ESC 

Name Rank Total 

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1992

First Year

2024

Last Year

1995

Peak Year

#4791

Peak Rank

68

Total Count

10

Years Active

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🌍

## Meaning & Origin of Jaguar

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures. 

The jaguar is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera that is native to the Americas. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals.

Source: [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar) (CC BY-SA 3.0). [Read more → ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar)

📜Etymology

The word "jaguar" is possibly derived from the Tupi-Guarani word yaguara meaning 'wild beast that overcomes its prey at a bound'. Because jaguar also applies to other animals, indigenous peoples in Guyana call it jaguareté , with the added sufix eté , meaning "true beast". "Onca" is derived from the Portuguese name onça for a spotted cat that is larger than a lynx ; cf. ounce . The word "panther" is derived from classical Latin panthēra , itself from the ancient Greek πάνθηρ ( pánthēr ). In North America, the word is pronounced with two syllables, as / ˈ dʒ æ ɡ w ɑːr / , while in British Engli

[![Wikipedia thumbnail for Jaguar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Standing_jaguar.jpg/330px-Standing_jaguar.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar)

📖

## The Story of Jaguar

American parents first put Jaguar on the record books as a baby boy name in 1992, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 12 Jaguars were born — ranking #4,791 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 41% of all recorded Jaguars. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 68 Jaguars have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through 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

🎶

## Names that sound like Jaguar

Phonetically similar names — useful when Jaguar is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name. 

* Jaguars
* Jagua
* Jacquard
* [Jagger](/jagger)
* [Jacqui](/jacqui)
* [Jacquie](/jacquie)
* [Jagur](/jagur)
* Dzhokhar
* Jaquish
* Magyar
* Shaggier
* Jogger

Source: [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/). Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated. 

❓

## Frequently Asked Questions about Jaguar

What does the name Jaguar mean?

The jaguar is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera that is native to the Americas. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals.

How popular is Jaguar in 2026?

In 2026, Jaguar ranks #12,301 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Jaguar most popular?

Jaguar reached its peak popularity in 1995, ranking #4,791 that year with 12 babies given the name.

Is Jaguar a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Jaguar is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Jaguar?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Jaguar include Adewale, Kristain, Davaris. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

## Similar Names

[👦AdewalePeak #4791](/adewale)[👦KristainPeak #4791](/kristain)[👦DavarisPeak #4791](/davaris)[👦DarshawnPeak #4791](/darshawn)[👦RyotaPeak #4791](/ryota)[👦GranthamPeak #4791](/grantham)[👦DequaviusPeak #4791](/dequavius)[👦ShiheemPeak #4791](/shiheem)

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## About the name Jaguar 

Jaguar is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1992 and has accumulated 68 births in the dataset. Jaguar's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #4,791\. Use the chart and map above to compare Jaguar's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

### Continue exploring 

* [ Top names of 1995 → ](/year/1995)
* [ Names of the 1990s → ](/decade/1990s)
* [ Names starting with "J" → ](/letter/j)
* [ Browse all boy names → ](/names/boys)
* [ Top names of 2026 → ](/year/2026)

Data sources

* Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. [Social Security Administration ](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). 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 ](https://www.behindthename.com/) (used under their public API terms).
* Meaning prose and editorial summary — [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/) article extracts, licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).
* Predicted nationality distribution — [Nationalize.io ](https://nationalize.io/).
* Phonetically similar names — [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/).

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. 

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