Here’s Why Jeans Are Called Jeans

From the purpose of those little metal buttons to the reason for that fifth pocket, there are a lot of little-known facts about your beloved denim.

But have you ever wondered why they’re actually called jeans?

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According to Hello Giggles, the name is rooted in history. Jeans were invented in the 19th century in the French town of Nimes. In French, the fabric that jeans are made from is called Serge. Thus, they were referred to as Serge de Nimes, meaning, the cloth of Nimes — or denim for short.

OK, so that explains denim — but what about jeans?

Denim became extremely popular in Europe, and some of the biggest fans were sailors from Genoa, Italy. Whenever they were in France, they would buy their denim in bulk. The pants were so popular with the sailors, that the material quickly took on a nickname that paid tribute to the Genoa sailors: jeans.