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Jack

/JAK/

Jack is a boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning God is gracious.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginHebrew
  • StyleClassic
  • Syllables1
  • US rank#21

What does Jack mean?

God is gracious

Jack developed in medieval England as a pet form of John, probably via Jankin and then Jackin. The old theory that it comes from the French Jacques is generally rejected: Jacques corresponds to James, not John.

The story behind the name

Jack became so ubiquitous in medieval and early modern England that it turned into a common noun several times over: jack of all trades, lumberjack, jackpot, jack the lifting tool, the jack in a deck of cards, and the Union Jack.

Every man was a Jack, which is why the name populates so much English folklore - Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack Sprat, Jack Frost.

It has been the most popular boys' name in England and Wales for long stretches since the 1990s and is a perennial top-thirty name in the United States.

Notable people named Jack

  • Jack London, novelist
  • Jack Nicholson, actor
  • Jack Charlton, footballer and manager

How popular is Jack?

Popularity in the United States

Jack has been given to 715,026 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 186 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

06,44212,883188019502020
Babies named Jack per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Jack has been given to 14,313 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 1940s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

0264528190019612022
Babies named Jack per year in France, 1900–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 493 people called Jack living in Spain, with an average age of 26.8.

715,026 Babies named since 1880
1920s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Jak, Jacky, Jackie

Related names: John, Jackson, Johnny, Jaap, Sean

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Frequently asked questions about Jack

What does the name Jack mean?

Jack means God is gracious. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Jack a boy's or a girl's name?

Jack is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Jack?

Jack is pronounced JAK.

How popular is the name Jack?

Jack has been given to 715,026 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Jack?

Common variants include Jak, Jacky, Jackie.