Boy Old Testament Rare

Janai

Janai

יַעֲנַי ya.a.nay

📌 Pin ⌥ Share

Janai (Hebrew: יַעֲנַי, ya.a.nay) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears once, at 1 Chronicles 5:12. In 2025 it was given to 47 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Around 3,193 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Joel in 1 Chronicles 5.

Merged person graphTIPNR + BibleData

The bearer in scripture

One person in scripture bears this name.

  1. Janai

    Divided Kingdom · tribe of Gad · 1 verse

TIPNR + BibleDataSSA · public domain

Scripture against society

The two measures, side by side

Concordance Depth Index 8.9 · rank 1,656
US usage today rank 3,645 · 47 births in 2025
1960 — 2025 · share per 100,000 births
TIPNR + BibleDataSTEPBible · CC BY

At a glance

Verses
1 across 1 book
Bearers
1 one person only
Testament
Old
Era
Divided Kingdom
Hapax
Yes occurs exactly once
SSA · public domainBirths in year

Using it today

Very unlikely to share a classroom with another.
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
MeasureValueReading
Given in 2025 47 Falling
All-time total3,193 Since records begin in 1880
Peak 118 in 2006 Its highest year on record
Strongest stateFL Highest share relative to births
Merged person graph1 verse pairs

In scripture

FactDetail
First appears1 Chronicles 5:12
Computed · A2/A3Rationale generated

Names connected to this one

  • Joel co-occurrence Appears with Joel in 1 Chronicles 5.
  • Shapham co-occurrence Appears with Shapham in 1 Chronicles 5.
  • Shaphat co-occurrence Appears with Shaphat in 1 Chronicles 5.

Origin & meaning

Strong's number H3285
Hebrew יַעֲנַי
Transliteration ya.a.nay

A man of the tribe of Gad living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.5.12
§ Jaanai = "whom Jehovah answers"
a chief man in the tribe of Gad

Janai was a leader from the tribe of Gad who settled in the region of Bashan.

The biblical story

Janai is mentioned in 1Ch.5.12 as one of the leaders from the tribe of Gad who settled in the region of Bashan, along with his fellow leaders Joel, Shapham, and Shaphat. The Gadites are described as mighty warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. They settled in the land of Gilead in Bashan, extending as far as Salecah, due to the abundance of pasture for their livestock. This settlement likely took place during the early period of Israel's history, after the conquest of Canaan and the allocation of tribal territories.

Key verses

Janai appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:

  1. Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

    1 Chronicles 5:12
Show all 1 reference

1 Chronicles (1)

  • 1 Chronicles 5:12