Boy · #16 in 2026

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.

  • English
Current Rank
#16
Peak Rank
#11 (1927)
Total Babies
765K
5-Yr Trend
-5%
1889
First Year
2026
Last Year
1928
Peak Year
#721
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
127
Years Active

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 →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
Origin & history
Jack is derived from the Middle English diminutive Jackin, an alteration of Jankin. Jankin is a diminutive of Jan which is derived from the Old French name Jehan, a form of John . Alternatively, it may be derived from an anglicisation of Jacques , the French form of the name James or Jacob . Both the name and the word "jack" were long used as a term to refer to any man (including boys), especially of the common classes.

The Story of Jack

The earliest SSA record of Jack as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 204 babies received it. 1927 was its biggest year on record, with 12,802 newborns named Jack — #16 in the national rankings. As of 2026, Jack ranks #16 for baby boys with 8,353 births, gradually falling (-5%). All told, over 765K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Jack

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Jack. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

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?
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.
What is the origin of the name Jack?
Jack has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Jack in 2026?
In 2026, Jack ranks #16 among boys' names in the U.S., with 8,353 babies given the name that year.
When was Jack most popular?
Jack reached its peak popularity in 1927, ranking #11 that year with 12,802 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Jack most popular?
Jack has historically been most popular in Wyoming, Connecticut, North Dakota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Jack.
Is Jack a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Jack is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Jack?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Jack include Willie, Levi, Timothy. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Jack?
Common variants and related forms of Jack include Evan, Ian, Ivan, Jackie, Jake, John. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

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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

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.