Fun Facts About the Name Jack
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 756,879 boys named Jack from 1880 through 2025.
- Back among the favorites: Jack returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 30 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 759 thousand babies named Jack: U.S. records list 759,613 babies given the name Jack from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,734 girls received the name Jack - about 1 girl for every 277 boys.
What Does the Name Jack Mean?
Jack is an English masculine name that began as a pet form of John. Its established meaning is "God is gracious," from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), which combines a shortened form of the divine name YHWH with chanan, "to be gracious." John came into English through Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. Jack does not come directly from Hebrew; it is a Middle English diminutive of John, formed from Jan (a Middle English form of John) plus the diminutive suffix -kin, giving Jankin, which became Jackin and then Jack.
When Jack is used as a nickname for James, it borrows that name's meaning, "supplanter," but this is a separate conventional use, not the source of Jack's own etymology. The primary and historical meaning of Jack is the meaning of John.
Jack Name History & Origins
The name appears in Middle English as Jakke and Jacke, pet forms of Jankin, a diminutive of Jan. The suffix -kin was a common Middle English diminutive ending, also found in names such as Wilkin (from William) and Simkin (from Simon). In the late Middle Ages, Jack was widely used as a generic name for a man, especially a common man. This generic sense produced phrases such as "every Jack shall have his Jill" and "Jack of all trades," and it also gave English the common noun jack for a device or laborer, as in jackknife and jack-o'-lantern.
As a given name, Jack was long used as a familiar form of John, and it became an independent name in its own right. It was common in England by the late Middle Ages and continued in use as both a nickname and a given name. In Scotland, the related form Jock developed as a vernacular form of John. The name Jack appears in folklore and literature - such as the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk," the figure Jack Frost, and the nursery rhyme "Jack and Jill" - but these are later uses of an already common name, not its origin. Jack is also sometimes used as a nickname for James, likely because the French form Jacques sounds similar, but that association does not change Jack's derivation from John.
How Popular is the Name Jack?
Jack has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 114 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1996 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,886 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #11,479 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #8,225 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #11,613 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #7,405 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #7,713 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #7,892 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #11,847 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #11,054 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #9,677 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #15,245 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,347 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #13,738 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #10,747 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #17,858 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #14,054 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #8,620 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #8,280 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #7,872 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #6,217 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #9,714 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #4,858 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #7,736 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #8,004 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #8,987 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #12,303 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #9,806 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #8,214 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #11,289 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #12,419 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #14,290 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #14,252 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #9,820 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #8,872 