Fun Facts About the Name Jason
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,052,055 boys named Jason from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Jason stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 53 consecutive years, from 1966 through 2018.
- More than 1 million babies named Jason: U.S. records list 1,057,084 babies given the name Jason from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,029 girls received the name Jason - about 1 girl for every 209 boys.
What Does the Name Jason Mean?
Jason is the English form of the Greek name Ἰάσων (Iason), traditionally understood to mean "healer." The usual derivation connects it with Greek healing vocabulary, especially the verb ἰάομαι (iaomai), "to heal," and the related noun ἰατρός (iatros), "healer" or "physician." The ending -ων is a common masculine ending in Greek names. Latin took the name as Iason, which became English Jason. Later symbolic readings sometimes link the name to restoration or rescue, but those are interpretations rather than the linguistic meaning. The precise prehistoric formation of the Greek name is not fully certain, though the healing derivation is the standard explanation.
Jason Name History & Origins
The name Jason appears in early Greek literature as the name of the hero of Iolcus, son of Aeson, who led the Argonauts. In Homer's Odyssey, Jason is mentioned as the captain of the Argo, the ship that passed the Clashing Rocks. Later Greek poets, including Pindar in his Pythian Odes and Apollonius of Rhodes in the Argonautica, told the full story of his quest for the Golden Fleece and his alliance with Medea. These works made Jason a familiar figure in Greek and Roman education and literature.
Greek-speaking Jews also used the name. The author of 2 Maccabees refers to Jason of Cyrene, whose five-volume history he abridged, and to a high priest named Jason in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, Jason of Thessalonica sheltered Paul and Silas; he is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's letter to the Romans. Through the Latin Bible and Christian tradition, the name passed into European languages as Iason and later Jason.
In English, the name comes from Latin Iason, itself from Greek Ἰάσων. The initial I became J as the letter J developed from a form of I and acquired its modern consonant sound. Medieval readers encountered the name in Latin versions of classical poetry and in the New Testament. Modern European forms include Spanish Jasón, Italian Giasone, and French Jason.
How Popular is the Name Jason?
Jason remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1966 to 2018. Its highest annual birth count was in 1977, and people born that year turn 49 in 2026.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #16,321 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #10,053 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #13,506 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #13,609 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #15,407 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,780 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #14,130 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #11,596 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #10,756 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #10,267 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #9,195 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #10,419 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #12,882 