Janelle

Janelle is an English feminine name formed as an elaborated or extended variant of Jane, itself the English feminine form of John, which derives from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious. The -elle suffix, borrowed from French diminutive endings, lends the name a softer, more melodic quality and follows a productive English naming pattern seen in the mid-twentieth century. Janelle gained popularity particularly in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Related forms include Janel, Janell, and the simpler Jane.