Janet

Janet is an English diminutive of Jane, itself the feminine form of John, which traces back through Latin Iohannes and Greek Ioannes to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning God is gracious. The diminutive suffix -et was commonly applied to women's names in medieval English and Scottish usage, giving Janet particular currency in Scotland, where it was long treated as a distinct name in its own right. The name was widespread throughout the English-speaking world by the twentieth century, borne by figures such as the American politician Janet Reno and the singer Janet Jackson. Related forms include Jane, Jean, Joan, Janette, and the Scottish pet form Jenny.