Jack

God is gracious
English origin · Boy name
100% boys0% girls
#14US 2023
8.7kBirths / yr
Stable
714.9kAll-time births
📅 Since 1880🏆 109 years in top 1001.13% of births at peak
How to pronounce Jack
JAK
/ˈdʒæk/ · stress on JAK · 1 syllable
God is gracious
English origin · Boy name

What does Jack mean and where does it come from?

Jack is traditionally a male name derived from the medieval name 'Jankin', which is a diminutive of John. However, in recent years, Jack has found use as a female name due to shifting gender norms in naming conventions. The name is widely recognized in English-speaking cultures and has been associat

Cultural significance
Jack has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in English-speaking communities, where it reflects values of god is gracious.
Peak popularity
Reached #14 in 1929 — currently #14 in the US.
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Related Reading
English-origin baby names with timeless appeal
Browse names →

How else can you spell Jack?

Same sound, different look — useful if you want something slightly more distinctive

What middle names flow best with Jack?

Jack works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Jack Grace
Most popular combo · classic
Jack Rose
Floral · soft ending
Jack Mae
Sweet · timeless
Jack Claire
French influence · crisp
Jack Jane
Literary · strong
Jack Skye
Modern · airy feel
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Middle Names
The best middle names for Jack
Browse ideas →

How popular is Jack right now?

Holding steady — currently #14 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 18802023#14 · Top 0.01%
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2021
2022
2023
YearUS RankBirthsvs Prior Year
2023#148,710▲ up 1 · -2% births
2022#158,930▼ down 4 · -7% births
2021#119,563▲ up 10 · +8% births
2020#218,876▲ up 19 · +4% births
2015#408,499▲ up 5
2010#458,518▼ down 11 · -22% births
2005#3410,904▲ up 12 · +34% births
2000#468,121▲ up 64 · +136% births
1995#1103,447▲ up 56 · +88% births
1990#1661,831▲ up 9 · +20% births
1985#1751,523▼ down 17 · -7% births
1980#1581,629▼ down 16 · -7% births
1975#1421,747▼ down 13 · -32% births
1970#1292,571▼ down 25 · -20% births
1965#1043,200

The story of Jack

Jack has been a beloved American name for over 144 years, first appearing in Social Security records in 1880. Its peak popularity was #14 in 1929. Over 715K babies have been given this name — a true American classic. The name has grown more popular over time, rising from #77 in 1880 to #14 in 2023. Jack is used for both genders: 0% female and 100% male.

Names that peaked alongside Jack in 1929:

Jack by decade

Jack peaked in the 1920s. See all 1920s names →

DecadeBirths
1880s2,689
1890s4,660
1900s9,269
1910s49,838
1920s116,742
1930s96,855
1940s74,126
1950s62,527
1960s35,748
1970s18,731
1980s16,041
1990s37,533
2000s95,638
2010s85,619
2020s8,890

What are good nicknames for Jack?

ENGLISH
Jackie
ITALIAN
Nino
SCOTTISH
JockieJocky
AFRICAN AMERICAN
LashawnTajuana

Famous people named Jack

JN
Jack Nicholson
Three-time Academy Award winner, considered one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history
JL
Jack London
American author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang, pioneering adventure novelist
JB
Jack Black
American comedian, actor, and musician, founding member of the comedy rock duo Tenacious D
CJ
Captain Jack Sparrow (fictional)
Johnny Depp's iconic swashbuckling pirate in Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise
JK
Jack Kennedy (JFK)
John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States, known widely by his nickname Jack
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Celebrity Names
What celebrities named their babies in 2024
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What are the girl versions of Jack?

