Jack
MeaningGod is gracious · English form of John
- US rank
- #15
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #11 in 2021
8,748 babies were named Jack in the US in 2025. It has climbed 6 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Jack you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Jack
Jack London
American author, journalist and social activist (1876–1916)
Choose Jack and your child shares a first name with Jack London, an American author, journalist and social activist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Jack, like who?” Jack London's Wikipedia article is available in 146 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Jack London on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: published by L C Page and Company Boston 1903, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 195 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Jack, 8,748 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Jack.
- HistoryJack has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Jacks, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 2021, when it reached #11.
- Where it's lovedJack is the #4 boy name in 2 states, including New Hampshire, Utah and Utah. It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningJack is an English form of John, which means “God is gracious”. Our records link it to English and Hebrew roots.
- OriginJack is the #6 most popular English boy name in the US. That's out of 7,815 English boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Jack
Jack is a boy name of English and Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with J and ending in “-ack”. US birth records list Jack for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 2021, when it ranked #11 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #15, with 8,748 babies.
Origin:English namesHebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,444 | 409 boys |
| 1890s | 4,052 | 247 boys |
| 1900s | 6,762 | 148 boys |
| 1910s | 7,371 | 136 boys |
| 1920s | 10,518 | 95 boys |
| 1930s | 9,146 | 109 boys |
| 1940s | 5,048 | 198 boys |
| 1950s | 3,111 | 321 boys |
| 1960s | 1,828 | 547 boys |
| 1970s | 1,120 | 893 boys |
| 1980s | 864 | 1,157 boys |
| 1990s | 1,945 | 514 boys |
| 2000s | 4,779 | 209 boys |
| 2010s | 4,563 | 219 boys |
| 2020s | 5,151 | 194 boys |
Other spellings of Jack
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
- Unisex name: Cooper · barrel maker
Questions about the name Jack
What does the name Jack mean?
Jack means “God is gracious” in English, as a form of John.
What is the origin of the name Jack?
Jack has English, Hebrew roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Jack a boy or girl name?
Jack is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Jack?
Jack ranked #15 for US boys in 2025, given to 8,748 babies. Its best year was 2021 (#11).