The nameJack
Jack is a boy's name of English origin, an old pet form of John. It was the most popular boys' name in England and Wales from the mid 1990s to 2008.
- Boy's name
- English
- Feast day
Meaning
Jack comes from Jankin, a medieval English diminutive of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
Origin
English. Jack was so common in the Middle Ages that it came to mean any ordinary man, as in "jack of all trades" or the Jack of nursery tales.
History
Long a nickname, Jack became a name in its own right in the 20th century. It topped the boys' list in England and Wales every year from 1996 to 2008, was first in Ireland for years, and is also popular in Australia and the United States.
Did you know?
- Jack began as a medieval English pet form of John.
- In Ireland, Jack has been the most popular boys' name almost every year since 1998.
- Jack Kerouac typed the first draft of On the Road on a single roll of paper more than thirty metres long.
Famous people named Jack
- Jack London, writer
- Jack Nicholson, actor
- Jack Kerouac, writer
- Jack Grealish, footballer
Popularity of the name Jack
Jack in the United States
Jack was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 116,741 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named Jack. Its rise began around 1910, and it peaked in 1927. Half of all babies named Jack in the United States were born before 1953, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 8,927 births a year.
Jack in the United Kingdom
Jack was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 93,467 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Jack. Half of all babies named Jack in the United Kingdom were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,556 births a year on average, against 4,497 in the five years before.
Jack in Ireland
Jack in France
Jack in Belgium
Jack in Switzerland
Jack in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Jack
Names from the same generation as Jack, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Jack? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Jack with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Jack side by side with the name of your choice.
Jack in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Jack mean?
Jack comes from Jankin, a medieval English diminutive of John, from the Hebrew Yohanan, "God is gracious".
What is the origin of the name Jack?
English. Jack was so common in the Middle Ages that it came to mean any ordinary man, as in "jack of all trades" or the Jack of nursery tales.
Is Jack a girl's or a boy's name?
Jack is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Jack?
In 2024, Jack was the 15th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 8,434 births.
What are the variants of the name Jack?
Variants and related names of Jack include Jackie, Jacky and John.
What are good sibling names for Jack?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Autumn, Daisy, Lily and Summer for a sister, Luke, Benjamin, Charles and Parker for a brother.
Who are famous people named Jack?
Jack London, writer; Jack Nicholson, actor; Jack Kerouac, writer; Jack Grealish, footballer.