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #13,607 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #4,213 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #5,153 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2002 | #5,757 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #5,266 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #4,865 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #5,758 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #4,855 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #5,721 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #4,105 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #3,705 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1994 | #3,257 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #5,080 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #4,596 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1991 | #3,326 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #2,761 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1989 | #2,631 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #1,498 | 91 | 0.0051% |
| 1987 | #1,268 | 111 | 0.0064% |
| 1986 | #968 | 163 | 0.0095% |
| 1985 | #873 | 184 | 0.0107% |
| 1984 | #782 | 205 | 0.0122% |
| 1983 | #694 | 245 | 0.0147% |
| 1982 | #651 | 274 | 0.0162% |
| 1981 | #701 | 240 | 0.0144% |
| 1980 | #603 | 307 | 0.0185% |
| 1979 | #594 | 303 | 0.0189% |
| 1978 | #582 | 295 | 0.0193% |
| 1977 | #562 | 313 | 0.0204% |
| 1976 | #568 | 292 | 0.0199% |
| 1975 | #559 | 303 | 0.0208% |
| 1974 | #595 | 266 | 0.0181% |
| 1973 | #660 | 226 | 0.0155% |
| 1972 | #699 | 208 | 0.0137% |
| 1971 | #869 | 155 | 0.0093% |
| 1970 | #1,070 | 114 | 0.0065% |
| 1969 | #1,164 | 92 | 0.0055% |
| 1968 | #2,272 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1967 | #2,728 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #3,090 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1963 | #5,045 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #4,365 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #6,334 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #6,041 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #165 | 2,224 | 0.1302% |
| 2024 | #148 | 2,448 | 0.1427% |
| 2023 | #147 | 2,463 | 0.1442% |
| 2022 | #146 | 2,607 | 0.1495% |
| 2021 | #129 | 2,872 | 0.1643% |
| 2020 | #119 | 3,103 | 0.1799% |
| 2019 | #103 | 3,578 | 0.1995% |
| 2018 | #100 | 3,876 | 0.2135% |
| 2017 | #92 | 4,251 | 0.2297% |
| 2016 | #84 | 4,885 | 0.2575% |
| 2015 | #86 | 5,025 | 0.2622% |
| 2014 | #75 | 5,567 | 0.2899% |
| 2013 | #79 | 5,517 | 0.2917% |
| 2012 | #76 | 5,758 | 0.3036% |
| 2011 | #71 | 5,854 | 0.3083% |
| 2010 | #69 | 6,278 | 0.3272% |
| 2009 | #66 | 6,927 | 0.3493% |
| 2008 | #60 | 7,661 | 0.3755% |
| 2007 | #59 | 8,120 | 0.3913% |
| 2006 | #55 | 8,456 | 0.4115% |
| 2005 | #51 | 8,613 | 0.4313% |
| 2004 | #47 | 9,063 | 0.4566% |
| 2003 | #42 | 9,822 | 0.4972% |
| 2002 | #42 | 9,956 | 0.5128% |
| 2001 | #41 | 10,164 | 0.5232% |
| 2000 | #39 | 9,778 | 0.4979% |
| 1999 | #40 | 9,366 | 0.4878% |
| 1998 | #40 | 9,398 | 0.4917% |
| 1997 | #41 | 8,746 | 0.4640% |
| 1996 | #41 | 8,696 | 0.4591% |
| 1995 | #41 | 9,006 | 0.4731% |
| 1994 | #46 | 8,550 | 0.4426% |
| 1993 | #45 | 8,638 | 0.4404% |
| 1992 | #46 | 9,249 | 0.4631% |
| 1991 | #49 | 9,386 | 0.4646% |
| 1990 | #46 | 10,695 | 0.5207% |
| 1989 | #35 | 12,614 | 0.6304% |
| 1988 | #27 | 15,916 | 0.8315% |
| 1987 | #23 | 19,349 | 1.0364% |
| 1986 | #18 | 22,417 | 1.2173% |
| 1985 | #14 | 26,036 | 1.4087% |
| 1984 | #11 | 29,952 | 1.6595% |
| 1983 | #7 | 35,118 | 1.9590% |
