Jack
Jack is a given name of English origin. In modern usage, Jack is often a given name on its own, although it can be used as a diminutive of other given names. Since the late 20th century, Jack has become one of the most common names for boys in many English-speaking countries. Jack is also used to a much lesser extent as a female name, often as a shortened version of Jacqueline.
Meaning & Origin of Jack
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Jack is a given name of English origin. In modern usage, Jack is often a given name on its own, although it can be used as a diminutive of other given names. Since the late 20th century, Jack has become one of the most common names for boys in many English-speaking countries. Jack is also used to a much lesser extent as a female name, often as a shortened version of Jacqueline.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Jack
Jack first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 204 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1927, when 12,802 Jacks were born — ranking #16 that year. As of 2026, Jack ranks #16 for baby boys with 8,353 births, gradually falling (-5%). In total, more than 765K Jacks have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Jack
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Jack I. Abecassis , American scholar
- Jack Abel (1927–1996), American comic book artist
- Jack Abeillé (1873–1939), French painter and illustrator
- Jack Abramoff (born 1959), American lobbyist, businessman, movie producer, and writer, convicted of corruption
- Jack Acland (1904–1981), New Zealand politician
- Jack Adams (disambiguation) , multiple people
- Jack Adler (1917–2011), American comics artist
- Jack Afamasaga (born 1984), Samoan professional rugby league footballer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Jack
Phonetically similar names — useful when Jack is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jack
What does the name Jack mean?
How popular is Jack in 2026?
When was Jack most popular?
In which U.S. states is Jack most popular?
Is Jack a unisex name?
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About the name Jack
Jack is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 765K births in the dataset. Jack's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #11. Use the chart and map above to compare Jack's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1927 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "J" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.