Jeannette

Jeannette is a feminine given name of French origin. It is a diminutive form of Jeanne, the French version of Jane or Joan, which itself derives from the Latin Ioannes, meaning “God is gracious.” The suffix -ette signals a diminutive or affectionate form, so Jeannette can be understood as “little Jeanne” or “little John.”

Used in English-speaking contexts since the 19th century, Jeannette has many spellings, including Jeanette, Jeanetta, Janette, and Jeannie. The name has been borne by several notable figures and appears in various cultural contexts, sometimes as a given name in fiction or as a place name.

Notable people named Jeannette include Jeannette Rankin, American politician and pacifist; Jeannette Winterson, British writer; Jeannette Walls, American journalist and author; and Jeannette Ridlon Piccard, American aviator and explorer.

Jeannette is also the name of a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In addition to its use as a given name, Jeannette appears in variants such as Jeanette and Jeannie, which share the same etymological roots.