Lashawn AFRICAN AMERICANTajuana AFRICAN AMERICANJone BASQUEIoanna BIBLICAL GREEKIohanna BIBLICAL LATINJoanna BIBLICALIoana BULGARIANIvana BULGARIANIvanka BULGARIANYana BULGARIANYanka BULGARIANYoana BULGARIANJana CATALANJoana CATALANIvana CROATIANIvanka CROATIANNina CROATIANŽana CROATIANIva CZECHIvana CZECHIvanka CZECHIvka CZECHJana CZECHJanička CZECHJohana CZECHNina CZECHHanna DANISHHanne DANISHJanne DANISHJannicke DANISHJannike DANISHJeanette DANISHJohanna DANISHJohanne DANISHJonna DANISHNina DANISHVanja DANISHHanna DUTCHHanne DUTCHHannie DUTCHJana DUTCHJanine DUTCHJanna DUTCHJanneke DUTCHJantine DUTCHJantje DUTCHJeanette DUTCHJeanine DUTCHJeannette DUTCHJennigje DUTCHJenny DUTCHJohanna DUTCHJohanneke DUTCHNina DUTCHGenette ENGLISHJan ENGLISHJanae ENGLISHJane ENGLISHJaneka ENGLISHJanel ENGLISHJanele ENGLISHJanella ENGLISHJanelle ENGLISHJanene ENGLISHJanessa ENGLISHJanet ENGLISHJanetta ENGLISHJanette ENGLISHJaney ENGLISHJanice ENGLISHJanie ENGLISHJanine ENGLISHJanis ENGLISHJanna ENGLISHJannah ENGLISHJannette ENGLISHJannine ENGLISHJayna ENGLISHJayne ENGLISHJaynie ENGLISHJean ENGLISHJeana ENGLISHJeane ENGLISHJeanette ENGLISHJeanie ENGLISHJeanine ENGLISHJeanna ENGLISHJeanne ENGLISHJeannette ENGLISHJeannie ENGLISHJeannine ENGLISHJeni ENGLISHJenna ENGLISHJenni ENGLISHJennie ENGLISHJenny ENGLISHJessalyn ENGLISHJessi ENGLISHJessie ENGLISHJessye ENGLISHJo ENGLISHJoan ENGLISHJoanie ENGLISHJoann ENGLISHJoanna ENGLISHJoanne ENGLISHJoetta ENGLISHJoey ENGLISHJohanna ENGLISHJohna ENGLISHJohnna ENGLISHJojo ENGLISHJoleen ENGLISHJolene ENGLISHJonelle ENGLISHJonette ENGLISHJoni ENGLISHJonie ENGLISHNena ENGLISHNetta ENGLISHNettie ENGLISHNina ENGLISHSeanna ENGLISHShauna ENGLISHShavonne ENGLISHShawna ENGLISHSheena ENGLISHSheenagh ENGLISHShena ENGLISHShevaun ENGLISHShevon ENGLISHJohanna ESTONIANHanna FINNISHHannele FINNISHJanika FINNISHJanina FINNISHJanna FINNISHJenna FINNISHJenni FINNISHJenny FINNISHJohanna FINNISHJonna FINNISHNina FINNISHJanine FRENCHJeanette FRENCHJeanine FRENCHJeanne FRENCHJeannette FRENCHJeannine FRENCHJoanne FRENCHJohanne FRENCHNina FRENCHNinette FRENCHXoana GALICIANHanna GERMANHanne GERMANJana GERMANJanina GERMANJanine GERMANJenny GERMANJohanna GERMANNina GERMANGianna GREEKIoanna GREEKNana GREEKYanna GREEKHanna HUNGARIANJohanna HUNGARIANZsanett HUNGARIANJenný ICELANDICJóhanna ICELANDICJóna ICELANDICChevonne IRISHShavonne IRISHShevaun IRISHShevon IRISHSíne IRISHSinéad IRISHSiobhán IRISHGia ITALIANGianna ITALIANGiannina ITALIANGiovanna ITALIANGiovannetta ITALIANNina ITALIANVanna ITALIANJohanna LATE ROMANJanina LITHUANIANIvana MACEDONIANJovana MACEDONIANJovanka MACEDONIANJovka MACEDONIANVana MACEDONIANJehanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHJohanne MEDIEVAL FRENCHHanna NORWEGIANHanne NORWEGIANJanne NORWEGIANJannicke NORWEGIANJannike NORWEGIANJeanette NORWEGIANJohanna NORWEGIANJohanne NORWEGIANNina NORWEGIANVanja NORWEGIANAsia POLISHJanina POLISHJoanna POLISHJoasia POLISHNina POLISHJoana PORTUGUESEJoaninha PORTUGUESEIoana ROMANIANIonela ROMANIANOana ROMANIANIvanna RUSSIANYana RUSSIANZhanna RUSSIANZhannochka RUSSIANGiuanna SARDINIANJean SCOTTISHJessie SCOTTISHSeona SCOTTISHSeonag SCOTTISHSeònaid SCOTTISHSheena SCOTTISHSheona SCOTTISHShona SCOTTISHSìne SCOTTISHSìneag SCOTTISHTeasag SCOTTISHIvana SERBIANIvanka SERBIANJovana SERBIANJovanka SERBIANNina SERBIANIva SLOVAKIvana SLOVAKIvanka SLOVAKIvka SLOVAKJana SLOVAKJanka SLOVAKNina SLOVAKIva SLOVENEIvana SLOVENEIvanka SLOVENEJana SLOVENENina SLOVENEŽana SLOVENEJenny SPANISHJuana SPANISHJuanita SPANISHHanna SWEDISHJanina SWEDISHJanna SWEDISHJannicke SWEDISHJannike SWEDISHJeanette SWEDISHJennie SWEDISHJenny SWEDISHJohanna SWEDISHJonna SWEDISHNina SWEDISHVanja SWEDISHYana UKRAINIANShan WELSHSiân WELSHSiana WELSHSiani WELSHSioned WELSHSiwan WELSHJackson ENGLISHJaxon ENGLISHJaxson ENGLISHMalone ENGLISHSinjin ENGLISHYancy ENGLISHYahweh THEOLOGYBevan WELSH

Common questions about the name Jack

What does the name Jack mean?
Jack means "God is gracious" — a name rooted in English tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.
How popular is the name Jack?
Jack is currently ranked #14 in the United States as a baby name in the US and is holding steady in popularity, a reliable classic that parents consistently choose.
What is the cultural origin of Jack?
Jack originates from English tradition. English names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.
How do you pronounce the name Jack?
Jack is a one-syllable name pronounced JH AE1 K. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.
How does Jack sound with different last names?
As a one-syllable name, Jack flows best with last names of two or three syllables. Avoid last names ending in the same sound as Jack ends, as this can create an unwanted rhyme. Test by saying the full name out loud several times.