Jan

Jan is an established form of John in several European languages, including Dutch, Czech, Polish, and German. It ultimately comes from the Hebrew name meaning God is gracious. In these traditions Jan is commonly a boy's name, often pronounced with an initial sound like the English y.

English-speaking families also use Jan as a girl's name or as a short form of names such as Janet and Janice. That use often rhymes with can, giving the same spelling a different spoken form. Both histories are genuine, so a person's own pronunciation and family context are more informative than assuming one gender or sound from the spelling alone.