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #10,105 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #6,417 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #4,731 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #9,998 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #5,789 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #7,649 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #4,005 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1982 | #5,032 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #7,653 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #5,341 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #4,296 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #4,140 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #4,503 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #4,440 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #7,443 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #6,462 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #5,316 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #3,616 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #4,921 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #3,771 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #3,370 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #3,868 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #3,732 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #4,633 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #2,628 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1964 | #3,769 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #3,516 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #3,492 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #3,105 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #3,265 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #3,027 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #3,619 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #3,203 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #3,234 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #2,885 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,547 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1953 | #2,866 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #3,937 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,420 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #2,711 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #2,170 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1948 | #2,753 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #2,062 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1946 | #2,052 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #2,015 | 18 | 0.0014% |
| 1944 | #1,884 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1943 | #1,721 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1942 | #1,780 | 23 | 0.0017% |
| 1941 | #1,627 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1940 | #1,813 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,316 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1938 | #1,191 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1937 | #1,471 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1936 | #1,661 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1935 | #1,107 | 40 | 0.0038% |
| 1934 | #1,064 | 43 | 0.0041% |
| 1933 | #942 | 53 | 0.0053% |
| 1932 | #992 | 51 | 0.0048% |
| 1931 | #729 | 85 | 0.0080% |
| 1930 | #748 | 88 | 0.0078% |
| 1929 | #778 | 81 | 0.0073% |
| 1928 | #723 | 96 | 0.0083% |
| 1927 | #807 | 82 | 0.0069% |
| 1926 | #793 | 84 | 0.0071% |
| 1925 | #763 | 95 | 0.0078% |
| 1924 | #865 | 75 | 0.0060% |
| 1923 | #944 | 61 | 0.0051% |
| 1922 | #912 | 65 | 0.0054% |
| 1921 | #965 | 59 | 0.0048% |
| 1920 | #942 | 60 | 0.0050% |
| 1919 | #960 | 55 | 0.0049% |
| 1918 | #1,195 | 40 | 0.0035% |
| 1917 | #991 | 50 | 0.0046% |
| 1916 | #1,074 | 43 | 0.0041% |
| 1915 | #1,129 | 37 | 0.0038% |
| 1914 | #1,358 | 22 | 0.0029% |
| 1913 | #1,330 | 19 | 0.0030% |
| 1912 | #1,195 | 20 | 0.0036% |
| 1911 | #1,593 | 10 | 0.0024% |
| 1910 | #1,185 | 15 | 0.0038% |
| 1908 | #1,967 | 6 | 0.0018% |
| 1907 | #1,934 | 6 | 0.0019% |
| 1906 | #1,833 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1905 | #1,800 | 6 | 0.0021% |
| 1904 | #1,417 | 8 | 0.0029% |
| 1902 | #1,169 | 10 | 0.0038% |
| 1900 | #2,064 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1899 | #1,229 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1896 | #1,699 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1895 | #1,499 | 6 | 0.0026% |
| 1890 | #1,418 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1889 | #1,377 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #15 | 8,748 | 0.5122% |
| 2024 | #15 | 8,434 | 0.4917% |