| 1982 | #4 | 40,634 | 2.2393% |
| 1981 | #4 | 41,928 | 2.3406% |
| 1980 | #3 | 48,166 | 2.6997% |
| 1979 | #3 | 50,371 | 2.9257% |
| 1978 | #2 | 51,604 | 3.1428% |
| 1977 | #2 | 55,636 | 3.3856% |
| 1976 | #2 | 52,650 | 3.3553% |
| 1975 | #2 | 52,172 | 3.3412% |
| 1974 | #2 | 54,751 | 3.4819% |
| 1973 | #3 | 46,678 | 2.9947% |
| 1972 | #7 | 37,434 | 2.3082% |
| 1971 | #8 | 34,179 | 1.9326% |
| 1970 | #13 | 27,274 | 1.4676% |
| 1969 | #25 | 16,490 | 0.9221% |
| 1968 | #47 | 7,147 | 0.4112% |
| 1967 | #54 | 5,337 | 0.3060% |
| 1966 | #89 | 3,768 | 0.2113% |
| 1965 | #111 | 2,890 | 0.1554% |
| 1964 | #155 | 2,105 | 0.1056% |
| 1963 | #198 | 1,501 | 0.0739% |
| 1962 | #213 | 1,298 | 0.0627% |
| 1961 | #242 | 1,059 | 0.0499% |
| 1960 | #259 | 940 | 0.0441% |
| 1959 | #292 | 720 | 0.0337% |
| 1958 | #311 | 596 | 0.0281% |
| 1957 | #368 | 440 | 0.0204% |
| 1956 | #353 | 437 | 0.0207% |
| 1955 | #365 | 398 | 0.0193% |
| 1954 | #412 | 306 | 0.0150% |
| 1953 | #423 | 275 | 0.0139% |
| 1952 | #469 | 218 | 0.0112% |
| 1951 | #493 | 189 | 0.0100% |
| 1950 | #467 | 205 | 0.0115% |
| 1949 | #455 | 217 | 0.0122% |
| 1948 | #492 | 180 | 0.0103% |
| 1947 | #592 | 133 | 0.0073% |
| 1946 | #597 | 117 | 0.0072% |
| 1945 | #561 | 115 | 0.0085% |
| 1944 | #571 | 116 | 0.0085% |
| 1943 | #537 | 137 | 0.0096% |
| 1942 | #566 | 118 | 0.0085% |
| 1941 | #681 | 81 | 0.0066% |
| 1940 | #617 | 93 | 0.0080% |
| 1939 | #711 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1938 | #620 | 92 | 0.0083% |
| 1937 | #661 | 81 | 0.0076% |
| 1936 | #589 | 97 | 0.0094% |
| 1935 | #656 | 83 | 0.0080% |
| 1934 | #631 | 91 | 0.0088% |
| 1933 | #647 | 81 | 0.0082% |
| 1932 | #610 | 95 | 0.0091% |
| 1931 | #658 | 83 | 0.0080% |
| 1930 | #583 | 106 | 0.0097% |
| 1929 | #534 | 119 | 0.0111% |
| 1928 | #680 | 87 | 0.0079% |
| 1927 | #645 | 97 | 0.0086% |
| 1926 | #625 | 101 | 0.0091% |
| 1925 | #602 | 110 | 0.0099% |
| 1924 | #624 | 105 | 0.0093% |
| 1923 | #638 | 101 | 0.0092% |
| 1922 | #662 | 95 | 0.0087% |
| 1921 | #657 | 97 | 0.0088% |
| 1920 | #760 | 76 | 0.0071% |
| 1919 | #693 | 81 | 0.0083% |
| 1918 | #608 | 102 | 0.0101% |
| 1917 | #618 | 92 | 0.0099% |
| 1916 | #644 | 83 | 0.0093% |
| 1915 | #661 | 78 | 0.0092% |
| 1914 | #662 | 59 | 0.0090% |
| 1913 | #685 | 44 | 0.0086% |
| 1912 | #655 | 42 | 0.0098% |
| 1911 | #619 | 25 | 0.0111% |
| 1910 | #591 | 24 | 0.0124% |
| 1909 | #736 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #915 | 10 | 0.0065% |
| 1907 | #963 | 9 | 0.0061% |
| 1906 | #631 | 15 | 0.0113% |
| 1905 | #725 | 12 | 0.0091% |
| 1904 | #742 | 11 | 0.0086% |
| 1903 | #636 | 13 | 0.0109% |
| 1902 | #602 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1901 | #706 | 10 | 0.0094% |
| 1900 | #663 | 15 | 0.0100% |
| 1899 | #1,129 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1898 | #497 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1897 | #628 | 12 | 0.0106% |
| 1896 | #800 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1895 | #403 | 23 | 0.0196% |
| 1894 | #382 | 24 | 0.0207% |
| 1893 | #799 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1892 | #506 | 16 | 0.0131% |
| 1891 | #462 | 15 | 0.0148% |
| 1890 | #580 | 12 | 0.0108% |
| 1889 | #437 | 18 | 0.0163% |
| 1888 | #408 | 21 | 0.0174% |
| 1887 | #472 | 14 | 0.0138% |
| 1886 | #388 | 21 | 0.0190% |
| 1885 | #468 | 16 | 0.0148% |
| 1884 | #356 | 25 | 0.0218% |
| 1883 | #506 | 13 | 0.0124% |
| 1882 | #406 | 20 | 0.0176% |
| 1881 | #355 | 22 | 0.0218% |
| 1880 | #386 | 20 | 0.0181% |
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.
