Cameron, her name still remains part of Scottish folklore and history. The forename Jeanie is also famous as a tall ship in Canada and a name of a famous Australian actress. The name even exists in American pop culture due to the television show, I Dream of Jeannie, a slight alteration.

Useful Resources

• Our extensive list of Scottish girls’ names.
• Don’t miss out on these great  offers on baby products.