| 2023 | #14 | 8,710 | 0.5098% |
| 2022 | #15 | 8,930 | 0.5119% |
| 2021 | #11 | 9,563 | 0.5470% |
| 2020 | #21 | 8,942 | 0.5184% |
| 2019 | #19 | 9,402 | 0.5243% |
| 2018 | #28 | 8,892 | 0.4898% |
| 2017 | #35 | 8,477 | 0.4581% |
| 2016 | #38 | 8,430 | 0.4443% |
| 2015 | #40 | 8,513 | 0.4443% |
| 2014 | #41 | 8,753 | 0.4558% |
| 2013 | #40 | 8,577 | 0.4535% |
| 2012 | #46 | 7,940 | 0.4186% |
| 2011 | #45 | 8,184 | 0.4310% |
| 2010 | #45 | 8,520 | 0.4441% |
| 2009 | #42 | 9,029 | 0.4553% |
| 2008 | #39 | 9,897 | 0.4852% |
| 2007 | #38 | 10,671 | 0.5142% |
| 2006 | #36 | 10,837 | 0.5273% |
| 2005 | #34 | 10,905 | 0.5460% |
| 2004 | #42 | 9,580 | 0.4827% |
| 2003 | #45 | 9,317 | 0.4717% |
| 2002 | #44 | 9,000 | 0.4636% |
| 2001 | #48 | 8,149 | 0.4194% |
| 2000 | #46 | 8,123 | 0.4136% |
| 1999 | #52 | 7,386 | 0.3847% |
| 1998 | #61 | 6,376 | 0.3336% |
| 1997 | #76 | 4,984 | 0.2644% |
| 1996 | #89 | 4,245 | 0.2241% |
| 1995 | #110 | 3,450 | 0.1812% |
| 1994 | #127 | 2,781 | 0.1439% |
| 1993 | #143 | 2,424 | 0.1236% |
| 1992 | #155 | 2,070 | 0.1036% |
| 1991 | #166 | 1,949 | 0.0965% |
| 1990 | #166 | 1,837 | 0.0894% |
| 1989 | #178 | 1,717 | 0.0858% |
| 1988 | #171 | 1,654 | 0.0864% |
| 1987 | #164 | 1,656 | 0.0887% |
| 1986 | #175 | 1,522 | 0.0826% |
| 1985 | #176 | 1,523 | 0.0824% |
| 1984 | #173 | 1,482 | 0.0821% |
| 1983 | #172 | 1,526 | 0.0851% |
| 1982 | #166 | 1,620 | 0.0893% |
| 1981 | #166 | 1,615 | 0.0902% |
| 1980 | #158 | 1,627 | 0.0912% |
| 1979 | #161 | 1,582 | 0.0919% |
| 1978 | #156 | 1,578 | 0.0961% |
| 1977 | #149 | 1,673 | 0.1018% |
| 1976 | #149 | 1,665 | 0.1061% |
| 1975 | #142 | 1,743 | 0.1116% |
| 1974 | #149 | 1,650 | 0.1049% |
| 1973 | #138 | 1,850 | 0.1187% |
| 1972 | #142 | 1,901 | 0.1172% |
| 1971 | #132 | 2,365 | 0.1337% |
| 1970 | #129 | 2,563 | 0.1379% |
| 1969 | #122 | 2,607 | 0.1458% |
| 1968 | #110 | 2,691 | 0.1548% |
| 1967 | #112 | 2,782 | 0.1595% |
| 1966 | #106 | 2,964 | 0.1662% |
| 1965 | #104 | 3,198 | 0.1719% |
| 1964 | #99 | 3,808 | 0.1911% |
| 1963 | #102 | 3,816 | 0.1879% |
| 1962 | #99 | 4,170 | 0.2016% |
| 1961 | #90 | 4,639 | 0.2184% |
| 1960 | #85 | 4,915 | 0.2305% |
| 1959 | #85 | 5,016 | 0.2350% |
| 1958 | #80 | 5,300 | 0.2497% |
| 1957 | #67 | 6,024 | 0.2792% |
| 1956 | #66 | 6,051 | 0.2861% |
| 1955 | #60 | 6,200 | 0.3010% |
| 1954 | #57 | 6,474 | 0.3175% |
| 1953 | #57 | 6,539 | 0.3315% |
| 1952 | #52 | 6,938 | 0.3570% |
| 1951 | #48 | 7,004 | 0.3720% |
| 1950 | #48 | 6,839 | 0.3820% |
| 1949 | #47 | 7,128 | 0.4018% |
| 1948 | #43 | 7,612 | 0.4338% |
| 1947 | #37 | 8,507 | 0.4650% |
| 1946 | #35 | 7,802 | 0.4804% |
| 1945 | #32 | 6,855 | 0.5094% |
| 1944 | #29 | 7,255 | 0.5323% |
| 1943 | #34 | 7,397 | 0.5183% |
| 1942 | #34 | 7,365 | 0.5333% |
| 1941 | #32 | 6,950 | 0.5658% |
| 1940 | #29 | 7,049 | 0.6081% |
| 1939 | #26 | 7,306 | 0.6601% |
| 1938 | #25 | 8,142 | 0.7341% |
| 1937 | #23 | 8,196 | 0.7684% |
| 1936 | #20 | 8,857 | 0.8539% |
| 1935 | #18 | 9,438 | 0.9063% |
| 1934 | #17 | 9,985 | 0.9670% |
| 1933 | #17 | 9,838 | 0.9922% |
| 1932 | #17 | 10,717 | 1.0264% |
| 1931 | #15 | 11,489 | 1.1051% |
| 1930 | #14 | 12,429 | 1.1326% |
| 1929 | #14 | 12,167 | 1.1312% |
| 1928 | #15 | 12,494 | 1.1280% |
| 1927 | #16 | 12,802 | 1.1360% |
| 1926 | #16 | 12,195 | 1.0982% |
| 1925 | #17 | 12,011 | 1.0763% |
| 1924 | #17 | 11,921 | 1.0524% |
| 1923 | #17 | 11,190 | 1.0209% |
| 1922 | #18 | 10,847 | 0.9968% |
| 1921 | #18 | 10,757 | 0.9766% |
| 1920 | #20 | 9,599 | 0.9019% |
| 1919 | #21 | 8,263 | 0.8431% |
| 1918 | #21 | 8,341 | 0.8230% |
| 1917 | #22 | 6,874 | 0.7427% |
| 1916 | #26 | 6,162 | 0.6923% |
| 1915 | #27 | 5,748 | 0.6774% |
| 1914 | #27 | 4,486 | 0.6851% |
| 1913 | #28 | 3,538 | 0.6903% |
| 1912 | #28 | 2,870 | 0.6675% |
| 1911 | #25 | 1,668 | 0.7382% |
| 1910 | #23 | 1,576 | 0.8115% |
| 1909 | #27 | 1,150 | 0.7012% |
| 1908 | #27 | 1,086 | 0.7037% |
| 1907 | #26 | 1,019 | 0.6940% |
| 1906 | #30 | 880 | 0.6609% |
| 1905 | #28 | 907 | 0.6855% |
| 1904 | #27 | 908 | 0.7087% |
| 1903 | #28 | 831 | 0.6970% |
| 1902 | #32 | 743 | 0.6057% |
| 1901 | #32 | 645 | 0.6058% |
| 1900 | #27 | 1,053 | 0.6998% |
| 1899 | #35 | 582 | 0.5480% |
| 1898 | #37 | 633 | 0.5160% |
| 1897 | #42 | 497 | 0.4408% |
| 1896 | #40 | 539 | 0.4508% |
| 1895 | #46 | 479 | 0.4080% |
| 1894 | #47 | 441 | 0.3809% |
| 1893 | #50 | 405 | 0.3606% |
| 1892 | #54 | 401 | 0.3286% |
| 1891 | #62 | 290 | 0.2866% |
| 1890 | #53 | 368 | 0.3315% |
| 1889 | #61 | 322 | 0.2912% |
| 1888 | #64 | 329 | 0.2722% |
| 1887 | #68 | 251 | 0.2475% |
| 1886 | #64 | 299 | 0.2699% |
| 1885 | #61 | 295 | 0.2737% |
| 1884 | #68 | 274 | 0.2394% |
| 1883 | #65 | 242 | 0.2313% |
| 1882 | #66 | 271 | 0.2384% |
| 1881 | #73 | 197 | 0.1956% |
| 1880 | #77 | 204 | 0.1846% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
